Things aren't looking good for your Mavs, Vonk.

[Kimona]

Well considering they made the 'best' team look silly for 5 games straight... with absolutely no signs of letting up, guess its time to show the Pistons a little respect?

Sure, sure, the Pistons won the championship but guess what? No one cares. Even during the series when they were dusting the Lakers left and right (and they were), no one was talking about what the Pistons were doing right, everyone kept talking about the Lakers were doing wrong. Hell, even though the Lakers were getting the snot beat out of them, the Pistons were still the underdogs.

Remember that post a few weeks back where Jirig “broke down” the Lakers player by player and said the Spurs would own them? (Look it up if you want, because I ain’t.) It’s exactly like I wrote then. The Lakers would lose the series, someone else will win, and no one outside of their home city (in this case, Detroit) will give a damn. This is why I always maintain that the Lakers are the number one team in the NBA, regardless of standings and titles. So yeah, Pistons fans, you won the title. Gratz. But don’t go looking for respect because no one’s giving it to you. All people want to hear about is Shaq and Kobe.

And speaking as a lifelong Laker fan, this is a seriously exciting time. I’ll tell you this, there’s no guarantee that Kobe will resign even if Shaq leaves. The Lakers can totally end up with nothing. Starting line up for 2004-05 could be Devean George, GP, Luke Walton and Kareem Rush! What’s going to happen next?! Who will be a Laker when the dust settles? Dirk? Elton Brand? Al Harrington? Rudy T.?! I can't wait!

[brinstar]

I AM SO FULL OF ANTICIPATION THAT MY PENIS IS LEAKING SEMEN

[vonkaar]

Who will be a Laker when the dust settles? Dirk?

DIE A HORRIBLE MAGGOTY DEATH!!!!!

[vonkaar]

Mother fucker...

Apparently the current rumor (L.A. Times, NY Times and ESPN.com) is that we've offered to trade Nash AND Dirk for Shaq.

I'm crying 8(

[Malluas]

that would doom the mavs. Dirk eventho he play no D can at least score at will. Get rid of him the offense takes a huge dive. And you would have no point guard heh

its gonna be an interestin off season. Orlando might make the trade for Stevie anyways, but then right away trade him

and who knows about Kobe, he may be going to jail.

[vonkaar]

Dirk isn't the only scoring presence we have...

It just sucks because all of the others are also being discussed as trade bait =/.

Dirk isn't meant to play defense. If you put him next to a beefy center and let him play on the perimeter, he'd be Larry Bird all over. The defensive pressure is what haunts him. If you put Dirk on the Pacer's lineup, they'd be one of the most dominating teams in the history of the game. He IS amazing, but NEEDS to be on a team that can defend. Let him work his offensive magic and he'll dominate like Wilt.

[Zanchief]

too bad basketball sux =\

[Jirig]

Dirk leaving TX would make me cry irl.

[Kimona]

The latest rumor here in LA is that the Clippers are ready to make a serious offer for Shaq. Local radio stations are reporting that they’d trade Elton Brand, Corey Maggette, their #4 draft pick in Thursday’s draft and possibly a player to be named later for Shaq. Seriously, if I was Mitch Kupchak, I’d jump at this deal. This deal would give the Lakers a young, solid core of players who could be contenders in 2-3 years. Even more so if you throw Erick Dampier in the mix, local stations are also reporting that he might opt out of his contract and would be interested in talking to the Lakers.

I like Dirk. He’s probably my favorite player in the NBA and I would love to see him on the home team. But the main problem I would have with Shaq going to Dallas is that if he is trading, I don’t want him staying in the West and turning another team into a contender. So if the Lakers trade him, definitely trade him to an Eastern team that they only have to play twice a year. But, if he’s traded to the Clippers, then I don’t think I’d have to worry about them giving the Lakers a run for their money.

[Zanchief]

Dirk leaving TX would make me cry irl.

Unless he came to TO!!

[Malluas]

rumor has it Shaq for Webber and Bibby

which would be nice.. but would NEVER happen.

He was quoted in a LV newspaper eluding to coming to the kings, and the Kings are one of those 20 teams interested.

But its shaq and he was probably just sayin that to play with the reporter

[Zanchief]

the Kings are one of those 20 teams interested.

Try 30.

[vonkaar]

He (Shaq) gave the administration a list of 8 teams that he would play for.

[Zanchief]

Imagine a Duncan/Shaq front court?

[Malluas]

jsut going by some article i read that only 20 of the 30 teams are tryin to get him hehe

[vonkaar]

Imagine a Duncan/Shaq front court?

Outside teams like Seattle would butcher that combo.

