The Perpetual NBA Thread

**theveed** · July 1st, 2004 12:22 PM

I've always been a Houston fan, since the Olajuwon/Ralph Sampson heyday... More when Olajuwon won MVP and won back to back championship and embarrassed both Shaq and The Admiral.

When Yao came in, syempre Rockets ulit even if I hate Francis (I like Cat, he's more consistent).
Feel kinda bad that they traded Cato, sana si Mo Taylor nalang.

Nash is great, but he's pretty much the most "marketable" player in the Mav's roster right now since Dirk will never be traded by Mavs. He'll get tip top dollar if he does get traded. It'll be nice to see Nash in Phoenix if Kobe goes to Phoenix.

East? I still won't bother much for them, Indiana and Detroit will consistently be the powerhouses of the East. I'm not a big Kidd fan so I don't really care about them hehe. I do see Cleveland improving this season, though. Possibly joining the NYK/Bos shuffle in rankings.

Orlando will get better, I believe. Although Stevie is a ballhog, he runs the floor very well and if the offense doesn't revolve around a half court set, he's really, really good. Just check out his College games. With Howard, Cat, Gooden and all the young guys around, they'll probably run more than the Mavs. I think they'll be a East coast Dallas team... Run and gun with no D.

About Shaq... Hehe, read about this?

Monday in Sacramento, I played in a charity golf tournament sponsored by the Kings' flagship station, KHTK-AM 1140. Make that Shaq-ramento: Again and again I was breathlessly asked if I thought Shaquille O'Neal would be traded to the Kings for Chris Webber and Mike Bibby.

As politely as possible, I kept answering: Do you REALLY think the Los Angeles Lakers would be DUMB ENOUGH to trade the most dominant force in BASKETBALL HISTORY to their conference rival while he's ONLY 32 years old? He would IMMEDIATELY make Sacramento or Dallas next season's favorite!

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Driving back to the Bay Area, I tuned into KNBR to catch up on the news. The first caller I heard said he has a friend who sells real estate who swears Shaq is looking at homes in the East Bay.

RIGHT, and free agent Kobe Bryant has been looking in the SAME NEIGHBORHOOD!

The next caller, a Minnesota transplant, said the word from back home was that the Timberwolves are trading Kevin Garnett for Shaq. "We're going to win it all next year!" the caller said.

Do you REALLY think Lakers owner Jerry Buss would sign off on a trade that would become almost as HISTORICALLY STUPID as the Red Sox shipping Babe Ruth to the Yankees?

In Dallas, talk-show callers are talking NBA title because of the hottest rumor -- Shaq to the Mavericks. Shaq is also "looking at houses" in Indiana and New Jersey, and "forcing a trade" to the Knicks.

And isn't it hilarious that, as the NBA finals ended, you could have asked fans in any of those cities what they thought of Shaq and heard: "He's a big, fat, lazy dog who can't make a free throw. I'm glad the Detroit Pistons taught him a lesson about how playing hard and together will always overcome prima donna superstars."

Now those same fans would kiss his big, fat, lazy behind if he would come play for their team. Imagine: Public Enemy No. 1 in Sacramento -- the Lakers center who dismissed the Kings as Queens -- is now the toast of the town because he dropped a hint that he wouldn't mind playing for the Kings.

Somewhere, Shaq is giggling like an 8-year-old who just made a prank call: Hello, is your refrigerator running? Then you'd better catch it!

Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak is also probably getting a kick out of the national hysteria he caused when he volunteered he would entertain offers for Shaq. There's only one reason a G.M. would tell the media that the best player in the game -- who's under contract for one more season -- is on the trading block. Because the second best player in the game, who's also a Laker, becomes a free agent Thursday.

This was an obvious attempt to send a message to Kobe that he's now more valuable than Shaq. Anyone who closely watched the finals knows that's a lie. Except for the Jordanesque shot that sent Game 2 into overtime, Kobe reminded you of Michael Jordan in only one way: They're both basketball players. Kobe came up small.

Shaq was monstrous when he decided to be, in Game 4, when he went for 36 points and 20 rebounds. Against San Antonio two rounds earlier, he played four consecutive games (3 through 6) in which he was as overpowering on offense and defense as he has ever been.

Sure, you can reach for lots of reasons you wouldn't pay him the $100-plus million he wants for a three-year extension. Yes, he gets overweight and out of shape. No, he doesn't always play hard and he can go canine in the second of back-to-back games. His knees and feet could become injury liabilities. His body is battered from getting fouled so much, and he doesn't care enough about making free throws.

But would you want him on your team for the next three years? Uh, YES. Would you be surprised if his team won two of the next three championships? Uh, NO.

So Kupchak's "trade" announcement was merely a concession to Kobe's ego, which makes Shaq seem selfless. Has the trade hysteria irritated Shaq? Probably, though he surely understands the method to this apparent madness. Once Kobe re-signs, which he almost certainly will, then the new coach, probably Rudy Tomjanovich, can make his pitch to Shaq.

Hey, big fella, I wasn't around when they said they might trade you, so don't hold it against me. I love you and need you. Just ask Hakeem Olajuwon how we won those two championships in Houston. The ball always went inside first.

Sure, you can argue that Shaq would be more motivated to get in killer shape and beat L.A. if he were a King or a Maverick. But you don't think he'll be on a mission if he's forced to play the final year of his current contract?

Buss and Kupchak know exactly what they're doing.

Do you really think they want to send a lineup of Kobe, Webber, Bibby, Karl Malone and Gary Payton against Shaq, Peja Stojakovic, Brad Miller, Bobby Jackson and Doug Christie? Give me those "Queens."

Could you really imagine the Lakers taking Warriors free agent Erick Dampier in a sign and trade, along with, say, Jason Richardson and Troy Murphy, for Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal? Jack Nicholson would go crazier than he did in "The Shining." Shaq could carry even Nick Van Exel, Clifford Robinson, Mike Dunleavy and Mickael Pietrus into the playoffs.

Bet you an autographed picture of Nicholson that Shaq and Kobe are Lakers next season.

By Skip Bayless, Mercury News

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**ssaloon** · July 1st, 2004 12:37 PM

armand::: how could you feel sorry for grant hill? he's married to tamia and has been raking in cash for the past 3 seasons even by just sitting on the bench

**stinkaboy** · July 1st, 2004 12:41 PM

also..il wait for the complete line up then ill choose which team id root this coming nba season...

**kimpOy** · July 1st, 2004 12:48 PM

may point ka miko he..he

anyways siyempre burden pa rin yung sa kanya na hindi siya makalaro and a chunk of his salary kaya hindi sila maka attract ng free agents

FYI lang all nba contracts are insured, dahil grant hill didnt play yung insurance ng magic ang nagbayad kay grant hill

**edzzz** · July 1st, 2004 02:10 PM

bagay naman kay Mcgrady ang Rockets jersey:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1832348

ah, parang ang tapang nga ng dating eh. nakaka intimidate

kaysa kay Francis:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1832195

parang ang tamlay

**pajerokid** · July 1st, 2004 03:23 PM

Miks.... siyempre ang primary goal ng professional athlete ay magpakitang gilas. from what i can 'kilatis' from grant's persona, he's the type who'd want action. Pero in hindsight, i feel even more sorry for the Orlando management hehehe.

**ILuvDetailing** · July 1st, 2004 04:18 PM

Pajerokid: Agree with you on that, deep inside Grant Hill wants to compete but unfortunately his body won't allow him to... Well at least he has 90Mil in the bank...