OnePeat

Basically all in the title. But were there any other offers on the table when the deal was made? Looking back on it now, it seems like they got hosed.

PauloCatarino

I don't remember any other concrete offer that the Lakers turned down to deal with Miami.

Originally, i thought that the Lakers made the best decision, money-wise and thinking about the long term.
Now, and because of the organization's inability to field a competent roster to play with Kobe, it looks to me that by the time Shaq retires, the Lakers will still be mediocre.

So, basically, we got spanked.

__________________
(...) we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender (...)

magohaydz

They could've at least got 'Zo out of the deal as well. At least then it would have replaced Shaq with a decent centre, even if he is in the waning years of his career (but so is Shaq).

__________________
JOIN CYBER DUNK TODAY! A GREAT FANTASY BASKETBALL PLAYER GAME.
CLICK HERE!!!

23AJ

Zo wasn't a member of the Heat when the trade went down. The Lakers trading Caron Butler was a mistake.

bballlife

Pacers were rumored to be in talks with the Lakers at one point. It was a very short list, Shaq would only go to a few teams.

__________________
NBA OFFICIATING, IT’S HORRIFIC!!!!!!!!!!!

Minstrel

There were rumour of Nowitzki being offered which, while unlikely to be true, weren't totally impossible. Nowitzki hadn't ascended to an MVP-caliber player in people's eyes at that time and Shaq was still seen as a top-five player, even if he was older than Dirk.

Claims at the time were either that Dallas hadn't really offered it or that Kupchak was unwilling to deal Shaq within the conference.

__________________
Nothing ever burns down by itself
Every fire needs a little bit of help
Give the anarchist a cigarette.

Hakeem

I remember Cuban saying at the time that Nowitzki is untouchable.

xray

True.

I think Cuban was right about not giving Dirk for Shaq (at that point in his career) but don't be fooled - not all Mavs fans think Dirk should be untouchable.

signed,

- A Mavs Fan Who Thinks Dirk Shouldn't Be Untouchable

__________________
------------(__)
------------(oo)
__/----------v
_/--l-------l l
*---l l------l l
----^^----^^