Fantasy scenario for Lakers

[elindholm]

Okay, how realistic is this?

1. Phil Jackson decides that his health is too important, and he doubts that the Lakers have the hunger to win next year anyway. He retires this summer.

2. Shaquille O'Neal makes good on his promise never to play for another coach, also citing his own health concerns (the anti-pain medication he has to take has long-term side effects). He also retires this summer. He's not really giving up that much money, because the Lakers will give him a cushy front office job as Director of Saying Goofy Things.

3. The league permits O'Neal's salary to be removed from the Lakers' books immediately. You know this would happen.

4. The Lakers decline their option on Robert Horry.

5. The Lakers now have room to sign two max free agents. They sign Jermaine O'Neal and Jason Kidd.

6. They get a decent PF/C in a trade for Derek Fisher, who is on a pretty good contract ($3 million per year through 2006, no raises). They might have to include a draft pick or work out a sign-and-trade with someone.

Lineup:

PF/C - J. O'Neal
PF/C - Trade acquisition for Fisher
SF - George or Fox
SG - Bryant
PG - Kidd

Bench:
Mid-level exception
Fox or George
Medvedenko
Rush
Pargo

It's a pretty good start, right? I don't think either Malone or Pippen would be interested in joining this team, but they could surely get someone good with their mid-level.

 

[hcsilla]

This scenario doesn't work under CBA.

If Shaq would retire then his salary still would count against the cap.

If by some miracle Shaq's salary wouldn't count against their cap their team pay-roll would be still about 30 mil. so they could sign only one max. FA.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

I'd rather see the Lakers win no more titles for awhile than have the wifebeater on my team. Screw Jason Kidd.

 

[elindholm]

If by some miracle Shaq's salary wouldn't count against their cap their team pay-roll would be still about 30 mil. so they could sign only one max. FA.

Ah, right, I misread Hoopshype's numbers. Okay, then, two "almost" max FAs.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

also, they'd get nothing for fischer. he's a good streak shooter and defender, but he's not a classic point guard. he's best at filling the bj armstrong, craig hodges, steve kerr, paxon (hurts to even say his name) roll. basically, he thrives in the triangle.

 

[Joe Mama]

We all know that Shaquille O'Neal is rich beyond belief, but no front office job is going to pay him more then 2% of his current salary.

Joe Mama

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Originally posted by Joe Mama
We all know that Shaquille O'Neal is rich beyond belief, but no front office job is going to pay him more then 2% of his current salary.

Joe Mama

He's been very vocal about becoming a police officer in Oxnard, Ca.

Imagine trying to get out of a ticket from Shaq...

 

[arthurracoon]

When is Kobe a FA?

 

[hcsilla]

Originally posted by elindholm
If by some miracle Shaq's salary wouldn't count against their cap their team pay-roll would be still about 30 mil. so they could sign only one max. FA.

Ah, right, I misread Hoopshype's numbers. Okay, then, two "almost" max FAs.

How do you figure it?
Two "almost" FA's for 10 mil.?
This is enough only for two "mid-level" FA's.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Originally posted by arthurracoon
When is Kobe a FA?

I believe he can opt out of his current deal after next season. An extension has been "on-the-table" for nearly a year and a half.

 

[elindholm]

How do you figure it?
Two "almost" FA's for 10 mil.?

Sorry, I thought the cap was projected to be $45 million. My mistake.

Forget it.

 

[hcsilla]

Originally posted by elindholm
How do you figure it?
Two "almost" FA's for 10 mil.?

Sorry, I thought the cap was projected to be $45 million. My mistake.

Forget it.

I don't know if this is a sarcasm but the cap probably will stay about 40 mil. next season.

 

[Renz]

No way Shaq retires now. He wants to win as many titles as Magic or Mikan. I doubt Phil Jackson leaves after this year, it ending so bitterly and all. Besides, no way would a team be better by subtracting Shaq. I can see Kobe leaving after next year and trying to find a team that is "his own". I don't think that he will have anywhere near the success that they have enjoyed in LA though. Hopefully he stays and the Lakers add a Malone or Pippen to make another title run next year.

 

[fordronken]

More realistically:

• Spurs win championship. Webber cries.

• Memphis gets to use their lottery pick, as it falls in at the number one spot. They draft LeBron James. (You'll see in a minute why this is important)

• Spurs sign Brad Miller and Gilbert Arenas.

• Shaq signs a multi million dollar maximum three year extension, Lakers retool their roster, everyone comes back hungry and they beat the Spurs to win one more championship. Webber cries. Again.

• After which, Phil says "Thanks for the memories." Cites health and retires.

• Shaq says "No Phil? Then no Shaq. Thanks for the memories."

• Kobe says "No Phil, Shaq's contract still on the books, and the remaining Lakers are Pargo, Slava and Rush?"

• Kobe calls Jerry West, who has at this point cleared enough cap space to sign his former student. Kobe-wan teaches LeBron how to kick a** and take names.

• Brad Miller and Gilbert Arenas help the Spurs win two more championships.

• Amare becomes a fully fledged beast. Suns dethrone the Spurs in 2006. The Monster dunks on the Big Fundamental.

• Kobe and LeBron step up to to become a dominant force in the NBA.

• Suns and Grizzlies take turns LA-Boston style and have one of the greatest championship rivalries since, well...LA and Boston. Everyone pretends the NBA finals don't exist(in which the Carmello/Wallace led Pistons get swept every year).

• Amare wins his third finals MVP trophy.

• David Aldridge praises Jared Jeffries, and points out that he has a lot of good years left. "Points are an overrated statistic. Don't be foold by Jeffries 4.7 ppg average. In fifteen years people will talk about Amare over Jeffries the same way they do with Bowie over Jordan."

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

hell to even make the bos LA thing more real....just pretend that when the retooling of divisions happens because of the charlotte expansion that jerry west gets his wish and moves out east

 

[hcsilla]

fordronken,lol.

It was good, especially the last one.