Posted by Nalod:

I can't speak for Kobe, but its a players league now and these mental midgets have great power. shaq is acting like a spoiled child over Lakers preference to ally themselves with a 25 year old superstar than a 32 year old with bad work habits whom they are obligated to pay amost 60 mil in two years and are being held ransom by his trade preference. If they can't move him, he pouts and stubs his toe. Him and Kobe want all the attention.

sometimes the grass is greener and the lure of the being in the garden is huge. Its the only thing Isiah can sell on, but if Nike can subsidize this deal, Kobe can name his own coach (sorry Lenny) and have a say in the reconstruction. Obviously we don't have that Small forward problem anymore! I won't speculate on how we do that, but from Kobe's standpoint, he may want out of Lakes as they are not special anymore, and shaq is gone. Kobe can be king of the city, the largest market in the country, a global city, if he can win a ring. He can be a legend. Isiah can sell this to steph, or Steph gets traded for a big. Who knows, first things first. But it makes sense. I think the NBA office will go nuts with an outside corp. interfearing with its buisness, but they long ago prostituted themselves out to the highest bidder.

But yeah, its a long shot, but one that can change the landscape.

What if Nike can negotiate some kind of terms to buy advertising at a cut rate from cablevision? What if Nike buys stock from cablevision at a negotiated price? Things to off set and get kobe money in "creative an unconventional means"? Hey, maybe the league wants this and is trying to broker it. Having Kobe play on the East coast is huge. It been rumored that Stern wanted Isiah in NY to make the team viable which helps the league. The lakes stole Shaq and made a ton of money, So I don't think Stern is going to cry too much over orlando getting screwd, and thus the Lakers. They can still move shaq, and get under the cap to get some one down the road.

All speculation, thats all!

BUt it makes you say HMMMMMMMMMMMMm?

How about this deal 40 million from Nike and another 40 million to sell cable boxes and optimum online for cablevision. You think it could work or is there some NBA rule that would prevent that kind of a deal.