Rumor: Shaq to Detroit for Wallace and the #2

[SECTION 11]

Anyone else hear this?

I'll look for a/the source.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Originally posted by SECTION 11
Anyone else hear this?

I'll look for a/the source.

And also check to see if you've run out of medication...



Mike

 

[SECTION 11]

Re: Re: Rumor: Shaq to Detroit for Wallace and the #2

Originally posted by Chandler Mike
And also check to see if you've run out of medication...

Nope. All stocked up. Thanks though.



Rumor of the week. The hot news in Los Angeles, in the wake of the Lakers' demise this season, is that Shaquille O'Neal might be available to interested bidders.

Columnist Tim Kawakami of the Los Angeles Times even came up with some fascinating scenarios for trading the NBA's dominant big man.

The most intriguing would send O'Neal to the Detroit Pistons, a deal that might even cause Larry Brown to break out of his irritating monotone.

Such a deal would send O'Neal to the Pistons for Ben Wallace, the No. 2 pick in the June draft, and whatever extra bodies are needed to help match Shaq's salary.

There's no telling how many points Kobe Bryant might average with Wallace and potential No. 2 pick Darko Milicic, a seven-footer, rebounding for him.

And it wouldn't leave Brown with a barren bench, either. The Pistons could send out O'Neal, Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Chauncey Billups.

In Kawakami's view, this deal would be consummated immediately, as in: "How fast can [Pistons GM] Joe Dumars say, 'Yes.' "

Whether it would help Brown remember his job description is another matter, but the trade would make a lot of sense.

 

[Chaplin]

This is the most ridiculous pile of horse**** I've read in a loooooong time.

 

[fordronken]

Here's the authentication of your "rumor":

http://espn.go.com/page2/s/simmons/030530.html

(Just out of curiosity, who blinks first if there was a "Wallace, Darko and Tayshaun for Shaq" trade on the table, Detroit or LA? Hmmmmm.)

This trade was proposed in a fun, silly and completely hypothetical Bill Simmons article. Does the trade sound intriguing? Sure. But just because an ESPN page 2 columnist wrote about it, it doesn't mean it's at all substantive.

And on a side note, if Shaq got traded to Detroit he would just retire. And plus, I would think he has a no-trade clause in his contract, or a trade kicker, or something that would make it pretty difficult to move him.

 

[SECTION 11]

Note to all readers:


...ahem...


SECTION 11 did not write this. Or dream it up. Or say it was going down. Or validate it. Or say it was a good idea. Or anything of that nature.

Thank you.




Christ almighty.

 

[elindholm]

Heh, it was from Simmons! Someone at the L.A. Times isn't plugged in enough to know that Simmons is a humor columnist. LMAO!

Ah, journalists. The 2% who aren't morons must really despise the other 98% who give the profession such a bad name.

 

[Russ Smith]

Re: Re: Re: Rumor: Shaq to Detroit for Wallace and the #2

Originally posted by SECTION 11
Nope. All stocked up. Thanks though.




Columnist Tim Kawakami of the Los Angeles Times even came up with some fascinating scenarios for trading the NBA's dominant big man.

Kawakami used to write for the LA times he now writes for the SJ Mercury news. He was speculating in that article.

He does have a track record he predicted Ben Howland to UCLA nearly 2 years before it happened. When he worked for the TIMES he was a vocal critic of Lavin.

 

[NYSunsFan]

That deal will never happen for both teams. LA would be crazy to give up Shaq and Detroit would be crazy to give up their future for Shaq. Not a good deal for both sides.

 

[cly2tw]

I think there is a chance that this deal could happen after next season, provided that LA failed again to win the championship due to Shaq's lack of motivation and that Milicic progressed according to the hype. But this year, with Phil as the coach, the shortest way to another championship is still to rely on Shaq/Kobe and whatever they could get in FA.

 

[Chaplin]

Mark my words: Shaq will never, ever, ever, EVER go to Detroit. Ever!

He'll retire first.

 

[hcsilla]

Originally posted by cly2tw
I think there is a chance that this deal could happen after next season, provided that LA failed again to win the championship due to Shaq's lack of motivation and that Milicic progressed according to the hype.

I think there isn't.

Shaq's salary will be 30 mil. in 2004.

DET should have to send their entire team to LA for matching the salaries.

 

[cly2tw]

Originally posted by hcsilla
I think there isn't.

Shaq's salary will be 30 mil. in 2004.

DET should have to send their entire team to LA for matching the salaries.

I didn't know that. Then the more likely scenario to break up the Shaq/Kobe dynasty may be that Kobe signs with Memphis as FA next year!