With all this talk of Shaq going back to the Lakers...

[Vermont Green]

... has me a little worried.  How about a trade where the Suns offer Shaq back to the Lakers for Bynum, Odom, and maybe Mihm or someone like that ("filler"), and of course keep Amare.  I think this would make the Lakers pretty scary for 2 years or so and also give the Suns a young potential stud (Bynum) to play along side of Amare, while not overshadowning Amare.  Odom expires but actually could fit in pretty well long term and could start the rest of this year for them giving them a pretty decent team to play it out with.  I base this on the assumption that Bynum may come back but won't be 100% again this year, including the playoffs so the Lakers have a win now factor in their decision.

[KCattheStripe]

... has me a little worried.  How about a trade where the Suns offer Shaq back to the Lakers for Bynum, Odom, and maybe Mihm or someone like that ("filler"), and of course keep Amare.  I think this would make the Lakers pretty scary for 2 years or so and also give the Suns a young potential stud (Bynum) to play along side of Amare, while not overshadowning Amare.  Odom expires but actually could fit in pretty well long term and could start the rest of this year for them giving them a pretty decent team to play it out with.  I base this on the assumption that Bynum may come back but won't be 100% again this year, including the playoffs so the Lakers have a win now factor in their decision.

The Lakers don't need Shaq to reach the Finals. They're ina perfect situation to rebuild post Kobe with Bynum and Gasol and pieces like Farmar and Ariza. There's no way they gamble that to shorten their championship window.

[illestmcsgt]

... has me a little worried.  How about a trade where the Suns offer Shaq back to the Lakers for Bynum, Odom, and maybe Mihm or someone like that ("filler"), and of course keep Amare.  I think this would make the Lakers pretty scary for 2 years or so and also give the Suns a young potential stud (Bynum) to play along side of Amare, while not overshadowning Amare.  Odom expires but actually could fit in pretty well long term and could start the rest of this year for them giving them a pretty decent team to play it out with.  I base this on the assumption that Bynum may come back but won't be 100% again this year, including the playoffs so the Lakers have a win now factor in their decision.

The Lakers don't need Shaq to reach the Finals. They're ina perfect situation to rebuild post Kobe with Bynum and Gasol and pieces like Farmar and Ariza. There's no way they gamble that to shorten their championship window.

You sum it up for me I don't think Lakers want Shaq back. He hasn't got much left and they want to keep Bynum for he's the future of that team. Unless they think he's injury prone and really desperate I just don't see it happening.

[BigAlTheFuture]

Too bad the Lakers wouldn't do that trade. We have nothing to worry about.

Actually, I would want them to trade Bynum & Odom for Shaq. That would make their team much worse.

[KCattheStripe]

... has me a little worried.  How about a trade where the Suns offer Shaq back to the Lakers for Bynum, Odom, and maybe Mihm or someone like that ("filler"), and of course keep Amare.  I think this would make the Lakers pretty scary for 2 years or so and also give the Suns a young potential stud (Bynum) to play along side of Amare, while not overshadowning Amare.  Odom expires but actually could fit in pretty well long term and could start the rest of this year for them giving them a pretty decent team to play it out with.  I base this on the assumption that Bynum may come back but won't be 100% again this year, including the playoffs so the Lakers have a win now factor in their decision.

The Lakers don't need Shaq to reach the Finals. They're ina perfect situation to rebuild post Kobe with Bynum and Gasol and pieces like Farmar and Ariza. There's no way they gamble that to shorten their championship window.

You sum it up for me I don't think Lakers want Shaq back. He hasn't got much left and they want to keep Bynum for he's the future of that team. Unless they think he's injury prone and really desperate I just don't see it happening.

It'd be silly to think he's injury prone. FLUKE  injury prone on the other hand.

[KCattheStripe]

Too bad the Lakers wouldn't do that trade. We have nothing to worry about.

Actually, I would want them to trade Bynum & Odom for Shaq. That would make their team much worse.

I could not disagree more. This would make it even more difficult for the C's to win. I don't know how you guard Shaq, Gasol and Kobe. Shaq hasn't played with a face up 4 as good as Gasol ever. He would be impossible to double team. It makes the Lakers worse in the long run, but for the next two years ( which is our window by the way) they'll be substantially better.

P.S. The Lakers wilted on the big stage last year, they couldn't match the Celtics toughness. If they add Shaq, not only is there no way Shaq lets them roll over, he makes them that much tougher.

[Vermont Green]

It makes the Lakers worse in the long run, but for the next two years ( which is our window by the way) they'll be substantially better.

