How tides have turned for the Suns...

[Goldfield]

I for one have been all over the singing of KOBE for the Suns. I felt our chances of landing him improved greatly when they lost to Detriot.


There were other rumors of the Suns trading for TMac also. I was only in favor of this as a second option to getting Kobe.

Either way the chances of one of the two happening seemed pretty good.


Now as I look at what is happening in LA. I Think it is VERY possable the Suns will become the biggest losers of the whole thing.


With Jackson out in LA, & Shaq on the trading block. Kobe WILL resign with LA... This was an option I really didnt see coming since NOBODY saw Shaq becoming expendable.

IMO the ONLY good offer the Lakers have with trading Shaq is to orlando. The main part of the deal would include TMac & the #1 pick in the draft.


The Lakers would end up keeping KOBE(huge considering what would of took place if he left), add TMac(The rumors become true they wanted to play together), and then Draft Okafor to become their center of the future who just so happens to be a clone of the guy who just whooped them in the finals...

The Lakers who seemed to be on the verge of dismantling are now a team that looks like this:
C: Okafor
PF: Malone
SF: TMac
SG: Kobe
PG: Peyton

Losing Shaq might be a blessing in disguise, now they have a team of motivated players for years to come. (gawd I hate the Lakers)


And the Suns end up without any of the two superstars they had their sights on from the start...

 

[Joe Mama]

I'm sure the Phoenix Suns would love to add Kobe Bryant. I'm almost positive he is their top target in free agency. They would probably also like McGrady as long as they don't have to give up too much for him. I doubt they will be seriously brokenhearted if they don't get either one of them however. I'm not sure that making some other moves in free agency and using that draft pick wouldn't make them a better team.

Joe Mama

 

[The Commish]

Beerz you need to learn how to spell before I take you seriously...second of all, it is unlikely that Shaq will be traded due to his enormous contract. No team owner is willing to completely dismantle their team in order to take The Diesel for the last couple years of his career. He is just butt-hurt over Phil leaving and Kupchek saying that they would "possibly" be open to trading Shaq.

 

[Yuma]

Beerz you need to learn how to spell before I take you seriously...second of all, it is unlikely that Shaq will be traded due to his enormous contract. No team owner is willing to completely dismantle their team in order to take The Diesel for the last couple years of his career. He is just butt-hurt over Phil leaving and Kupchek saying that they would "possibly" be open to trading Shaq.

First of all, I spell horrendously, AND you honestly want a guy who goes by Beerz as his moniker to spell correctly! PUH-LEEZ!

You are right about Shaq. Rumor has it Kobe gets to make the choice in team members for next year. I forget which ESPN analyst said it, but they said Kupchak will put Shaq's name there for Kobe to consider and remind him, they DID win 3 championships together. With that salary, the Orlando GM already went on record saying NO WAY! LA is the ONLY team that can cover that kind of jack and semi-stay under the cap. If Shaq wants out THAT bad, he will almost HAVE to take a pay cut. He is already criticising Garnette taking a cut. If he doesn't want to be paid less, Shaq stays in LA.

 

[George O'Brien]

First of all, I spell horrendously, AND you honestly want a guy who goes by Beerz as his moniker to spell correctly! PUH-LEEZ!

You are right about Shaq. Rumor has it Kobe gets to make the choice in team members for next year. I forget which ESPN analyst said it, but they said Kupchak will put Shaq's name there for Kobe to consider and remind him, they DID win 3 championships together. With that salary, the Orlando GM already went on record saying NO WAY! LA is the ONLY team that can cover that kind of jack and semi-stay under the cap. If Shaq wants out THAT bad, he will almost HAVE to take a pay cut. He is already criticising Garnette taking a cut. If he doesn't want to be paid less, Shaq stays in LA.

Shaq will be paid less. He doesn't want to hear it, but two years from now he will discover just how impossible it is for anyone to afford $30 mil.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Orlando is the one place that Shaq might consider taking a pay cut, since it is home. The convenience of playing in the city where you make your home has a lot of appeal, and its a good way of saving face if you are going to have to take a pay cut anyway.

It sure would be nice to find a 5 during this off season that can play killer D, hit a 10 footer with some effectiveness, block shots, and rebound. He doesn't have to have a "back to the basket" game.

Also, getting a pg who can really distribute would be a boon.

That might be the better choice than trying to land a superstar.

 

[Yuma]

Orlando is the one place that Shaq might consider taking a pay cut, since it is home. The convenience of playing in the city where you make your home has a lot of appeal, and its a good way of saving face if you are going to have to take a pay cut anyway.

It sure would be nice to find a 5 during this off season that can play killer D, hit a 10 footer with some effectiveness, block shots, and rebound. He doesn't have to have a "back to the basket" game.

Also, getting a pg who can really distribute would be a boon.

That might be the better choice than trying to land a superstar.

I am leery of Dampier due to his past health issues. However, if we got him relatively cheap, and for just 2-3 years, I would be OK with that. Also, I don't want to throw huge jack at Nash. An interim PG that would be decent salary while allowing our guys to develop would be ideal I think. Mostly, a PG that could close out the 4th period for us. I was really disappointed that Eisley couldn't do that for us. Then his salary wouldn't be so bad if he was at least contributing to wins for us in this manner.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Orlando is the one place that Shaq might consider taking a pay cut, since it is home. The convenience of playing in the city where you make your home has a lot of appeal, and its a good way of saving face if you are going to have to take a pay cut anyway.

Not to mention no state income tax

 

[Yuma]

Not to mention no state income tax

On the downside, if you vote Democrat in the presidential election, your vote might not count! Sorry, it's a joke more than a political statment! Trust me! Also, all the good car choppers are on the West Coast!

 

[pokerface]

Its the end of the world as we know it...

...and I feel FINE


You know...we have a lot to be grateful for. We STILL have Amare/Marion/JJ...a bunch of nice prospects to go with...a high draft pick...and cap space. Maybe you should look at the Knicks mess and get a perspective or something!

 

[Yuma]

Oh geez, I brought up the Knicks! Now you have me worried Bryan C. will go Isiah on us!

 

[devilalum]

If Shaq wants to play in Orlando for personal reasons so be it but he will be playing there basically all by himself.

If the aforementioned trade did happen the Magic would still be a 30 win team. And with Shaq's salary they would stay that way.

Why would Orlando want to do this to themselves?

2 types of teams could trade for Shaq.

1. A team that has really deep pockets and lots of players and big salaries like the Mavs, Blazers, Knicks.

2. A team that could send enough to interest LA and still have the young cheap talent left to be really competitive now.(Suns Denver,?)

Orlando doesn't fit.