"The Combo" is officially over. No more Shaq, but at least Kobe is still here. Yesterday the Lakers officially traded Shaquille O'Neal to the Miami Heat in exchange for Lamar Odom, Brian Grant, Caron Butler and a 2006 1st round draft pick. Today it is being reported that Kobe will re-sign with the Lakers for a 7 year deal worth $136 million, so LA kept one of its superstars, but lost the other one. I want to say that while I had hoped the Lakers would get more for Shaq, I am glad they traded him. The Lakers had become very irritating with both Kobe and Shaq bickering every year, and I would have preferred that they keep Kobe if they had to get rid of one of the two. The reasons why I prefer Kobe are simple: Kobe is seven years younger than Shaq, Kobe makes less (meaning he's not as rough on the Lakers' salary cap), Kobe works hard (Shaq is notoriously lazy), and the style of basketball Kobe wants to play is more exciting to watch. True, the brand of basketball Shaq prefers has been more effective, but since the Lakers haven't won the last two years with Shaq as the team's focal point, I am glad to see the Lakers get rid of him now while he still has a lot of trade value (he'll become less and less attractive to other teams as he gets older and more expensive).
I want to also be clear that with the current Laker roster I do not consider them a legit championship contender next year, or for the year after that. However, if the Lakers make some more deals to bring in some additional great players, then that could change; but realistically I think the next time the Lakers will be legit contenders is 2 or 3 years from now. The Lakers are now officially a young team, after being a very old one for the last few years. They have a good core to build around with Kobe and Odom, and hopefully will provide us Laker fans with some entertaining ball for the next year or two or three as they position themselves well in the drafts and in the free agent market. The Lakers are in rebuilding mode, make no mistake, but I think they have a very bright future now.
Comments (2)
i completely agree w/u on keeping kobe. im so sick n tired of snaq(shaq). i wouldnt count them out yet, just maybe this is the move that the Lakers need to do to c how great kobe can be and actually make them a champion calliber team. Remember everybody counted out the Pistons, and they won b-coz they wanted it more. I think Kobe really wants it more that anyone especially snaq, so he can finally prove that he can win it w/o him.
Posted by kino | July 15, 2004 1:37 PM
Posted on July 15, 2004 13:37
I think Kobe really will shine with the team now, and that in a couple years when Shaq is 35, more overweight than he is now, more injured than he is now, grumpier than he is now and more overpaid than he is now; people will look back and say "the Lakers backed the right horse."
However, the reality is that right now the Lakers have almost no frontcourt at all. Brian Grant is 6'9", and he's it. If LA has Odom playing power forward (he really should be a small forward) and Brian Grant playing center (he's naturally a power forward), then LA is gonna be in real trouble. LA needs a legitimate center for any shot at the title, and the reality is that there aren't many legit centers out there, and even fewer the Lakers have any shot of acquiring. My guess is that Vlade Divac might come to the Lakers as a short-term (read 1 to 2 years) center, but LA still has a HUGE hole in the post.
They'll be fun to watch, a lot of running and gunning and fast breaks, but in the playoffs, if you don't have any interior defense (which the Lakers don't), you're gonna get mauled by teams like the Spurs, Timberwolves, Rockets, Kings and Nuggets who do have those interior guys.
The good news is that LA can spend the next 2-3 years letting Kobe get it all out of his system being "the man" while LA gets higher draft position (and that 2006 Heat 1st round pick), they'll get Kobe and Odom and everyone around them used to playing together; and then, hopefully, they'll be able to get out from under Brian Grant's ridiculous contract and make a legit run at someone like Yao Ming or Amare Stoudamire and then they really will be in the title hunt.
Posted by Yams | July 15, 2004 3:35 PM
Posted on July 15, 2004 15:35