A Shaq proposal from a Knick fan. Laker Fans?

[BIGSMJS]

This is no rumor and I've heard nothing new about Shaq coming to NY after the Stephen A. Smith sportscenter segment. Since it seems Dallas refuses to trade Dirk which kills any trade there and LA wants no part of trading Shaq to the hated Kings, Why not my Knicks? So here's my proposal. In a 3 team trade between LA, NY and GS:


NY Gets:
Shaq($28M), Evan Eschmeyer($4M) and Cliff Robinson($8M).
Taking on $40M in salary. Giving up $34M in salary plus $3M cash.

LA Gets:
Erik Dampier(sign and trade$8M), Tim Thomas($11M), Kurt Thomas($7M) and Frank Williams($2M)
Taking on $28M in salary. Giving up $28M in salary.

GS Gets:
Nazr Mohammed($5M), Dikembe Mutombo($5M), Othella Harrington($3M) and DeMarr Johnson(sign and trade $1M) $3M from NY.
Taking on $14M in salary plus $3M in cash from NY. Giving up $20M.

My reasoning for each team:
NY gets Shaq. No explanation needed. LA gets 3 starters in Thomas x2 and Dampier plus a very good up and coming PG in Frank Williams. Not to mention Shaq is out of the conference. GS gets a nice young Center in Nazr who can get you 10 Points and 10 Boards a night which is better than losing Dampier for nothing which they probably will since this trade most likely won't happen. Also GS rids themselves of the overpaid Eschmeyer and Cliff who are signed through '06 while taking on Johnson, Othella and Mutombo who can all be let go after this upcoming season.

  Most likely not going to happen but, I thought it was worth posting. What do you think?

[Guest_Randy]

This is no rumor and I've heard nothing new about Shaq coming to NY after the Stephen A. Smith sportscenter segment. Since it seems Dallas refuses to trade Dirk which kills any trade there and LA wants no part of trading Shaq to the hated Kings, Why not my Knicks? So here's my proposal. In a 3 team trade between LA, NY and GS:


NY Gets:
Shaq($28M), Evan Eschmeyer($4M) and Cliff Robinson($8M).
Taking on $40M in salary. Giving up $34M in salary plus $3M cash.

LA Gets:
Erik Dampier(sign and trade$8M), Tim Thomas($11M), Kurt Thomas($7M) and Frank Williams($2M)
Taking on $28M in salary. Giving up $28M in salary.

GS Gets:
Nazr Mohammed($5M), Dikembe Mutombo($5M), Othella Harrington($3M) and DeMarr Johnson(sign and trade $1M) $3M from NY.
Taking on $14M in salary plus $3M in cash from NY. Giving up $20M.

My reasoning for each team:
NY gets Shaq. No explanation needed. LA gets 3 starters in Thomas x2 and Dampier plus a very good up and coming PG in Frank Williams. Not to mention Shaq is out of the conference. GS gets a nice young Center in Nazr who can get you 10 Points and 10 Boards a night which is better than losing Dampier for nothing which they probably will since this trade most likely won't happen. Also GS rids themselves of the overpaid Eschmeyer and Cliff who are signed through '06 while taking on Johnson, Othella and Mutombo who can all be let go after this upcoming season.

  Most likely not going to happen but, I thought it was worth posting. What do you think?

I think the Lakers need TWO things for Shaq -- a young center is one of them.  The other is a young quality PG.  (They might settle for another young player at the SF or PF)

I don't like this trade -- not because of Dampier but I want another star player besides Dampier -- like Nash, etc.  I wouldn't even consider this trade if I were LA -- there's just not enough to it.  If you added Speedy Claxton to the deal, I might be more willing.

[JoMal]

This is going to be the big problem with any team trading for Shaq. Whatever team gets him will have to surround him with CBA rejects after they trade their entire star-quality roster to get him.

[BIGSMJS]

Randy, I don't know how much you've seen of Frank Williams but, I truely believe he will be a better player than Speedy. Williams played great as the Knicks starter before the Marbury trade.
  And JoMal, the Knicks would still have Marbury, Houston, Shandon Anderson , Moochie Norris, Mike Sweetney, Ariza(2nd round draft pick), Penny and possibly Vin Baker. Not to mention they'd still have their mid-level and veteran exceptions left.

[Joe Vancil]

First of all, good to see you again, BIGSMJS.

I wouldn't touch this trade if I were the Lakers.  Williams is *FAR* from proven as a point guard.  Claxton has clutch playoff experience, which makes him FAR superior to Frank Williams.  Secondly, Williams couldn't lead the Knicks to being more than mediocrity.  Getting Marbury wouldn't have been such a huge pick-up if Williams were worth much.

As for Tim Thomas - UGH.  This isn't the kind of solid role player that LA is looking for.  Thomas is a 3/4 'tweener, and there aren't many guys like that who pan out in the long run.

Kurt Thomas is tempting.  Eric Dampier is dangerously close to Fool's Gold.  Didn't he have a reasonably good year in his *LAST* contract year?

Marbury/Houston/Shaq would be interesting, to say the least - but I think it boils down to the Lakers getting equal talent back for Shaq, and this deal isn't close.  Besides, if I'm the Lakers, I'm not going to trade Shaq until Kobe re-signs.  And then, once Kobe re-signs, I've got no reason to trade Shaq.  Laker fans want to see them play together, and I would have given them that.  From that point on, Shaq and Kobe's inability to work together is on their own heads.

 

[JoMal]

Belated howdy to you as well BIGSMJS.

And Joe to entirely right about this trade. It realistically would have to include more talent from the Knicks to make it work, plus Golden State was rebuilding LAST year. They don't intend to dump salary at this point, but are interested in improving their talent base for the future right now. You are right about the Warriors being interested in a sign and trade involving Dampier, but I seriously doubt his worth once he signs his next contract. He immediately will be overpaid.

I was kidding about the CBA talent surrounding Shaq on any team he goes to, but it won't be that far off the mark either. The Lakers will not be settling for losers in any trade they make for him, you can bank on that.