Should the Mavs trade Nowitzki for Shaq?

[Grave_Addiction]

To me, this is an easy question to answer, but there have been a lot of people who think otherwise, so I'd like to see some of your opinions.

I think it would be really dumb for the Mavs to put Dirk in a package for Shaq. The only other team in the league who can afford and trade for Shaq is probably Sacramento, and he hates them.

If I were Cuban, I'd offer Nash, Walker and Josh Howard and let the offer stand. I know the Lakers would probably not want to take that at first, but when they look at other offers around the league they will realize no one is going to offer more than that.

Plus, Shaq wants to be in Dallas, so he can pretty much veto any trade by saying that he won't play for any other team other than Dallas.

[Javery]

Shaq should go to NY. The Knicks should get rid of Lenny Wilkins and hire Phil Jackson too - Shaq would definitely want to play for him...

[skittlez jr.]

Dirk's my favorite player but I know he is not as good as Shaq. If that's what it takes to get the big man, then I would have no problem with him being traded. I guess I would have to get a new Mavs jersey since I only have a Nowitzki jersey.

[Grave_Addiction]

Dirk's my favorite player but I know he is not as good as Shaq. If that's what it takes to get the big man, then I would have no problem with him being traded. I guess I would have to get a new Mavs jersey since I only have a Nowitzki jersey.

Yeah, but Shaq will probably only be dominant for two or three more years. Dirk has close to 15 years left in him and he hasn't even peaked yet. Doing that would be awfully hard to justify, IMO.

[suprsaiyanMAX]

I wouldn't go so far as to say he's not as good as Shaq...granted Shaq has the inside game, but mainly because of his bulkier size. Nowitszki is a much better all around player though. So it depends on what you're looking for to build up the team when you look at whther or not the trade is a good one. Personally I wouldn't trade nowitszki for Shaq, epsecially not in a package deal, chances are they'd come out on the weak end of it.

[Grave_Addiction]

You also have to look at what you're giving up and if you have enough fire power to even compete even if you have Shaq.

[suprsaiyanMAX]

yeah if they lost Nash, Walker, and Nowitszki just for Shaq they can probably kiss any hopes of competing in the near future playoffs goodbye.

[Grave_Addiction]

yeah if they lost Nash, Walker, and Nowitszki just for Shaq they can probably kiss any hopes of competing in the near future playoffs goodbye.

I think I would murder Cuban if he traded Nash, and Nowitzki. Walker's a bust, but I really love Steve and Dirk. BTW, did you guys see these drunk photos of them?

http://sportsmed.starwave.com/i/magazine/new/dirk_bar.jpg

http://sportsmed.starwave.com/i/magazine/new/dirk_nash_1.jpg

http://www.cs.mcgill.ca/~elo3/post-2-1057878839.jpg

[chickenhawk]

I have mixed feelings about this issue. Shaq can definitely bolster their defense and inside presence. But Shaq doesn't have a lot of years lest as Grave points out (although I think it's pretty generous to say that Dirk has almost 15 years left) and won't fit in well with their run and gun style. To be perfectly honest though, I don't see how Dallas can get Shaq without Dirk being involved, unless another team is brought in. The Lakers won't want Nash cause they still have Payton, who would not take a move to the bench very well. And Finley isn't attractive because the idea is to keep Kobe. And Walker...he's just...Walker.

[Grave_Addiction]

I have mixed feelings about this issue. Shaq can definitely bolster their defense and inside presence. But Shaq doesn't have a lot of years lest as Grave points out (although I think it's pretty generous to say that Dirk has almost 15 years left) and won't fit in well with their run and gun style. To be perfectly honest though, I don't see how Dallas can get Shaq without Dirk being involved, unless another team is brought in. The Lakers won't want Nash cause they still have Payton, who would not take a move to the bench very well. And Finley isn't attractive because the idea is to keep Kobe. And Walker...he's just...Walker.

Well since Dirk is only 24 years old, he might be able to play until he's 39. But yeah, that is a bit generous. More likely to be 10-12 years.

Finley's contract is too big and like you said, they already have Kobe.

I do think the Lakers would want Nash, though. Payton was abused during the playoffs more than once, and he's getting pretty old. Nash is only 30 and still seems like he's playing in the prime of his career.

Walker can play power forward for them. They already said they don't expect Malone to be back.

Josh Howard was a great rookie. He showed a lot of promise, and L.A. would love to have him.

That's the most I would give for Shaq. Honestly, I'm iffy on whether I would give them that much.

[chickenhawk]

I do think the Lakers would want Nash, though. Payton was abused during the playoffs more than once, and he's getting pretty old. Nash is only 30 and still seems like he's playing in the prime of his career.

Yes, Payton was abused in the playoffs, but Nash isn't exactly an upgrade defensively. I also think that Payton will have a better year next year being out of the triangle offense (unless Tex is retained and they still run it - which is unlikely I think).


Walker can play power forward for them. They already said they don't expect Malone to be back.

Yes he can, but do they want him? He's a nice player, but unless they can get someone else, I am thinking they will want a power player to "replace" Shaq.


Josh Howard was a great rookie. He showed a lot of promise, and L.A. would love to have him.

I agree.


That's the most I would give for Shaq. Honestly, I'm iffy on whether I would give them that much.

I don't necessarily disagree, I just question if LA would do it.

[ayolykewhoa]

I'd offer Nash, Walker, Josh Howard, and Pavel Podezkine for Shaq. There's noway I'd offer Nowitzki for a couple years of Shaq. It's also been proven that elite centers at Shaq's age usually decline quickly.

