[EHL]

In a short interview with the AP today, Jerry Buss said that Shaq didn't just turn down the previously reported $25 million per year 3 year extension (reported during the 2003-2004 regular season), but also a $30 million per year 3 year extension. You know why he turned down the $30 mil? Because Shaq wanted a $30 million per year extension over 6 (that's SIX) years.

Who in their right mind wants to pay $30 million to a player when they're 37 and 38 years old who has a well documented history of poor conditioning? Unbelievable. I feel sorry for Riley now.

[LB26matrixns]

Originally posted by <b>EHL</b>!
In a short interview with the AP today, Jerry Buss said that Shaq didn't just turn down the previously reported $25 million per year 3 year extension (reported during the 2003-2004 regular season), but also a $30 million per year 3 year extension. You know why he turned down the $30 mil? Because Shaq wanted a $30 million per year extension over 6 (that's SIX) years.

Who in their right mind wants to pay $30 million to a player when they're 37 and 38 years old who has a well documented history of poor conditioning? Unbelievable. I feel sorry for Riley now.

Yes right now the most calm rational and unbiased opinions on Shaq obviously would be coming from Buss, Kupchak and Laker fans. LOL your title-winning center just left the building for a package no better than what Milwaukee got for Kareem and no better than what Philly got for Wilt. Poetic justice I say.

[hobojoe]

Shaq is officially the second greediest player in the league, still miles behind Kobe Bryant. Get rid of Phil Jackson? Done. Trade away Shaq? Done. Offer me a max contract over 7 years, despite the fact that I'm on trial for rape? Done. Oh, by the way I still might leave your team after you've done all that. But only if the Clippers agree to play 10-12 home games closer to my house. Give me a freakin break, this is the guy that just shot the Lakers out of 2 or 3 of the games in the NBA Finals.

[Johnny Mac]

If thats true, Shaq is definitely very greedy, I never understood a multi-millionaires fascination with making a fuss to making even more money.

[LB26matrixns]

Originally posted by <b>John The Cool Kid</b>!
If thats true, Shaq is definitely very greedy, I never understood a multi-millionaires fascination with making a fuss to making even more money.

I can't call it greed. Why? Shaq gives a higher percentage of his money to charity than anyone in the league. He is WELL KNOWN for showing up to a CELEBRITY charity function and doubling the entire pot of what ALL THE CELEBRITIES have donated. At that rate.....if he can make 100 million a year GOOD.....because the man does great things with his money. I say DAMN GOOD that he takes it from rich white men and gives it to the poor and needy.

The Big Robin Hood?

[LB26matrixns]

Originally posted by <b>sherako</b>!
Not to mention him "summoning" teams to his estate, when normally you interview for a job you are supposed to head to company headquarters.

I'll play bad Laker fan (as in not ALL Laker fans mods):

"Well I think everything about Kobe in this thread is just incorrect. I mean yeah I can't factually deny any of it, but after all...Kobe IS still a Laker until he signs elsewhere."

If Kobe signs with the Clippers you'll see one of two reactions from Laker fans:

I've been a Clipper fan all along (and they'll be more arrogant about Kobe than ever)

OR

MUCH more hatred than what is being directed at O'neal right now.

[MemphisX]

Maybe Shaq just wanted out of Los Angeles. Like he has said all along and made a demand he knew they would not agree to...

I like it when people think players are greedy but they probably haven't donated a quarter to a charity in their life. Even if you have I bet you don't turn down pay raises at work because other people aren't as fortunate as you.

When you become one of the top 10 people in the history of your profession you might be able to make some salary demands also...regardless of what that profession is...

[Hibachi!]

Originally posted by <b>hobojoe</b>!
Shaq is officially the second greediest player in the league, still miles behind Kobe Bryant. Get rid of Phil Jackson? Done. Trade away Shaq? Done. Offer me a max contract over 7 years, despite the fact that I'm on trial for rape? Done. Oh, by the way I still might leave your team after you've done all that. But only if the Clippers agree to play 10-12 home games closer to my house. Give me a freakin break, this is the guy that just shot the Lakers out of 2 or 3 of the games in the NBA Finals.

Now we can add,Kobe to Clippers: Oh uh, by the way, if i was to come to your team, i want us to play a few games in Anaheim, even though the stadium isn't located there. I can't stand the LA traffic and i just want to you know, not have to drive so far for some games you know?

[EHL]

Originally posted by <b>hobojoe</b>!
Shaq is officially the second greediest player in the league, still miles behind Kobe Bryant. Get rid of Phil Jackson? Done. Trade away Shaq? Done. Offer me a max contract over 7 years, despite the fact that I'm on trial for rape? Done. Oh, by the way I still might leave your team after you've done all that. But only if the Clippers agree to play 10-12 home games closer to my house. Give me a freakin break, this is the guy that just shot the Lakers out of 2 or 3 of the games in the NBA Finals.

