just imagine...

The latest news out of LA is that Kobe is happy. Bo-ring. I guess the Lakers are happy they didn't trade Bynum, although I think they'd still be way better off with Garnett. Jermaine O'Neal, I'm not so sure about anymore. His health really is troubling.

Anyway, I was just thinking about the old Lakers-Mavs trade talks, which are dead right now, and I stumbled onto this old article in Sports Illustrated from a couple of years ago during the Shaq trade talks. Remember what they were considering? They had offers from a number of places, but went with Miami.... which gave them Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, and Brian Grant... and of course, Grant did nothing and they traded Butler for Kwame. Now they have Odom, who isn't a top tier guy, and Kwame, who is on his way out.

Yeowch.

One of the possibilities they were throwing around in that article was a trade to Dallas, but they never pursued it. Apparently, they were reluctant to trade within their own conference, they didn't like Dallas and thought they were a rival, etc. Sound familiar? They said the same thing this summer with Kobe, but they listened to offers from Dallas. They should have done that then.

This summer, Dallas was wondering if there was a way they could get Kobe without giving up Dirk. There wasn't, and I can't see how they could make a deal with the parts they have. But imagine if they would have traded Dirk straight up for Shaq three years ago?

Oh, how history would have changed.

Let's imagine that Dallas and the Lakers pulled this off, say, because Mitch Kupchak realized in this parallel universe that you should get at least one true all star for a former MVP and one of the best big man in the game.... is that too much to ask? The Lakers would have Dirk and Kobe together. They might have clashed egos, but I think it would have worked because Kobe would be seen as the true leader of the team, and Dirk would have to be the second guy. I mean, Dallas won 67 games with Dirk as their only major star, and the Lakers made the playoffs twice with just Kobe.... I think the two of them on one team would always win 50 games.

Now, it's hard to speculate, because this would have changed so much and created a dynamic series of events that would change the league forever. But I think there would be some counter moves with this.

For example, I think Dallas would have changed direction with Dirk gone and Shaq in. They decided to go for some younger guys and build the team around Dirk that summer. They dumped Antawn Jamison to get Devin Harris in the draft, they let Steve Nash go without too much of a fight, and they traded Antoine Walker for Jason Terry. It worked eventually, giving them a good team for the past 3 years, and almost a title.

But let's say they traded Dirk and say, Marquis Daniels, for Shaq. I think they'd keep Nash and Jamison, seeing the shorter window of opportunity with the big fella around. They'd have more urgency, knowing he and Nash were old. Funny, those two were the MVP candidates the year afterwards with different teams in real life. Can you imagine them on the same team? I think a lineup of Shaq, Jamison, Josh Howard, Jerry Stackhouse, and Nash, with Terry (I think they'd still make that trade, worried about Nash's health.. plus 'Toine never fit in there....) and maybe DeSanga Diop coming off the bench would be dynamite. Shaq plus good outside shooters and decent role players? Jamison's numbers would not have been as high but he and Howard could be a nice frontcourt duo to help Shaq. Nash and Terry raining threes is scary. If Dallas could beat San Antonio and nearly win a title two years ago with their rag-tag team, couldn't they do it now??? I think so.

Besides, having Shaq and Nash on Dallas would kill other teams. So long, Miami! They wouldn't have won a title, obviously. They were, before getting Shaq, a very fun team that could probably have been within the top three or four of the East... but not a contender. So long, Phoenix! Here, their rebirth under Nash never happened. Dallas would have unknowingly knocked out two major powers from ever being created. The toughest competition they would ever face would be San Antonio and Detroit. I think they could win at least one title in that span. They almost did, with no post players, and now they wouldn't have to worry about Miami.

This would cause a lot of other changes around the league. Washington would not get Jamison or Butler to complement Arenas. Phoenix would have done something different at the point, and that would have changed things, and who knows if they would ever have the success they have with Nash.

Ironically, maybe Kupchak did have a point. He didn't want to see Shaq stay in the conference and win titles, and he probably would have. But then, the Suns would never have gotten great, and the Lakers would own their division, most likely, for a long time. Did he expect that? Who did? Who knew Nash was going to take them to 60 wins every year?

Maybe it's for the best; how things really worked out. I love watching Phoenix and I think their style has been a boom for the league. Miami with Shaq made the East much more interesting and gave Detroit a real threat. Dallas did well anyway, and Nowitzki is well above Shaq right now. But they could have had a title. Probably.

I just wonder if Kupchak ever thinks about having Dirk right now instead of Odom and Kwame. That's got to be a depressing thought in his head, isn't it? I wonder if he imagines a world with Shaq fading out, no Phoenix to worry about, and Kobe and Dirk together (maybe with Andrew Bynum, but they might not have been able to draft him then).

I think it must be hard for the man.


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Quick analysis on a trade that DID happen: Charlotte sending Primoz Breznec and Walter Hermann to Detroit for Nazr Mohammed.

I wanted Detroit to use Nazr or trade him quickly, and they managed to do the latter. They get two guys who can help in spurts. Hermann came on strong late last year, but hasn't done much recently. He might be a good addition to Detroit's bench, which seems to be deeper than ever. Mohammed is a true center that Charlotte does not have. He'll help off the bench or even starting for a little bit. Breznec is another big guy Detroit can throw out there. They seem to have a hard time deciding how their post rotation goes.

I like this trade for both teams, I think, but then I heard that Detroit is trying to clear space so they can finally re-sign Chris Webber. They just gave up one guy for two, so that's not helping. They cut Ron Dupree, but doesn't that just make them even? Stay tuned on that one.

sorry, billy

Billy King is gone. FINALLY!


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Sorry, Billy. You were a nice guy and all, but this is a business.

And you, sir, were killing the business. Godspeed.

[Memo to Ed Stefanski: Umm... I don't have any advice now. I wish you guys got a star last year. But from what I hear, you're smart and know Philly. That's a start.]

Throwvember Report '07

After one month in the tank, some quick thoughts on the season:

-- Boston is good, and deep enough for now.... and I expect them to add people later.

-- Don't the Bulls HAVE to make some moves now?

-- I like the Orlando / Lakers trade. LA needed to deal Cook or Radman, and Orlando suddenly wasn't using Ariza at all. Cook can play the 4 but spread things out for Howard, which seems to be working out for them. Ariza is a nice bench wing with size, which will eventually help the Lakers if they deal Odom (which they need to). Evans will add to Orlando's rotating back court. This was a small but very nice move.

-- Speaking of Orlando, Dwight Howard is on my shortlist for MVP this year with LeBron and Duncan. He's been phenomenal. Just carrying them.

-- Yi came out stronger than we thought, and Milwaukee is doing better, but do they look any different? Strange.

-- Nawlins looks nice when everyone's healthy. I hope so. I'm pulling for them, for 'Sual, and Chris Paul needs to be an all-star (especially this year when it's there).

--Philly sucks, but at least the Knicks suck worse at a higher price. I can always fall back on that. I'm going to be watching a lot of Kansas State games....

-- Durant has been good, and Jeff Green is quietly producing. Horford has been a nice double-double threat, so my rookie picks are looking nice.

-- Memphis is struggling, despite great years from some young guys. What did Vegas see that I didn't? That wins over/under was my sure bet... thankfully I decided not to put money on it.

-- There aren't too many surprise out West, though the Rockets have struggle a little. I was amazed by the Clippers hanging tough for a while, but that's starting to change.

-- In the East, it's too early to tell who's really in trouble. Everyone besides Boston, Orlando, and Detroit has something to deal with, be it injuries or chemistry. Not making any calls here.