You see, this is the whole point.  It is not gauranteed that Bynum will make them better in the future and since Odom is a FA, the question is Bynum.  There was risk when they signed him (based on his first serious injury) and there is even more risk now.  I am not suggesting one or the other option is better for the Lakers but rather trying to stimulate a discussion.  But for the Lakers, you know what Shaq gives you for the next two years starting tomorrow if you make this trade.  Pinning title hopes or other future success on Bynum is just plain risky.  For this year (with Bynum out), the trade boils down to having Shaq or Odom for this years title run.  Next year, you have Shaq instead of a potentially fragile Bynum as Odom is gone either way.  The year after that, well by then I think Kobe could have opted out and Bynum may be nursing surgery #3.

If you are absolutely convinced that Bynum is a stud and will be there for years, you don't make this trade, if you want to go all in for a title or two, maybe you do.

[KCattheStripe]

It makes the Lakers worse in the long run, but for the next two years ( which is our window by the way) they'll be substantially better.

You see, this is the whole point.  It is not gauranteed that Bynum will make them better in the future and since Odom is a FA, the question is Bynum.  There was risk when they signed him (based on his first serious injury) and there is even more risk now.  I am not suggesting one or the other option is better for the Lakers but rather trying to stimulate a discussion.  But for the Lakers, you know what Shaq gives you for the next two years starting tomorrow if you make this trade.  Pinning title hopes or other future success on Bynum is just plain risky.  For this year (with Bynum out), the trade boils down to having Shaq or Odom for this years title run.  Next year, you have Shaq instead of a potentially fragile Bynum as Odom is gone either way.  The year after that, well by then I think Kobe could have opted out and Bynum may be nursing surgery #3.

If you are absolutely convinced that Bynum is a stud and will be there for years, you don't make this trade.

I'm not pining their title hopes on Bynum coming back, it is entirely possible they can win the title as constituted right now. And if you are lucky enough to have a legitimate chance to win a title now and be contenders 5 years from now, you don't mortgage that to be contenders now. Thats why i don't think the Lakers do it.

[Jay_Diggles]

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine

shaq and Starbury get bought out and sign with Boston for the rest of the year!!!!  lol

[tcelt]

the finals mvp trophy will be renamed the bill russell mvp trophy

[cornbreadsmart]

shaq should go back. that would really prove what a joke he is. he belongs with kobe and phil. all trash. wait a year though. shaq will be burning the bridge he already burned b4. whatever team he's on he'll always be a laker to me.

[greenhead85]

Steve Kerr will not let Shaq go  if it's only Odom and Bynum. He's smarter though. I think he'll give up Shaq and ask for Gasol and Odom instead.

[Vermont Green]

Wow, Adande at ESPN stole my idea...
(I think this proves he reads this blog to steal ideas)

How it could happen: The Lakers get worried they'll lose Lamar Odom to free agency this summer, and they get worried they'll lose Andrew Bynum to knee injuries every year if the current trend holds up. They send them to Phoenix in exchange for O'Neal. The Suns get the payroll relief of Odom's $14 million expiring contract and a promising young player in Bynum at only 60 percent of the cost of Shaq.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/allstar2009/columns/story?columnist=adande_ja&page=All-Star-trades-090215

I still say this could happen and would be good for the NBA overall.  It is much more fun for most casual NBA fans if Shaq is back in LA.

[Hoyo de Monterrey]

Steve Kerr will not let Shaq go  if it's only Odom and Bynum. He's smarter though. I think he'll give up Shaq and ask for Gasol and Odom instead.

Why the hell would Steve Kerr not do this deal? That would also appease Amare, who he could keep and pair with Bynum. Steve Kerr however is not smart at all. He's done a terrible job in Phoenix so far, and has taken a team who at least had a system and an identity and completely scrambled it up. They have no clue what they are running down there right now, and Porter's firing on Monday is proof that even Kerr realizes that he's done a great disservice to the Suns by taking a run and gun roster and sticking them with a lumbering old center and a halfcourt coach.

[Kwhit10]

Wow, Adande at ESPN stole my idea...
(I think this proves he reads this blog to steal ideas)

How it could happen: The Lakers get worried they'll lose Lamar Odom to free agency this summer, and they get worried they'll lose Andrew Bynum to knee injuries every year if the current trend holds up. They send them to Phoenix in exchange for O'Neal. The Suns get the payroll relief of Odom's $14 million expiring contract and a promising young player in Bynum at only 60 percent of the cost of Shaq.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/allstar2009/columns/story?columnist=adande_ja&page=All-Star-trades-090215

I still say this could happen and would be good for the NBA overall.  It is much more fun for most casual NBA fans if Shaq is back in LA.

That was a horrible article.  Those ideas weren't even that good, and how the teams would do it were ideas that were so far fetched.