Big guys like this are best paired with badass offensive masters... which is why the T-Mac / Yao combo would be amazing... which is why the Dirk / Shaq combo would be amazing.

[Zanchief]

Outside teams like Seattle would butcher that combo.

Big guys like this are best paired with badass offensive masters... which is why the T-Mac / Yao combo would be amazing... which is why the Dirk / Shaq combo would be amazing.

Both Timmy and Shaq ARE offensive masters and I don't see it the same way as you do. Ss long as you have good back court defenders to force the shooters to drive, you’re funneling smaller players at two crazy good shot blockers/rebounders.

It would be like Duncan/Robinson but better.

[Jirig]

Can't replace the Admiral. Not even with Shaq.

[vonkaar]

WOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

[Zanchief]

Yaaaaaa!!!!

5th round pick and two crappy players!!!!!!

[vonkaar]

Trade bait. Anybody who is familiar with Don Nelson's magic recognizes this type of trade. I doubt that more than one of the three players involved will actually wear a Mavs jersey this year.

[Zanchief]

Trade bait. Anybody who is familiar with Don Nelson's magic recognizes this type of trade. I doubt that more than one of the three players involved will actually wear a Mavs jersey this year.

For your sake, I hope you are right.

[vonkaar]

Well, to call Stackhouse a crappy player because of one injured year is pretty short-sighted. Three years ago, he finished 2nd in the LEAGUE in PPG(29.8) and first in points. His last year in Detroit, (2 seasons ago) he hit 21.5ppg, 4.5apg and 4.1rpg. Last year, playing on a team full of nobodies, he still managed 21.5ppg. He's hardly a shitty player.

He's a good defender...

He's experienced, but not 'old'... he's well respected for his work ethics and general knowledge of the game.

Christian Laettner is also a 'noteable' player, although he's definitely the weaker portion of the trade. He's a bench-player but IS capable of clutch performances. I won't lie and say that I'm excited to see him wearing blue next year, but... then... we *do* still have Tariq-Abdul-Wahad... so... can't get much worse. He's cheap, t'boot.

ESPN touches on the subject much more eloquently than I:

ESPN.com reported late Tuesday that, according to Lakers sources, L.A. refuses to deal O'Neal to their Western Conference rival unless Dallas makes Dirk Nowitzki available. Mavericks sources maintain that Nowitzki remains off-limits, but the prospect of adding the No. 5 pick to a package that could include point guard Steve Nash (via sign-and-trade), Antoine Walker (who has just one year left on his contract) and promising rookie Josh Howard should at least get the Lakers' attention.

If the Lakers do eventually consent to trade O'Neal, in the wake of Shaq's demand for a trade last week, their goal would be injecting their roster with quality youth and depth to surround Kobe Bryant.

Jamison's appeal to the Wizards is obvious. Instead of gambling on more youth at No. 5 with an inexperienced roster already, Washington gets an established frontcourt scorer who should contend for an All-Star spot in the East after accepting a bench role without complaint in Dallas.

The trade works out for everyone involved. That's the way it's supposed to be. I just hate the fact that we are so willing to deal Howard. I'm actually wearing a #5 Mavs t-shirt as I type this 8(.

[Zanchief]

Stack is done. He had two bad years with injuries and before that disapeared comepletely from the playoffs, the reason why Dumars traded him.

I have written him off completely.

Laettner is done also, he's just too damn old.

I'd hope for a gem at #5, maybe Levingston, cause LA isn't going to take that crap. Maybe with Nash in a sign and trade and Walker and Howard and the Pick maybe they'll do it, but I doubt it.

[vonkaar]

You think Deng will last the first four picks? I'd love to have him in Dallas.

Stackhouse SUCKS in the playoffs. His career playoff numbers are like HALF his regular season stats. That's waaaay odd. He's not THAT risky though... I mean, it's not like we got Hill or something stupid. He *did* get 21ppg in his last 'healthy' season. That's not bad. It doesn't matter... the highlight of the trade is the draft-pick. That's what L.A. is going to be interested in. Stack and Laettner are just additional trade-fodder. Howard/Walker/Nash/#5 for Shaq... Finley(cry)/Stackhouse/Laettner... maybe Najera(cry) for T-Mac. Daniels sticks around to play the point... Shaq continues his GOD role, Dirk destroys defenses with his midrange jumpers... T-Mac scores at will. Dallas wins our first championship next year and all is happy in the world.

Seems the Iverson/Carter trade rumor is gathering some steam... I don't know why... it wouldn't make much of a difference to either team =/. Ya'll need to trade away a fairly large portion of your boat anchors, Philly needs a complete fucking shake-down. Carter is a marquee player that ya'll COULD build around... but AI needs to go elsewhere... to L.A. or Portland (my picks).