RealGM

Hey guys,

As we all know, Shaq and Riley had an ugly feud through the media recently until Wade talked to Shaq a few weeks ago and it seemed that the feud ended.

However, Riley made some comments to me which came off as a shot at Shaq, in my opinion.

Here's what he said:

What I like about the opportunity now is, ever since we made the trade (Shaquille O'Neal for Shawn Marion) and went to the future, it gives us flexibility," Riley explained.

We could be in the hunt next year for a major free agent, definitely without a doubt we are going to save the room in 2010.

Do people agree with me that this is a shot at Shaq? And is Riley justified to take a shot at him at this point since it seemed their feud ended?

I mean, Shaq obviously started the feud publicly a few weeks ago, it seemed it ended, but this definitely could re-open the feud.

Do people agree with me that we might see Shaq fire back at Riley and we might see this feud continue after these comments?

Or were they not a shot at Shaq at all?

It was like Riley was saying:

"Now that he's gone, we have more cap-space and a chance to get some really good free-agents now that he's not here anymore."

If they were on good terms, I don't think Riley would say that.

I think this could make for an interesting discussion and I would love to hear people's opinions on this.

What do you guys think of his comments?

Thanks!

Who cares?

What? How in the world did you get anything negative in that piece? Seriously?!?!

You're making something out of NOTHING!

I am not making something out of nothing; I just wanted to know whether this was a shot or not.

If it was, why did EVERYONE bash Shaq for starting this feud when it seems that Riley just took a shot at him today when it seemed the feud ended?

I mean, when a Hall of Fame coach says something like this about his former Hall of Fame player, I think it's a big deal.

I thought this would make for an interesting discussion.

Maybe I'm wrong, maybe it wasn't a shot, but it definitely came off as a shot to me.

Consider:

- Riley and Shaq almost got into a fight this season at practice until Alonzo Mourning had to step in and prevent it

- Riley pulled Shaq out of a game on national television 20 seconds after it started for making a mistake

- Riley said "anyone who complains about a lack of touches should be crucified." Does it take a genius to figure out this was a shot at Shaq?

Is this feud going to continue now after these comments?

of course its not a shot lol. hes just stating the facts, thats why they made the trade in the first place. it has nothing personal to do with shaq lmfao

Definitely not a shot at shaq. Not even close.

That's what led to Shaq taking shots at Riley recently; how is this not a big deal?

EVERYONE was talking about this feud recently, and it seems to me that Riley just took a shot at him today.

Am I just over-reacting here?

I just started this thread because I thought it would make for an interesting discussion, that's all.

Well, if I'm wrong, I apologize and I'm not afraid to admit I'm wrong in regards to this.

I'm happy that people have given their opinions and it seems that most agree I am wrong and this wasn't a shot at Shaq.

But hey, I appreciate the replies and I don't take it personally that people disagree with me.

I just felt those were strong comments when you consider what Shaq did for that franchise.

The Diesel wrote:Well, if I'm wrong, I apologize and I'm not afraid to admit I'm wrong in regards to this.

I'm happy that people have given their opinions and it seems that most agree I am wrong and this wasn't a shot at Shaq.

But hey, I appreciate the replies and I don't take it personally that people disagree with me.

I just felt those were strong comments when you consider what Shaq did for that franchise.

those werent shots because riley didnt make any backhanded jabs at shaq. the fact remains..thats why they traded shaq in the first place, so that theyd have cap space in the future since the current team was going nowhere anyway.

How in the world is that a shot at Shaq?

Because he seems to be saying that now that they've gotten rid of his big contract, they get to do great things in the future through free-agency.

Sounds like a shot to me...

Everything Riley said was completely true and should come as a surprise to no one. Maybe if he were on great terms with Shaq, he would have refrained from saying it. But he didn't need to do some spin-doctoring like Steve Kerr did about the trade (right after getting eliminated this year). But if someone asked about their off-season situation, I can definitely understand why he said what he did.

I completely agree that everything Riley said is true; no doubt about that.

BUT, when you consider the ugly feud that happened between them this season, can't you understand how I might feel this was a shot at Shaq?

I can't imagine Riley saying something like this if they were on good terms...

The Diesel wrote:Because he seems to be saying that now that they've gotten rid of his big contract, they get to do great things in the future through free-agency.

Sounds like a shot to me...

Dude, you're making something out of nothing.

He's saying nothing negative towards Shaq, absolutely nothing!

How is saying that getting rid of somebody's contract that's going to help you in free-agency NOT taking a shot at somebody?

I DID NOT start this thread to make Riley look bad; while I've been VERY critical of him this season both as a GM and the fact that I've defended Shaq in regards to their feud, that was not the motive behind starting this thread.

I started it because of their feud, these comments which I FELT were a shot at him and was just wondering if people agreed and what they thought of his comments when you consider they are on bad terms.

That's all...

Mods, you can lock this thread if you want, though.

It does seem that everyone agrees that this was not a shot at Shaq, so I guess I must concede I over-reacted and misunderstood what Riley said.

Mods, feel free to lock, but thanks to everyone who posted their opinions!

What he said is true and is not a shot at Snaq.

Snaq was traded for a youth movement. Heat were going no where with him.

I officially concede I was wrong and over-reacted to this.

Mods, please lock.

This thread is pretty funny.......