If you were Lakers Owner Jerry Buss in 2004, would you have signed Shaq to the 2 yr/$60M extension he asked for?

[MiamiBulls]

In 2004 Shaq was still the best player in the NBA coming off an impressive Offensive display in the NBA Finals, he was also asking for a 2 year $60M extension that would have paid him $27M in 2005, $30M in 2006, $30M in 2007, $30M in 2008. Considering how over the cap the Lakers brass were, only a league minimum contract offer to Shaq would have had the Laker under the cap, a fact that Shaq & his agent were aware of.

At the time this was tumultuous period for the Lakers and very controversial decision to be made. Without the benefit of hindsight if you were the Owner would you have acquiesced to Shaq's interests or did what Jerry Buss did in real-time?

Side Note: Kobe Bryant was an UFA who already made a verbal commitment to play for the LA Clippers for 6 yr $100M.

“They made their pitch to Kobe and it was a very strong one because it seemed apparent to everyone at that point that Kobe and Shaq just could no longer co-exist,” Lawler said. “Then it’s time for Kobe to excuse himself and go and Donald Sterling walks him to the door expressing concern. ‘Is this really going to happen?’

“Kobe turned to him and — this is an exact quote that I’ve had repeated to me by multiple people — he said, ‘Don’t worry, I’m a Clipper.’ So he walked out the door and [the Clippers] are all high-fiving each other thinking, ‘By God, we’ve done it.’

“If anybody denies any of that,” Lawler added, “they are of faulty memory or they just don’t want to acknowledge it because that is what happened in that meeting.”

A second Clippers employee also told The Times that Baylor directly told him Bryant had verbally committed. (That employee has since left the team and agreed to speak only under the condition of anonymity.) There was enough confidence within the team that preliminary discussions began about how to best welcome Bryant at a ceremony in Staples Center.

[Edrees]

I would have resigned him but it seems it would have been a mistake based on how fast he declined and also how poorly the Lakers rebuild timeline matched up to his remaining peak years left. Lakers end up with 1 more title in the 2000's probably instead of 2 they got from kobe-pau

[Black Jack]

Yes I would have but otoh they did know he would fall off due to lack of conditioning.

I think they were just tired of his bs honestly and Kobe was a better horse to bet on. Kobe REALLY hated Shaq by that point due to the hazing and harassment Shaq engaged in, so the real issue was that one of Shaq or Kobe had to go. They chose correctly.

[druggas]

He chose a younger player with the drive of MJ, over an old out of shape player who had seen his better days.
It was the correct decision.
And one more thing, the way he talked to the owner in front of the crowd, got him his walking papers. You can't disrespect the owner and expect him to give you money. Shaq should have known better.

[Memories]

I’m sure there were many attempts and conversations that were had with Shaq. Especially trying to resign him. But due to him constantly being out of shape, being much older than Kobe and the tension that was going on between those 2 at the time, trading him was the correct decision.

We don’t know exactly what went on in those conversations, but I have no doubt that they most certainly tried.

[Yank3525]

I would have done exactly what happened. Shaq was 32, lazy, and was never fully the same after the toe operation.

[aliasxn]

Picking Kobe was nobrainer. Shaq was the better player but he was clearly on the downward slope. Kobe had 10+ years ahead of him.

[Optms]

Picking Shaq would mean losing Kobe. So no.

You always take the young superstar over the 30+ star who was already on the decline. Shaq by 2004 could no longer anchor a team.

[Capn'O]

Picking Shaq would mean losing Kobe. So no.

I don't think you need to go any further than this.

Especially with what we know now about Shaq's hazing/bully antics.

[Yank3525]

lol at the 18 people who picked resigning Shaq. This place is so unserious.

[JXL]

Re-signing Shaq would've meant alienating Kobe and having him walk, which would've been a massive mistake. No, I would've done the same as Jerry and trade Shaq, knowing I would be in Kobe's good graces. However, after Phil semi-retired, I wouldn't have gone with an out of touch Rudy Tomjanovich. Would've went with Doug Collins.

