[gunns]

Originally Posted by Jason in LA

Shaq wanted $90 million extra, and yelled at the owner, Jerry Buss, "Pay me Mother F#$@%#" infront of a large group of people. When Shaq was offered a contract extension, that would have kept him the highest paid player in the league, he turned it down. Then after the season he demanded to be traded. So how was he run out of town? The Lakers tried to keep him, but he didnt' want to stay.

Phil Jackson wasn't run out of town either. He walks into Buss' office and says he wants a pay raise from $6 million to $12 million. Buss laughs in his face. Jackson also demands that Kobe gets traded at midseason. Again, Buss laughs in his face. Then Jackson quits. He didn't get fired like many like to think. He left on his own. So how was he run out of town?

The Lakers didn't get rid of Malone. He's hurt, and not under contract. He's not playing for anybody.

Peyton? Did you see him play last year? Even if Shaq and Phil stayed Petyon would have been traded.

Fisher got a great deal from the Warriors. He's a solid player, but probably not worth the money that the Warriors threw at him.

The Lakers need to bring in another all star player. It may be next year, or the year after. But they'll be back. They always come back. When didn't the Lakers come back? Even in their down years they are still a playoff team. Back in the '90s, which was the worst decade ever, they made the playoffs nine times, made the NBA Finals once, and made the Western Conference Finals a few times. Their worst decade is better than a lot of teams best decade.

Sure he wanted out of there. It wasn't the money, it was Kobe. And Kobe and everyone can spin it every which way they want but Kobe is the primary reason Shaq isn't there anymore and part of the reason Phil isn't. Kobe is running that team and hopefully it's right into the ground.