regardless of whether the lakers win or not (perhaps better if they do win again this year) shaq is 30.
the lakers have won 2 championships, 2 more than they would have won without him, in all likelihood.
but now is when he is most valueable, at the height of his powers. he isn't going to get younger and
the nba rules committee isn't going to rescind their introduction of the zone defense.
i'm not sure about his player rights; as a 5 and 10 guy he has final approval and can force numerous
stipulations on his trade. this year was his 10th in the league and he just finished his 6th with the
lakers. the lakers could package o'neal, fisher, fox, and there first round pick this year to, say,
indiana for their 1st round pick this year, jermaine o'neal, tinsley, and jonathan bender. indiana
is looking to bring back reggie miller for another year but only if they can restructure his contract,
meaning he must accept less, freeing more cap room for them to sign other players. whatcha think ?
the lakers would be adding jermaine o'neal at 5 (argueably the best young center in the league),
bender at the 3, and a true point guard in tinsley, plus the overall 14th pick.
pacers would start shaq at 5, artest at 3, harrington at 4, reggie miller at 2, and fisher at 1. fox,
miller, crozier, and foster off the bench, and the 27th overall pick, plus cap room to sign a quality
free agent or 2.
the lakers have won 2 championships, 2 more than they would have won without him, in all likelihood.
but now is when he is most valueable, at the height of his powers. he isn't going to get younger and
the nba rules committee isn't going to rescind their introduction of the zone defense.
i'm not sure about his player rights; as a 5 and 10 guy he has final approval and can force numerous
stipulations on his trade. this year was his 10th in the league and he just finished his 6th with the
lakers. the lakers could package o'neal, fisher, fox, and there first round pick this year to, say,
indiana for their 1st round pick this year, jermaine o'neal, tinsley, and jonathan bender. indiana
is looking to bring back reggie miller for another year but only if they can restructure his contract,
meaning he must accept less, freeing more cap room for them to sign other players. whatcha think ?
the lakers would be adding jermaine o'neal at 5 (argueably the best young center in the league),
bender at the 3, and a true point guard in tinsley, plus the overall 14th pick.
pacers would start shaq at 5, artest at 3, harrington at 4, reggie miller at 2, and fisher at 1. fox,
miller, crozier, and foster off the bench, and the 27th overall pick, plus cap room to sign a quality
free agent or 2.