[SlimShady83]

lol at the 18 people who picked resigning Shaq. This place is so unserious.

lols, sadly lot of Kobe haters on this forum, they will always vote against Kobe no matter the topic, much like I do with Lebron

[Jedi32]

lol at the 18 people who picked resigning Shaq. This place is so unserious.

Anything against the Lakers the masses are for it. It is what it is. Gotta take it for the comedy it is and keep it pushing.

[theforumblue]

dude would've gained 70lb that summer after signing

[Edrees]

lol at the 18 people who picked resigning Shaq. This place is so unserious.

lols, sadly lot of Kobe haters on this forum, they will always vote against Kobe no matter the topic, much like I do with Lebron

I mean I voted that i would have resigned shaq but acknowledged it would have been a huge mistake, I'm essentially saying I would have made a huge mistake picking shaq.

[Asianiac_24]

Not extending Shaq was a no brainer decision, anyone who disagrees either put no thought into it or is just straight up dumb. Consider the two options:

Option A:

- 33 yo Shaq at 30m/y.
- Kobe walks for nothing.

How are you going to win with just Shaq? Washed up Gary Payton as your sidekick? They couldn’t even win with Shaq AND Kobe, how are they going to replace Kobe?

Option B:

- 26 yo Kobe at 17m/year
- Whatever Shaq nets you in return.

The path is that whatever you got from trading Shaq is enough to win as a sidekick to a soon to be peak/prime Kobe. Much easier choice. Keep in mind that in 2004, the $ difference between the two is like 10m. That’s equivalent of 30-34 mil today, which is a borderline all star aka Derrick White type of money.

The only real mistake the Lakers made was not asking for Dwayne Wade. I believe if the Lakers asked for Wade + fillers, the Heat would do it and roll the dice with Caron Butler + Odom + Shaq.

[Mavrelous]

Picking Shaq would mean losing Kobe. So no.

This...

[Mavrelous]

The only real mistake the Lakers made was not asking for Dwayne Wade. I believe if the Lakers asked for Wade + fillers, the Heat would do it and roll the dice with Caron Butler + Odom + Shaq.

No they wouldn't, that was younger and sharper Pat Riley, one of the best basketball minds in history, he knew exactly what he had and what he was trading for.

[Asianiac_24]

The only real mistake the Lakers made was not asking for Dwayne Wade. I believe if the Lakers asked for Wade + fillers, the Heat would do it and roll the dice with Caron Butler + Odom + Shaq.

No they wouldn't, that was younger and sharper Pat Riley, one of the best basketball minds in history, he knew exactly what he had and what he was trading for.

Dwayne Wade was a rookie who put up 16/4/4 as a 21 yo. He was also not a hyped up prospect like LeBron or Melo. The equivalent would be if Philly wants Giannis, and the Bucks demanded Jared McCain.

[Mavrelous]

The only real mistake the Lakers made was not asking for Dwayne Wade. I believe if the Lakers asked for Wade + fillers, the Heat would do it and roll the dice with Caron Butler + Odom + Shaq.

No they wouldn't, that was younger and sharper Pat Riley, one of the best basketball minds in history, he knew exactly what he had and what he was trading for.

Dwayne Wade was a rookie who put up 16/4/4 as a 21 yo. He was also not a hyped up prospect like LeBron or Melo. The equivalent would be if Philly wants Giannis, and the Bucks demanded Jared McCain.

No it isn't, nowhere near actually, McCain is an undersized shooting guard with average athleticism who went outside of the lottery in a very weak draft and tore his meniscus very quickly, Wade was freak athlete who went 5th in a very hyped up draft.
Giannis is also a 30 y/o consummate pro with 2 years on his deal, Shaq was 33 y/o trouble maker who was on an expiring deal.
It's more like trading Amen Thompson for James Harden 2 years ago.