Shaq in Cleveland? V. Carter in Orlando? What is going on?

[primetime]

Ok folks, yes, I am still basking in glow of the Lakers championship again. But there was still some NBA news that happened.

First, Shaq is going to Cleveland. Dumb move. I have no idea why people are getting excited about seeing Shaq and Lebron. This is Lebron and THIRTY SEVEN, will be THIRTY EIGHT by the time the playoffs start Shaq. He is still huge and you can't discount him, but this ain't the Shaq of even 5 years ago. This would have been a great move if it happened this past year at the trade deadline. Shaq would have been energized for the last part of the season and Cleveland would have made the Finals. BUT, Shaq now has to go through a whole regular season. Won't work folks, won't work. Shaq only shows up during the high profile games. But, they will play the Lakers on Christmas. Watch....

For all that ruckus people made about the Lakers making a mistake, I guess we didn't. Shaq is on his FIFTH team. Start calling him "Rent-a-Shaq". It still doesn't address Cleveland's problem, which is the frontcourt. Who is going to guard KG? That's the problem. Plus, Dwight Howard is going to embarrass Shaq after all the "tweeting" he was doing during the NBA Finals.

Speaking of Orlando, why on this planet did they get Vince Carter? That was a waste since their issue was the lack of a power forward. They will probably lose Turkoglu and replace him with an overhyped guy who hasn't done a darn thing in years. The problem the Magic had against the Lakers was the power forward spot. How is Orlando going to defend Pau Gasol, or in their conference Kevin Garnett? They also gave up a young guy in Courtney Lee. This is getting funny.

The Spurs. Getting Richard Jefferson does WHAT? They gain another scorer? Granted, they were getting old, but to give up Bowen, Kurt Thomas and Oberto makes no sense. They gave up defensive experience for Richard Jefferson? Bruce Bowen still gives Kobe Bryant trouble and now they lost him? Wow..oh well Spurs.

Wasn't that draft a complete yawner?

You know it when the Lakers win the title because teams SCRAMBLE and do irrational things when they do win. We are the standard bearer of the NBA. There is only ONE team I am worried about. There's only ONE team that I think can knock off the Lakers.

That team? ..............Portland. They have the youth, size and talent to matchup with the Lakers. Once they get experience, man, it will be "titanic" games between them.

 

[MrMacphisto]

Shaq in Cleveland would be cool. It would also make watching the Eastern Conference a lot more interesting.

The Western Conference has been way too dominant over the last decade.

 

[FlockOfSeagulls]

Ok folks, yes, I am still basking in glow of the Lakers championship again. But there was still some NBA news that happened.

First, Shaq is going to Cleveland. Dumb move. I have no idea why people are getting excited about seeing Shaq and Lebron. This is Lebron and THIRTY SEVEN, will be THIRTY EIGHT by the time the playoffs start Shaq. He is still huge and you can't discount him, but this ain't the Shaq of even 5 years ago. This would have been a great move if it happened this past year at the trade deadline. Shaq would have been energized for the last part of the season and Cleveland would have made the Finals. BUT, Shaq now has to go through a whole regular season. Won't work folks, won't work. Shaq only shows up during the high profile games. But, they will play the Lakers on Christmas. Watch....

For all that ruckus people made about the Lakers making a mistake, I guess we didn't. Shaq is on his FIFTH team. Start calling him "Rent-a-Shaq". It still doesn't address Cleveland's problem, which is the frontcourt. Who is going to guard KG? That's the problem. Plus, Dwight Howard is going to embarrass Shaq after all the "tweeting" he was doing during the NBA Finals.

Speaking of Orlando, why on this planet did they get Vince Carter? That was a waste since their issue was the lack of a power forward. They will probably lose Turkoglu and replace him with an overhyped guy who hasn't done a darn thing in years. The problem the Magic had against the Lakers was the power forward spot. How is Orlando going to defend Pau Gasol, or in their conference Kevin Garnett? They also gave up a young guy in Courtney Lee. This is getting funny.

The Spurs. Getting Richard Jefferson does WHAT? They gain another scorer? Granted, they were getting old, but to give up Bowen, Kurt Thomas and Oberto makes no sense. They gave up defensive experience for Richard Jefferson? Bruce Bowen still gives Kobe Bryant trouble and now they lost him? Wow..oh well Spurs.

Wasn't that draft a complete yawner?

You know it when the Lakers win the title because teams SCRAMBLE and do irrational things when they do win. We are the standard bearer of the NBA. There is only ONE team I am worried about. There's only ONE team that I think can knock off the Lakers.

That team? ..............Portland. They have the youth, size and talent to matchup with the Lakers. Once they get experience, man, it will be "titanic" games between them.

