Knowing what you know now keep Shaq or Kobe ?

Answer 1

Shaq.

Answer 2

The Lakers made the right choice in keeping Kobe. Kobe and Shaq played together in 03 and 04 and no titles. Shaq got his wish went to the easier East and rode Wade's coattail to the title. A Shaq led Lakers team would have never survived the West playoffs. Besides Miami made the trade for a quick title which they got. LA made the trade for the future and we just have to wait and see if it pays off.

Answer 3

The Lakers made the right choice in keeping Kobe.

He's younger, more athletic and still improving.

Shaq is older, out of shape and often tweaked by injuries.

Shaq was also a horrible employee: does anyone remember that pre-season game Buss was watching from the sidelines where every time Shaq scored, he shouted to Buss, "Are you going to pay me now?" This from a guy with 3 years left on his contract at like $27 million per.

Shaq and Garnett were the only two players grandfathered on the salary scale. When Garnett re-upped, he took a pay cut believing he couldn't win a champtionship taking up more than half the salary cap.

Shaq, on the other hand, demanded a raise!?!?!

To keep both, the Lakers would have had about $50 million in salary for two players who openly hated each other.

And keeping Shaq over Kobe wouldn't have produced a championship, unless you think Luke Walton was the perfect running mate. Indeed, Shaq didn't win the championship in Miami: Wade did.

Miami was a fluke: no team could afford Wade and Shaq if Wade weren't still on his rookie contract. But it allowed Shaq to get everything he wanted:

* To play for a hall of fame coach (remember he had Van Gundy booted)
* To get paid more money than any player in the NBA
* To play alongside one of the few players who could bring him a championship who wasn't paid so much that Shaq's contract was impossible to cover.

Notice no other free agents of importance have talked seriously about heading to Miami.

Lots of players want to play in LA -- it's a much easier sell to a free agent than, say, Minnesota. So it's not impossible to imagine a trade by next season that makes LA legitimate contenders.

In short, if I were Buss, I'd have kept Kobe, too.

Answer 4

Shaq. Shaq made Kobe.

Answer 5

Kobe, Shaq's at the end of his career. Kobe is still in his prime and will give whoever he plays for another 10 great years. Shaq's best year was last year and I would expect him to retire either after this year or next year.

Answer 6

Shaq.

It is FAR easier to build around Shaq than around Kobe. high-scoring Shooting Guards are a dime a dozen in the NBA, but dominant Centers are a true rarity.

Answer 7

id still keep kobe. shaq is on his way down, once he retires the lakers would crumble because they would have no kobe. kobe is much younger than shaq and much more effective. shaq isnt domineering anymore, but kobe is still on top of his game.
would you rather have a young scorer who can shoot from anywhere and drop 30 ppg or have a washed up big man who shoots 50% from the FT for your future?

Answer 8

Kobe. He's still got a lot of good years left and Shaq is on the downside of his career.

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Answer 9

Both. The Lakers were a championship team with both. The Heat became a championship team with the same formula - Shaq plus a spectacular SG.

The Lakers needed to find a way to get those two guys to live with eachother throughout an NBA season.

Answer 10

Shaq because Kobe is a rapist.