[cleaver]

If you win a title, it's worth it. All the baseball deadline deals over the years are only bad if the guy you pick up doesn't take you to the next level. The Blue Jays aren't regretting trading Jeff Kent (I think he was in that deal) for David Cone. I think the Mavs with Shaq would be the favorite, with or without Dirk.

[Grave_Addiction]

I'd offer Nash, Walker, Josh Howard, and Pavel Podezkine for Shaq. There's noway I'd offer Nowitzki for a couple years of Shaq. It's also been proven that elite centers at Shaq's age usually decline quickly.

True, you could throw in Pavel but not until the very end of the negotiations to make them work.

I'm enamored with the possibilities he brings, though. At 7-5, nearly 300 lbs. and only being 19, he has a lot of upside. Although he's only been playing basketball for a few years. I've heard he's pretty agile for his size and he has a nice shot, but that he also has slow reflexes which is really important.

[CaseyRyback]

Dallas does not need a Hershel Walker deal in reverse

[Grave_Addiction]

If you win a title, it's worth it. All the baseball deadline deals over the years are only bad if the guy you pick up doesn't take you to the next level. The Blue Jays aren't regretting trading Jeff Kent (I think he was in that deal) for David Cone. I think the Mavs with Shaq would be the favorite, with or without Dirk.

Right, but would you trade being competitive in the playoffs and possibly winning a title for the next five to 10 years for a better chance to win one title in the next two years and after that have to rebuild again? I don't think I would.

I would almost rather Dallas go after Eric Dampier. If we could somehow package Walker, Tony Delk and Stackhouse for Dampier, that would be a great trade.

We could have Steve Nash, Marquis Daniels, Michael Finley, Dirk Nowitzki and Dampier starting.

Then have Devin Harris, Laettner, Eduardo Najera, Josh Howard, Wahad, Bradley and a few others coming off the bench. Howard and Harris will be your offense coming off the bench, while Najera and Bradley will give you quality minutes.

To me, that's a great team that has a deep bench and could easily compete for a championship.

EDIT: Dallas could probably swap Laettner and Stackhouse in that Golden State deal. They would probably want Laettner more since his contract ends after the season.

[toocool17]

If they trade dirk for anyone they are crazy, unless it is for tmac

[Grave_Addiction]

Dallas does not need a Hershel Walker deal in reverse

That's exactly what it would turn out to be.

[miniarnold]

Bottom line, I would not trade Dirk for anyone. The guy has too great of skills for someone his size. I have been a huge fan of his since they drafted him.

Like has been mentioned many times before, Shaq is getting older, so you won't get too many productive seasons out of him. I also don't really see how Shaq would fit into the Mav's current offense. Sure you can restructure your offense around his strengths, but then you have to consider how that will affect the rest of the team's game.

[anth0ny]

Mitch would be an idiot if he traded Shaq to Dallas without obtaining Dirk.

[Grave_Addiction]

Mitch would be an idiot if he traded Shaq to Dallas without obtaining Dirk.

Well, I highly doubt Shaq will ever play for the Lakers again. He's said too many bad things about the organization for them to even want him back. Just yesterday, he said the locker room is like poison. Ouch.

The Lakers are going to realize that there are very few teams that can even afford Shaq. I really don't think they are going to get near as good a deal for him that you would think.

Of course, they could force Shaq to come back and play. But even when his relationship wasn't as bad as it is now, he hardly gave 75 percent effort. I bet money that if they did that, he'd somehow sprain his toe and be out of action for four months and right before he's scheduled to come back, he'd pull a hamstring or some other mysterious injury.

[sj41]

yeah if they lost Nash, Walker, and Nowitszki just for Shaq they can probably kiss any hopes of competing in the near future playoffs goodbye.

I think I would murder Cuban if he traded Nash, and Nowitzki. Walker's a bust, but I really love Steve and Dirk. BTW, did you guys see these drunk photos of them?

http://sportsmed.starwave.com/i/magazine/new/dirk_bar.jpg

http://sportsmed.starwave.com/i/magazine/new/dirk_nash_1.jpg

http://www.cs.mcgill.ca/~elo3/post-2-1057878839.jpgThe middle finger is what makes it funny. :applause: :applause:

[chickenhawk]

Bottom line, I would not trade Dirk for anyone. .

Come on! Two people said this. I might be being a homer here, but you wouldn't take KG for Dirk?

[ksuwild25]

I hope Dirk doesn't get traded. My cheapass only wanted to get 1 jersey the way the Mavs shuffle players around, especially with the price of those jerseys cost. And I thought the only "untouchable" player would be Dirk, so naturally I chose him. Cuban still insists that Dirk will not go in any package. But I'm pretty sure he said he wouldn't trade NVE and they wouldn't move up in this years' draft (I'm glad about this one, though, Devin Harris looks awesome). On a side note I hope they are able to sign Marquis Daniels, and I would not want them to trade Josh Howard either.

[CaseyRyback]

Mitch would be an idiot if he traded Shaq to Dallas without obtaining Dirk.

the guy is a fuckin idiot so your point is already proven.

Without Jerry West the Lakers are shit

[fireball343]

Not taking Dirk from Dallas would be stupid, but the Mavs aren't going to give him up, or at least they better not.
live in DFW area, love the mavs.
the fact that Shaq wants to come here makes it easier to get him here. but Dirk is to high a price, and frankly isn't worth giving up.

[DisturbedZen]

I dont understand why you guys love Dirk so much.. There are players much more effiecient than Dirk, for one Shaq, KG, Tim Duncan. Although Dirk is good but definatly not the best.