Tuesday, July 20, 2004

Lakers Backed the Wrong Guy

By

Dr. Jerry Buss is making Celtics fans and other Western Conference teams extremely happy these days. The Lakers' majority owner has decided to turn his back on one of the greatest and most dominant centers of all-time in favor of a spoiled brat who basically quit in the Finals.

How do you tell the most powerful force in the basketball universe that you no longer need his services? Very gently, I guess. That's probably why Dr. Buss hired Mitch Kupchak to do his dirty work. In a Jerry Krausian move, Trader Mitch has decided to move Shaquille O'Neal and effectively break up the dynasty known as the Lakers.

Stupid move for a franchise that has made so many great decisions over the years. This Shaq trade will probably go down as a blunder only equaled by Kraus breaking up the Bulls, Joe Barry Carroll essentially being swapped for Kevin McHale and Robert Parrish, and Julius "Dr. J" Erving being sold by the Nets to the 76ers.

The other trade that makes no sense this offseason is Tracey McGrady to the Rockets. McGrady's open-court aerial show should fit in as well with Jeff Van Gundy's walk-up style as Kelly Tripuka teaching a defensive clinic. Put that in the category of "beware of what you ask for."

While Shaq has now returned to Florida as a member of the Heat, this will definitely not be addition by subtraction for the Lakers. Kobe Bryant showed the whole world that he is no Michael Jordan this June by quitting on his teammates against the Pistons. Yeah, that's the kind of guy who I want on my team.

While Shaq was busting his butt, the whiny look on Kobe's face told me all I needed to know about the future of the Lakers. Kobe will become the Tracey McGrady of the 2004-'05 season. When Kobe is double- and triple-teamed every game, he will be wishing that the "Daddy" was along side him.

What the Lakers needed to do was jettison over-the-hill point guard Gary Payton and tell the great Karl Malone to come back if his knee healed. With Luke Walton and Deavon George becoming extremely productive players, the Lakers could have made another run at the title. Without Shaq, the Lakers will be watching the playoffs and pulling ping pong balls with their Staples Center neighbors, the Clippers.

I see Shaq winning a few more non-Laker championships before his great career comes to a close. As for Kobe, if he survives his impending trial, that could be one of the few victories he should savor for some time.