NBA Glory Days
 
It's been a week since the Shaq trade so it's about time I weigh in (after all, there really hasn't been anything written about this in the mainstream media, right?). Well, since you asked...
 
I was really relieved when the trade went through, as I was of the thinking that Shaq's trade demand was just the Diesel blowing off some exhaust. If the trade had to go down, I thought Dallas was the only option, and when the Mavs fell through I didn't think Shaq would be going anywhere. I figured Jerry Buss would come to his senses, invite Shaq to a fancy dinner and kiss his feet until he had won forgiveness. As Tony Kornheiser said repeatedly, why would you trade Shaq when he is under contract?
 
Well, thank goodness for Pat Riley. This trade was just a great moment for the league. With Shaq and Kobe broken up, you now have the top 15 players in the leage on 15 different teams. It's gonna be like the NFL, where almost every team enters the season with optimism, and you have no idea who'll win it all. Plus, with Shaq, the Pistons and the still-ascending LeBron James (just wait until he dominates the Olympics next month) the East will now be as compelling as the West.
 
As for Kobe, I can't believe that there was so much speculation about whether he would bolt for the Clippers. Why on Earth would he betray the team who catered to his every need and leave for a moribund franchise... that's paying him $30 million less? It was way too much ado about absolutely nothing.
 
The funny thing about the Shaq-Kobe aftermath is that everyone seems to be writing off the Lakers. Stephen A. Smith was yowling the other day that the Lakers would be lucky to make the playoffs next year. But people are forgetting two things:
 
1. Kobe is capable of putting a team on his back and dominating when the game is on the line.
 
2. Rudy Tomjanovich is a damn good coach.
 
I just don't see the Lakers falling apart in one season. After all, you only have to win 45 games to get into the playoffs and I don't see eight teams finishing ahead of them. In fact, I expect the Lakers to make the second round, before they run into a team with a dominant frontcourt. Whatever happens, it's gonna be a fun, fun season to watch.