Sounds more like to me that you are already a bit concerned over teams making moves. It is still very early so Orlando could make more moves to strengthen team. On the Lakers front, all I have heard SO FAR , and its early, is how many guys will they lose. Not additions but losses ; that never a good sign.

Portland is still too young to be a serious threat . Oden is the BIGGEST BUST in recent history. He has Bill Walton written all over him.....always hurt.

wait till free agency is in full swing before analyzing possible contenders

 

[The Fallen Angel]

spurs got the steal of the draft with dejaun blair in the 2nd and yes i agree that shaq in cleveland will only make them worse, but i think vince carter in orlando could be huge

 

[FlockOfSeagulls]

spurs got the steal of the draft with dejaun blair in the 2nd and yes i agree that shaq in cleveland will only make them worse, but i think vince carter in orlando could be huge

Blair has had major problems with both knees. Hi is way undersized to play power forward in the NBA. he reminds me of the old ''tracter trailor ''

 

[primetime]

Believe me, I am not concerned about Cleveland or Orlando. Shaq can't play a full season. Oh, he will show up when the Cavs play the Celtics, Magic and Lakers. But what about those games against the Toronto Raptors? The Clippers? The Grizzlies? Shaq is not what he used to be. It is going to be fun watching Cleveland crash and burn.

The Magic made a mistake. They needed a true power forward more than a guy who can create his own shot. Rashard Lewis is going to get eaten up when he does face a real power forward. Vince Carter is not the solution.

Portland is the real deal. Those guys once they get the experience can match up with the Lakers. Oh and don't you worry about us. I got this feeling that we are going to bring the ENTIRE team back. If Ariza, Odom and Brown re-sign, you will see another parade in Downtown Los Angeles..

 

[The Fallen Angel]

Believe me, I am not concerned about Cleveland or Orlando. Shaq can't play a full season. Oh, he will show up when the Cavs play the Celtics, Magic and Lakers. But what about those games against the Toronto Raptors? The Clippers? The Grizzlies? Shaq is not what he used to be. It is going to be fun watching Cleveland crash and burn.

The Magic made a mistake. They needed a true power forward more than a guy who can create his own shot. Rashard Lewis is going to get eaten up when he does face a real power forward. Vince Carter is not the solution.

Portland is the real deal. Those guys once they get the experience can match up with the Lakers. Oh and don't you worry about us. I got this feeling that we are going to bring the ENTIRE team back. If Ariza, Odom and Brown re-sign, you will see another parade in Downtown Los Angeles..

remember kobe can and as he said probally will opt out of his contract july 31st, he says he will resign back with the lakers but id be a little worried if i were a laker fan because as soon as he opts out the whole league will be after him

 

[primetime]

Believe me, we Laker fans are NOT worried about Kobe leaving. Why would he? He is the king of the town, he just led us to another title and has the chance to get more. What on Earth could another team offer. Kobe could opt out of his contract, but that could also free up more money to sign Odom, Ariza and Brown.

LA is Kobe's home....

 

[The Fallen Angel]

Believe me, we Laker fans are NOT worried about Kobe leaving. Why would he? He is the king of the town, he just led us to another title and has the chance to get more. What on Earth could another team offer. Kobe could opt out of his contract, but that could also free up more money to sign Odom, Ariza and Brown.

LA is Kobe's home....

i agree that he will stay, but if i were in your position say troy polamalu opted out of his contract and said he was resigning and he has no reason to leave it would still make me a bit uneasy

 

[kis123]

Believe me, I am not concerned about Cleveland or Orlando. Shaq can't play a full season. Oh, he will show up when the Cavs play the Celtics, Magic and Lakers. But what about those games against the Toronto Raptors? The Clippers? The Grizzlies? Shaq is not what he used to be. It is going to be fun watching Cleveland crash and burn.

Thanks Prime.......thanks!

You know, we can post and agree about tickling, gen dis, even politics. But when it comes to sports, I simply don't know what to say.

Now onto your OP:

If it were me, I would NOT have signed on Shaq. He's just not who he used to be and will probably spend more time on the bench than on the court. We do need a big man that will actually contend the inside, but should it be Shaq? Uh, probably not.

What we should do? Glad you asked!

Tell Danny Ferry to pack his bags and take his lukewarm players with him. He gets players who play just like him-lackluster with flat feet! Never knew why we had him as a player, and certainly don't know why we'd make him GM. Might as well start working on rebuilding the team now because LeBron is NOT staying and he has a good chance on going overseas. Groom some cheaper talent and in a couple of years work back into the game. It's happened to us before, and it is what it is.

And for those of you who think he won't jump ship and go overseas, think about this:

He's wanted to be a billionaire baller; he will NOT get there in Cleveland or even the NBA. There's a $400 million deal on the table and there's a good chance he'll sign. At the end of the day, it's about the Benjamins; a few years overseas and he can come back stateside and still play. Hell with that kind of money, he might just retire and enjoy his money before his body gives out.

