Snag in the Shaq deal?

[Joe Mama]

ESPN is reporting that the Los Angeles Lakers were unaware of Lamar Odom's 15% trade kicker that would pay him $8-9 million upfront. The Lakers obviously do not want to pay that much. However ESPN is saying that this will not necessarily kill the deal. The two sides are hoping to work past it. However this deal is far from a sure thing. Even if Miami also pays $3 million in cash that's going to leave the Lakers with Brian Grant's unattractive contract and $5-6 million owed to Lamar Odom.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm really hoping this doesn't drag out all summer.

Joe Mama

 

[capologist]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm really hoping this doesn't drag out all summer.

I kinda hope it drags out long enogh to drive Kobe to the Clips.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Chad Ford said in his column that the kicker can't be a real snag. Apparently every team has access to every players trade kickers, so this is not new news.

He speculates that since the Clips traded Ely and House for cap space, they may be the favorites. If that is the case, the Lakers could be holding off on the Shaq trade, since it doesn't make sense to trade him if they don't keep Bryant.

 

[coloradosun]

If this deal goes through, all the teams in the East are going to gear up with centers. Hopefully Dampier could end up in NY or Indiana. That could make the West a run and gun conference with the exception of Yao but the additon of McGrady there will definitely change to a faster tempo. It will be like the old ABA days and make the game fun to watch again. Come on Kobe sign with the Lakers and get this thing over with.

 

[elindholm]

If that is the case, the Lakers could be holding off on the Shaq trade, since it doesn't make sense to trade him if they don't keep Bryant.

O'Neal's rift with the Lakers is over money and (in O'Neal's eyes) respect, not Bryant. I think the Lakers have to trade O'Neal at this point no matter what.

 

[SweetD]

If that is the case, the Lakers could be holding off on the Shaq trade, since it doesn't make sense to trade him if they don't keep Bryant.

O'Neal's rift with the Lakers is over money and (in O'Neal's eyes) respect, not Bryant. I think the Lakers have to trade O'Neal at this point no matter what.

I agree Shaq needs to move on and let the Lakers try to win with out him, plus in the East he will be able to put up even better numbers. I think the only team with a big center in the East is Wash with Haywood.

 

[F-Dog]

O'Neal's rift with the Lakers is over money and (in O'Neal's eyes) respect, not Bryant. I think the Lakers have to trade O'Neal at this point no matter what.

I agree, but their needs change significantly if Kobe isn't there.


They'd probably prefer to get a mix of expiring contracts and projects instead of taking on big, long-term contracts (Brian Grant's contract, especially), and they probably wouldn't be as concerned about trading Shaq to a division rival.

 

[elindholm]

They'd probably prefer to get a mix of expiring contracts and projects instead of taking on big, long-term contracts...

True, but if they back out of their deal with the Heat just to trade O'Neal somewhere else, they'll look terrible. And no rebuilding team wants to be on other GMs' s-lists.

 

[George O'Brien]

I'm not sure I understand how a trade kicker effects the matching process. Could the Lakers just throw in George or Fox to balance it out?

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

I'm not sure I understand how a trade kicker effects the matching process. Could the Lakers just throw in George or Fox to balance it out?

It doesn't. The supposed snag was the Lakers didnt want to pay the lump sum to Odom. The trade still works under the CBA, but that little thing called millions of dollars appears to have gotton in the way for a moment.

 

[George O'Brien]

It doesn't. The supposed snag was the Lakers didnt want to pay the lump sum to Odom. The trade still works under the CBA, but that little thing called millions of dollars appears to have gotton in the way for a moment.

Oh, it's just money? Then maybe the Lakers are getting cold feet.

 

[B-Dogg]

The deal is official... SHAQ is no longer in the Western Conference.... Let us all rejoice with this news... and the demise of the Lakers begins.....