This was a one-time deal, folks. No reunion tour. No new studio album.
Despite all of the sugar-coated love displayed this weekend, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant are done as teammates.
The Lakers aren't going to deal for him. As a Laker fan, it did cross my mind about bringing Shaq back. Let's be honest: Los Angeles could use him right now. Andrew Bynum is out until just before the playoffs and Shaq could fill the 15 or so minutes asked of him a night. That would work if the Suns bought Shaq's contract out and let him walk to the Lakers for a much, much, much smaller salary.
None of that is going to happen. The only way the Lakers could deal for Shaq is if they parted with Lamar Odom ... who has been a monster of late and even more valuable now that Bynum is out. Phoenix isn't going to buy out Shaq and let him walk to a division rival. Not just that, but Shaq becomes a huge trading chip in 2009-2010 because of his expiring contract.
Let's put all that to bed. The logistics just don't work.
The final word on this is Kobe. Do you really think Kobe wants Shaq around as he goes for another title? If there is one thing the ultra-competitive Bryant wants to accomplish is winning a ring without the Big Fella. This is Kobe's team now and Shaq would come in and undermine that a bit.
Not sabotage, but ... well just watch the All Star festivities. Shaq decided to dance with the JabberWokkeeZ (it was funny, but it was all about him). Shaq decided to wax poetic about Kobe and their past. And, for some reason, Shaq even stole half of the MVP trophy away from Kobe as they were co-winners.
Kobe did all the right things this weekend. He played along with Shaq's jokes and playfulness. He did everything to show the world that their hatchet has been buried. Most of it felt somewhat genuine but somewhat a little fake.
Look, Shaq and Kobe will never be best buddies. They may never be good friends. But I honestly think they get along and both do value those years they spent together. There aren't too many combos that can celebrate a three-peat. Both know that their careers have been and will be defined by those title teams ... whether they like it or not.
But both are different cats right now. Kobe has taken his place as the NBA's best player. Shaq is now a broken down superstar who, though playing pretty well, is near the end of his career. We didn't really see Shaq and Kobe together again on Sunday. I mean, it was them, but they look so much different. Shaq now looks aged; his voice more gruff. Kobe has done the Jordan-esque change from a pogo stick with doubters to the best all around game in the league and he knows he is the best player out there.
The thing is that Kobe really doesn't need Shaq right now. Really, Shaq doesn't need Kobe. Kobe helms a team that entered this weekend with the league's best record and season sweeps over the Celtics and Cavaliers. Shaq has four championships and will go down as one of the NBA's greatest players.
This was fun for a night, but let's not get carried away.
Despite all of the sugar-coated love displayed this weekend, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant are done as teammates.
The Lakers aren't going to deal for him. As a Laker fan, it did cross my mind about bringing Shaq back. Let's be honest: Los Angeles could use him right now. Andrew Bynum is out until just before the playoffs and Shaq could fill the 15 or so minutes asked of him a night. That would work if the Suns bought Shaq's contract out and let him walk to the Lakers for a much, much, much smaller salary.
None of that is going to happen. The only way the Lakers could deal for Shaq is if they parted with Lamar Odom ... who has been a monster of late and even more valuable now that Bynum is out. Phoenix isn't going to buy out Shaq and let him walk to a division rival. Not just that, but Shaq becomes a huge trading chip in 2009-2010 because of his expiring contract.
Let's put all that to bed. The logistics just don't work.
The final word on this is Kobe. Do you really think Kobe wants Shaq around as he goes for another title? If there is one thing the ultra-competitive Bryant wants to accomplish is winning a ring without the Big Fella. This is Kobe's team now and Shaq would come in and undermine that a bit.
Not sabotage, but ... well just watch the All Star festivities. Shaq decided to dance with the JabberWokkeeZ (it was funny, but it was all about him). Shaq decided to wax poetic about Kobe and their past. And, for some reason, Shaq even stole half of the MVP trophy away from Kobe as they were co-winners.
Kobe did all the right things this weekend. He played along with Shaq's jokes and playfulness. He did everything to show the world that their hatchet has been buried. Most of it felt somewhat genuine but somewhat a little fake.
Look, Shaq and Kobe will never be best buddies. They may never be good friends. But I honestly think they get along and both do value those years they spent together. There aren't too many combos that can celebrate a three-peat. Both know that their careers have been and will be defined by those title teams ... whether they like it or not.
But both are different cats right now. Kobe has taken his place as the NBA's best player. Shaq is now a broken down superstar who, though playing pretty well, is near the end of his career. We didn't really see Shaq and Kobe together again on Sunday. I mean, it was them, but they look so much different. Shaq now looks aged; his voice more gruff. Kobe has done the Jordan-esque change from a pogo stick with doubters to the best all around game in the league and he knows he is the best player out there.
The thing is that Kobe really doesn't need Shaq right now. Really, Shaq doesn't need Kobe. Kobe helms a team that entered this weekend with the league's best record and season sweeps over the Celtics and Cavaliers. Shaq has four championships and will go down as one of the NBA's greatest players.
This was fun for a night, but let's not get carried away.
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