 

[FlockOfSeagulls]

Thanks Prime.......thanks!

You know, we can post and agree about tickling, gen dis, even politics. But when it comes to sports, I simply don't know what to say.

Now onto your OP:

If it were me, I would NOT have signed on Shaq. He's just not who he used to be and will probably spend more time on the bench than on the court. We do need a big man that will actually contend the inside, but should it be Shaq? Uh, probably not.

What we should do? Glad you asked!

Tell Danny Ferry to pack his bags and take his lukewarm players with him. He gets players who play just like him-lackluster with flat feet! Never knew why we had him as a player, and certainly don't know why we'd make him GM. Might as well start working on rebuilding the team now because LeBron is NOT staying and he has a good chance on going overseas. Groom some cheaper talent and in a couple of years work back into the game. It's happened to us before, and it is what it is.

And for those of you who think he won't jump ship and go overseas, think about this:

He's wanted to be a billionaire baller; he will NOT get there in Cleveland or even the NBA. There's a $400 million deal on the table and there's a good chance he'll sign. At the end of the day, it's about the Benjamins; a few years overseas and he can come back stateside and still play. Hell with that kind of money, he might just retire and enjoy his money before his body gives out.

are you still on that ? ....

I would like to see a news article a video or anything related to thid deal? Heck a team or the league would be helpful as well .

The hit to his reputation would be almost impossible to repair ; he would be viewed as a traitor . Look at all the crap A-fraud still takes to this day for the 252 million dollar contract he signed with the Rangers .

 

[kis123]

are you still on that ? ....

I would like to see a news article a video or anything related to thid deal? Heck a team or the league would be helpful as well .

The hit to his reputation would be almost impossible to repair ; he would be viewed as a traitor . Look at all the crap A-fraud still takes to this day for the 252 million dollar contract he signed with the Rangers .

Yes dear, I'm still on that

I'll work on the links; right now it's pretty much local.

Personally speaking, for $400 mil, I wouldn't care what anyone thinks!

 

[FlockOfSeagulls]

Yes dear, I'm still on that

I'll work on the links; right now it's pretty much local.

Personally speaking, for $400 mil, I wouldn't care what anyone thinks!

fair enuff

I have a problem in the money justification . i can`t imagine a team outside the NBA could financially swing the deal . Hell , that amount of money is more than most NBA franchises are worth.

How long is the contract . even at ten years that is 40 million per year . even teams like the Lakers , Bulls , and Mavs would have a hard time meeting those financial obligations for just one player even if there wasn`t a salary cap .

 

[kis123]

Here you go........

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...s-lead-is-lebron-james-heading-overseas-humor

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3520860

http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2008/8/6/588070/lebron-willing-to-go-overs

 

[MrMacphisto]

Believe me, we Laker fans are NOT worried about Kobe leaving. Why would he? He is the king of the town, he just led us to another title and has the chance to get more. What on Earth could another team offer. Kobe could opt out of his contract, but that could also free up more money to sign Odom, Ariza and Brown.

LA is Kobe's home....

Pretty much. Kobe is to the Lakers what Jordan was to the Bulls.

The Knicks are one of the few teams with the money to afford Kobe, but they don't have the players needed to attract him.

 

[FlockOfSeagulls]

Here you go........

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...s-lead-is-lebron-james-heading-overseas-humor

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3520860

http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2008/8/6/588070/lebron-willing-to-go-overs

Thank you for supplying the links.

they are all very tongue-in-cheek yet kind of entertaining . By the way , I have some ocean front property in arizona I will sell really really cheap.

tell you what , if this happens I will write a thread in sports section giving you KUDOS and all the credit in the world for being the only one that predicted this .

 

[kis123]

Thank you for supplying the links.

they are all very tongue-in-cheek yet kind of entertaining . By the way , I have some ocean front property in arizona I will sell really really cheap.

tell you what , if this happens I will write a thread in sports section giving you KUDOS and all the credit in the world for being the only one that predicted this .

I'm not the only one who predicted this; the offer's been on the table for long time. Personally I hope he doesn't leave, but thoroughly understand if he does. He's young and should seek out opportunities for himself and his family. Anyone else with similar chances should do the same IMO.

In the end, we can admire, respect, and enjoy him but we don't own him and he can do what any other enterprising young man can to better his situation.

 

[FlockOfSeagulls]

but do you really think moving your family to China, which is a 3rd world country , to make more money is really a better option ?

My cousin works for the government and has a 3 year committment in Beijing and can`t wait to move to next post.

 

[kis123]

but do you really think moving your family to China, which is a 3rd world country , to make more money is really a better option ?

My cousin works for the government and has a 3 year committment in Beijing and can`t wait to move to next post.