Kobe had very little to do with Shaq leaving. Jerry Buss said so in this same AP interview today, and Shaq said so last week.

A rape trial has nothing to do with it, any contract is void in the event that Kobe is found guilty. In other words, there's very little risk.

That Clipper rumor is just that, a Clipper rumor. And it sounds ridiculous, why would Kobe ask the Clippers to play some home games in Anaheim, when he damn well knows that the logistics of such a move would be impossible. It's a rumor confirmed by, well, exactly one source. Guess who that source is?

But yes, Kobe had a lot to do with Phil leaving, that I definitely agree with.

[Hov]

Lakers owner Jerry Buss has not spoken to Kobe Bryant since the NBA Finals, and he still has no idea -- despite the departure of coach Phil Jackson and the impending trade of Shaquille O'Neal -- whether Bryant will re-sign.

"I would like to talk to him in the next day or two. I've asked to arrange a phone call with his agent," Buss said Monday in a telephone interview from Italy, where he plans to remain for another three weeks.

The Lakers hope to learn in the next day or so whether Bryant plans to accept their seven-year, $130 million contract offer or sign with another team. The Los Angeles Clippers have been mentioned as Bryant's most likely alternate destination.

"I think he's interviewed various teams, I just wanted to get my two cents in there -- hopefully as the last one he talks to. Maybe it will be more effective," Buss said.

The Lakers' decisions to part ways with Jackson and trade O'Neal to Miami have been seen as attempts to placate Bryant, the 25-year-old superstar whose relationships with his fellow superstar and coach deteriorated over the years.

But Buss insisted Bryant was not the driving force behind those moves.

"The decision with Phil and the decision with Shaq was made totally independent of Kobe," Buss said firmly. "Kobe has never at any time ever told me that Phil or Shaq had any influence on his decision where he would like to play."

Bryant's felony sexual assault trial begins Aug. 27 in Colorado, and Buss expects Bryant to be acquitted.

"I just have trouble believing that won't turn out well. I don't have a contingency plan, I never thought I needed one," Buss said.

Rob Pelinka, Bryant's agent, did not return phone messages Monday.

The Lakers are not even sure if Pelinka will give them an answer regarding Bryant before the NBA's two-week moratorium on trades and free agent signings ends at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.

"My basic selling point (to Bryant) is stay with everyone who loves you," Buss said. "Basically, when he runs out there in a Laker uniform, everybody in that whole arena loves him. I've seen him go out on other floors.

"With Kobe, we're one of the premier teams," Buss said. "Without Kobe, we're really going to have to get busy, make some trades, get ourselves in the free agent market for one of the premier players."


I think Mitch made those statements based on his knowledge that Shaq was beginning to ask for a trade," Buss said.

O'Neal made such a request the following day and never backed off, saying later he felt disrespected.

"We were kind of on the fence anyway," Buss said. "We were thinking, `Should we trade him this year, should we keep him?' At some time, we know his asset value is going to decrease, that's completely obvious. The question is, at what point can you trade one asset for other assets and keep the franchise at the top of the heap?"

"If you don't make some effort to rejuvenate a team, then you sometimes go to the bottom," Buss said. "That's a very scary, miserable depressing thought to me. The idea was, `Let's sit back, think about it for a while, let's discuss the thought of a trade.' Before we could reach any definitive answer, Shaq demanded a trade. We said, `OK, let's do it.'

Buss did admit the thought of trading O'Neal scared him.

"Of course it does," Buss said. "The question is, if I wait until he isn't the most dominating player in the game, will I get adequate replacements? Maybe I'm trading him too soon. I really don't know."

The Lakers were discussing an extension with Jackson but broke off talks in February. Jackson told the Los Angeles Times in an interview published Monday he knew at that stage he wouldn't be back next season.

"I can't imagine anybody in the world who did as good a job as he did," Buss said. "Five years seemed to be the appropriate time, not knowing whether he really wanted to continue. I thought it had run its course, so I took action."

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg...859EDT0369.DTL

[EHL]

Kobe has never at any time ever told me that Phil or Shaq had any influence on his decision where he would like to play.

Well now that is interesting. I thought Kobe at least told Buss that he would like a coach that wasn't shadow GMing the Lakers by picking tri-fit only matador defenders. I guess he didn't say anything to push Phil out.

Or, are we to believe that Buss is just lying now?

[Hov]

Originally posted by <b>EHL</b>!

Or, are we to believe that Buss is just lying now?

I'm pretty sure that's what Kobe/Laker haters are gonna be saying next.