Shaq and Kobe together again?

[Spotlight]

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/29228512/

What you guys think? Is it possible? I will never forget this superduo - O'Neal and Bryant. Why not one more time, final time? To be together again and lead LA to championship? It also could be a great marketing. For Suns - they can put Amare to C, Odom to PF and start to play small ball yet again. Any thoughts? This deal sounds awesome for me.

[Jackal]

This is tough for me to say, but no, I don't think LA should make this move.

Odom is a fantastic player, sure he's incosistant but at this stage, so is the Diesel. Not to mention aging. Sure I love the duo to death and would like nothing more than to see them kick some ass one last time but not at the expense of Odom. Any other deal doesn't work, so I would not like to see it happen. Odom does too much...he can do too much for them to move him. This is a person that can play every position on the court. Every position!!

I would like to see Shaq join the LA team as a coach whenever he's done though, I know they have Kareem working with Bynum, but having two greats instead of one is always better. Plus Brian Shaw is also an assistant coach. I don't know if Buss would be willing after all that was exchanged a few years ago, but I would love to see that happen.

I like Odom too much at the moment to give him up for a 1-2 year left in the tank Shaq. I believe this team can win without him. Last year they got to the finals without Bynum, Pau was new and they did all right, choked against Boston but I feel this year they'll do better.

Shaq & Kobe together wouldn't be bad, he's always welcome as a staff member a la Ewing.

[Robert]

In the 2009 NBA ASG was the last time you'll ever see Shaq and Kobe on a team again.......

[tee-pane]

I'd rather have Shaq over Odom in Phoenix. Odom does not really shoot the three, he is not that great of a defender. Even though the Suns are heading back to the fast paced game, Shaq is a great force in the post. Shaq can provide some interior defence in the playoffs. (Suns will make playoffs!!! )

In the 2009 NBA ASG was the last time you'll ever see Shaq and Kobe on a team again.......

I think there's a good chance of Shaq coming back next year with the Suns with some good numbers, he could make the all star team again.

[Bruce]

Watching Kobe and Shaq together probably sent chills on the old spurs and blazers fans. It was really great too for me to kind of relive the memories of the three-peat. But at the risk of sounding like the evening news, we have to factor in the economy. The article points out that the Lakers can send away Odom with a few extra trade fodders to make the numbers work this year. But it fails to paint the cap room picture for next year. Instead of being free from Mihm's contract and having the possibility of resigining Odom for money that will reflect less on the Lakers' cap room, they would have to carry the full brunt of Shaq's contract. Plus, having Shaq on the team would mean messing with Gasol and Bynum's (once he gets back) playing time, and runs the risk of sending the wrong message out to Bynum, with regards to his place on the team.

As much as I enjoyed watching Shaq showing off moves and the dexterity that made him a household name in the mid-90's. The Lakers' cap room couldn't possibly take it without the Lakers having to spend big for the luxury tax. This will not happen and should not happen in a time, where the NBA commissioner has to institute an Obama-like bail-out plan of his own to save half of the current NBA teams. It's a fun thought, but no. Maybe in the 2010-11 season though, the thought of Shaq grooming Bynum to be next great center would be nice. And if anybody could do it, Shaq could be the guy who finally figures out a nickname we can call Bynum by.

[Jackal]

The Little Big Aristotle.

[Andrew]

Anything's possible, but what do you do when Bynum gets back? Shaq has talked about playing behind Bynum when the subject was raised a few months back but it's easy enough to say these things when it's all hypothetical. That's not a shot at Shaq, it's simple human nature after all; it's all well and good to say these things but it's difficult to put ego and pride aside, especially in a situation like this where he's obviously still capable of doing what he does at a very high level. Furthermore, do the Lakers want to pay $20 mil a year for a backup centre, especially if this season turns out to be an anomaly?

Beyond that, I have to wonder if it wouldn't turn into the same feud that broke up the duo in the first place, especially now that Kobe is firmly established as the main man on the Lakers. As much as Shaq is selling the whole feud as a media creation and a master plan of Phil Jackson, I'm not buying the spin. True, I wasn't there and I don't know what happened behind closed doors but I think Shaq's insulting everyone's intelligence with that suggestion. Besides, it wouldn't just be Shaq and Kobe, Gasol would be in the mix and the last time the Lakers featured a stacked starting five that included Shaq and Kobe it didn't work out so well. I'm sure there are plenty of Lakers fans who'd like to see it, but the Lakers don't really need Shaq to be a favourite to win it all this year.