With all due respect, your cousin isn't going to make $50 mil/year. For that kind of money, I can learn to suck it up!

LeBron came from borderline abject poverty and a horrible family situation; I'm very familiar with the city he was raised in. Anyone from there getting an opportunity to do that would jump at the chance, trust me.

 

[FlockOfSeagulls]

With all due respect, your cousin isn't going to make $50 mil/year. For that kind of money, I can learn to suck it up!

LeBron came from borderline abject poverty and a horrible family situation; I'm very familiar with the city he was raised in. Anyone from there getting an opportunity to do that would jump at the chance, trust me.

you act like the guy has no money . He lives like a king in the Unites States and all he is going to do is a get big fat 100 + million dollar contract next summer in free agency. Quality of life is as much of a factor in the equation as anything . If he goes to New York he has the best of everything. If he goes to China then his quality of life drops dramatically .In China , people spit inside of buildings like they are outside. The pollution is almost unbearable and you can bet every penny he makes he would be followed around by Chinese government officials . Not to mention the fact of the language barriers.

 

[kis123]

you act like the guy has no money . He lives like a king in the Unites States and all he is going to do is a get big fat 100 + million dollar contract next summer in free agency. Quality of life is as much of a factor in the equation as anything . If he goes to New York he has the best of everything. If he goes to China then his quality of life drops dramatically .In China , people spit inside of buildings like they are outside. The pollution is almost unbearable and you can bet every penny he makes he would be followed around by Chinese government officials . Not to mention the fact of the language barriers.

Yes, he has money, but if he wants to be the billionaire baller he claims, he's going to take whatever deal gets him there. And do you know the cost of living in NYC is higher than almost everywhere in US? He won't get the same money either-we both know that. And IRS follows his money right here in the US so at this point, what is the difference? Very little IMO.

Some of you are getting yourselves in a flustered funk over something that at this point is speculative and is completely out of your control. Once LeBron fulfills his contract, he is obligated to no one but himself and his family. You can admire, respect, and even enjoy him, but he's his own man and will do whatever he chooses.

It's sports entertainment, it's not like he's finding the cure to cancer or something.

 

[FlockOfSeagulls]

Yes, he has money, but if he wants to be the billionaire baller he claims, he's going to take whatever deal gets him there. And do you know the cost of living in NYC is higher than almost everywhere in US? He won't get the same money either-we both know that. And IRS follows his money right here in the US so at this point, what is the difference? Very little IMO.

Some of you are getting yourselves in a flustered funk over something that at this point is speculative and is completely out of your control. Once LeBron fulfills his contract, he is obligated to no one but himself and his family. You can admire, respect, and even enjoy him, but he's his own man and will do whatever he chooses.

It's sports entertainment, it's not like he's finding the cure to cancer or something.

speculation is my main point this whole time. You are the one that brought this up about LeBron, isn`t that right , so right now none of it means anything. He doesn`t play for the Mavs , so i really don`t care if he wants to retire and move to the Pacific Northwest and search for bigfoot.

 

[primetime]

Lebron won't leave the country. There would be way too much world wide media flak for him going. Why? The level of competition outside the U.S. is not the same. He would dominate in a "small pond" so to speak. He would be ridiculed and said he couldn't live up to the expectations of the NBA.

As for money, his NBA contract is not his only source of income. He could possibly make up the difference in his 200 million (watch it happen) NBA contract and his endorsements. Lebron leaving would be a bad, bad choice.

Now, I heard this rumor and I hope to God it doesn't happen. If Rasheed Wallace signs with Cleveland, Cleveland will be in the Finals. Lebron/old man Shaq/Rasheed Wallace is a lethal combination and it shores up Cleveland's weaknesses.

 

[kis123]

speculation is my main point this whole time. You are the one that brought this up about LeBron, isn`t that right , so right now none of it means anything. He doesn`t play for the Mavs , so i really don`t care if he wants to retire and move to the Pacific Northwest and search for bigfoot.

So if you don't care, why are we even holding this dialogue? If it weren't for your responses, I would've been done with this several posts ago. At the end of the day, what LeBron does with his life doesn't add a penny to my paycheck or enhance my quality of life one bit. I'm not the one frustrated over this......not at all.

 

[FlockOfSeagulls]

So if you don't care, why are we even holding this dialogue? If it weren't for your responses, I would've been done with this several posts ago. At the end of the day, what LeBron does with his life doesn't add a penny to my paycheck or enhance my quality of life one bit. I'm not the one frustrated over this......not at all.

hmmmm... lets look at this objectively

If Lebron leaves the NBA , it could actually help my Mavs one day. If he leaves the Cavs your team immediately becomes one of the worst teams in the league. So , who would you think would be more frustrated as you put it ?

I have ,as always , enjoyed the repartee with you. Lets give this a little time to see what happens shall we