FishFan19

I don't want Russell, I'll be happy with Horry though. Guys like Malone, Damon Jones, Horry, Kukoc, Rodney Rogers, all could be solid additions to the Heat team. Another player I really want but I doubt we get is Rodney White.

Just back on the topic, I'm a huge Heat fan but I still think the Pistons and the Spurs are the teams to beat in their conferences and should be expected to win. They both have won with the team they have and only added pieces, I am expecting Miami to surprise some people though.

i will laugh long and hard if shaq gets hurt next year. Wow. :confused

shaq will also come up with some degrading name for the pistons also i would assume. thats his history. 466640[/snapback] Yup I can't wait. At the press conference he was cracking jokes the entire team, should be a lot fun this season.

The amount of Heat Haters is just flying through the roof. Shaq has never played with a special guard like Dwyane Wade.? :thumbup Take that Kobe. 466592[/snapback] oh come on. i love how all you heat homers are implying in many ways that shaq will be better becuase he is playing with wade instead of kobe. last i checked....kobe was a top 5 NBA player. is wade even top 25? 466603[/snapback] Shaq said it not me. Kobe was top 5 playing alongside Shaq, I doubt he'll ever win another title even if he's not in jail.

The amount of Heat Haters is just flying through the roof. Shaq has never played with a special guard like Dwyane Wade. :thumbup Take that Kobe.

I don't think it would require the MLE probably a lot less, here's a quote from Malone I think he would love to play w/ Shaq again. It appears unlikely Malone will return to the Lakers, even if Bryant re-signs with them. When free agency came for Bryant and a trade loomed for O'Neal, Malone pledged not to choose between them. So, he mulls retirement some days, the Spurs on others, and other teams still call, his options growing by the day. "It's very disheartening," Malone said. "Shaq was without a doubt ? and I didn't know Kobe ? Shaq was the main reason I came here. Now they traded him. They didn't talk to me about what I thought about it, if I was coming back. I'm very disappointed it would happen like that. "If I was to come back, I'd look at those guys as my teammates. I'd go to war with them every night. I came here for a particular reason, though. It's been snatched away from me. Not only did [the Lakers] not talk about it with me, the information I got was from TV and newspapers. I mean, not to disrespect Grant and Odom and all those guys, but you're not going to replace Shaq."

Or couldn't we then trade EJ for a SF or PF?

Stephen Jackson is gone to the Pacers- 6 years 39 million.

Who do you want then, Duncan? Garnett? We don't have too much options.

Damn we are really running out of options, maybe take the risk and go with McDyess

Has Etan Thomas been signed as yet, he could be our starting PF.

Heres a sun-sentinel article with some FA the head would go after for next season, and some words from Shaq's agent http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/basketb...fla-sports-heat Still, with O'Neal on the payroll, the Heat likely could attract significant value with the $5.1 million and $1.6 million signing exceptions granted to teams above the salary cap. Options for such contracts could include forwards such as Toni Kukoc, Stephen Jackson, Eric Williams and Keon Clark, as well as guards such as Damon Jones, Lindsey Hunter and Shammond Williams. Shortly after O'Neal completed his workout and then a meeting with Heat President Pat Riley, the center's agent, Perry Rogers, confirmed that O'Neal had decided his basketball future should be in Miami. "We've said that we would agree to a trade,'' Rogers said. "I think that's going to happen. I'd be very surprised if it didn't happen."

Man i wish we could just find out who the 3rd player is. Should I love Riles or hate him. I really hope Caron is not in this deal, really really hope.

DA said it could be Wright as the 3rd player. Still would rather give a 1st rounder, but I rather have Butler than Wright.

QUOTE Sources told ESPN's Jim Gray on Friday night that if the Heat agree to trade Brian Grant, Lamar Odom and either Caron Butler or a No. 1 draft pick, then the Lakers will trade them Shaquille O'Neal. The deal s in Miami's hands now, the sources said. Watch with amazement when the Lakers hold out for Butler. And they will. Either Caron Butler or 1st rounder, that's what was reported. We hold all the chips, if they change their mind and want Butler then no deal and they are stuck with a unhappy Shaq and lose him for nothing next year.

If Butler's not in the deal - you gotta pull the trigger, this chance doesn't come up every offseason. If Butler's in the deal - forget it. Simple as that. Finally someone agrees, I hope Riley feels the same way.

Ok once again from what was reported the deal is not w/ Butler.

I'm not going to even argue if you can't see how much better this deal makes up, why try? You seem to be guarenteeing championships w/ the team we have now and thats not going to happen and I don't see us adding a good center without trading away some1 from the core. Shaq Haslem Butler Jones Wade Is as good as anybody in the East and can be that way for the next 4-5 years. I know its hard to lose good players from your team but you can't expect Riley to get a starting C w/ garbage. Does anybody think Odom is better than Shaq?

I remember reading I think in some paper saying if CB is included it's a good deal for Lakers, if he's not it's a good deal for the Heat. Thats exactly how I feel and why I am all over this, if the trade happens CB would be a huge part of our team. So once again who would you rather have Odom or Shaq?

Miami trades: PF Brian Grant (8.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 0.9 apg in 30.3 minutes) SF Lamar Odom (17.1 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 4.1 apg in 37.5 minutes) Miami receives: C Shaquille O'Neal (21.5 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 2.9 apg in 36.8 minutes) Change in team outlook: -4.3 ppg, -5.1 rpg, and -2.1 apg. L.A. Lakers trades: C Shaquille O'Neal (21.5 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 2.9 apg in 36.8 minutes) L.A. Lakers receives: PF Brian Grant (8.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 0.9 apg in 76 games) SF Lamar Odom (17.1 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 4.1 apg in 80 games) Change in team outlook: +4.3 ppg, +5.1 rpg, and +2.1 apg. TRADE ACCEPTED Due to Miami and L.A. Lakers being over the cap, the 15% trade rule is invoked. Miami and L.A. Lakers had to be no more than 115% plus $100,000 of the salary given out for the trade to be accepted, which did happen here. This trade satisfies the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- And the Lakers, as reported by Gray would take a 1st rounder or Butler.

get real people, the heat are this close to gettting shaq, and people are not exited about it. Yep, I love LO as much as anyone but I can't believe some people rather have Odom than Shaq.

I believe Das is right, the money without Butler doesn't add up, unless the Heat are going to throw more bench money into it (which thins the bench anymore. Using realgm trade checker it does add up. And getting Shaq HARDLY makes them the favorites in the East. I'd put them 3rd behind Detroit and Indiana, even if they still have Butler. I of course would disagree. But anybody would have to admit it does make us better.

Like Fake Das said, the deal doesn't work without Butler and who cares if you have that good big man when you have no 4, no 3, and a debatable 2 (Jones is mediocre), and no depth. Why? If Gray is right they will take a 1st rounder. SO who would you rather have as your frontcourt Odom/Grant or Haslem/Shaq and we might be able to get a better starter than Haslem. its the equivilent of trading minor leaguers for a 2 month rental in the MLB. shaq doesnt guarentee a title As we were one of the teams Shaq requested I'm sure his next deal would finish out his career with Miami. This would probably be discussed before any deal.

No Malone for me I can learn to forgive Shaq for being a Laker, but Karl Malone is asking too much. I think Haslem can be a capable starter, Allen also had very good stretches against the Pacers. And if this trade does happen who knows maybe Riles will make some more moves.