Subscribe Feed (RSS)Ian Thomsen of Sports Illustrated says they did. And around that time such a move was discussed right here in this blog and at Blazers Edge. The reaction from Blazer fans wasn’t very positive — mostly outrage. I believe Portland did make serious inquiries about a deal for him. And I think Ian’s quotes from Shaq — there was no reason for him to say this stuff if it wasn’t true — verify that interest.
At the time, I felt two things about bringing him here would be positive: Someone to mentor Greg Oden and someone to insist that the ball be fed to the post more often that it has been around here. But I also wrote at that time that Shaq would have a “hissy fit” about coming here, which he apparently did. It’s just not his kind of town.
And by now, he’d have been politicking to get out of here and go play with LeBron, too. It might have been a move for just half a season.
But before you get all huffy about how horrible it would have been to have the Big Raindrop in Portland, stop and think a moment. Do you think Houston could have beaten the Blazers if Shaq had been a Blazer? Do you think the Lakers or Magic could have? Honestly, I am not sure they could have.
Something to think about.
Tags: Blazers Edge, Dwight Jaynes, Greg Oden, Ian Thomsen, Portland Trail Blazers, Shaquille O'Neal
“The Big Raindrop” Fantastic!
Of course you are right Dwight. Houston would have had a big problem if they would have been forced to defend the middle. Additionally, Shaq would have been a solution to our ‘toughness’ problem as well.
Either way, there are way too many Blazer fans walking around blindly following everything KP does/says. Since 2006, pretty all he has done is swing and miss. If Hedo and Hinrich are brought in, it will essentially be another swing and a miss IMO.
The Big Raindrop
That really is fantastic. And man, that would have been fun. Had he wanted to be here.
Wonder what his nickname will be in Cleveland. The Big Chemical Fire?
C’mon guys… Cleveland — rock and roll hall of fame is just a three-pointer away from the arena. He’s going to be the Big Bopper.
After Cleveland fails to win the championship and Shaq talks crap about Lebron and the Cavs organization on his way out, he’ll be dubbed the “Big Back Stabber”… If Portland would have made the deal for Shaq it would’ve been for cap space in 2010…
I want to be clear that I am not commenting on the merits if the proposed trade, I am simply speaking as a fan. Had that trade been made, I would have suspended my support for the Blazers for the duration of the Shaq era, and I would have considered any championship that the Blazers won during that time to be tainted. I hate Shaq with a passion that can only be compared to the way most Blazer fans hate Kobe. I absolutely despise him. He has left every franchise he’s ever played for in ruins, he is one of the most selfish players in the history of the game, but he’s funny and he dances, so people don’t care.
Shaq is overpaid and over the hill. More risk than reward. Glad they didn’t do it.
However… The Blazers definitely need to bring in a HOFer to coach Oden. Mo Lucas is one tough SOB, but he’s no 7-footer.
The Big Raindrop! That … is … awesome.
You’re right though, it would have worked for the short term.
I’m just curious what the deal was. Przybilla, Bayless, and LeFrentz? I think it would have been a short fix bandaid, but not much more.
Would you want to give up Bayless, Pryzbilla, and more, to Phoenix for half a year of the, “Big Tear Drop” ?
This is why Blazer management was never serious about getting him. Sure, maybe if Phoenix was going to give him away for cap relief alone, but that is about it.
Of course Houston would have still beaten us… and possibly worst then they did, since our chemistry would have been pathetic with Shaq crying about all the shots LMA got instead of him.
A 300-pound raindrop? That’s hilarious. That’s so good we should call him “The Big Raindrop” no matter where he plays.
One little side-note. My family crossed paths with Steve Kerr’s family in the Middle East. My brother played on his brother’s softball team in Cairo.
I think Steve is one of the great people ion the NBA. Funny. Incisive. A great shooter. Many rings, etc…
But I still have to wonder what the F he’s doing down in Phoenix, especially when they railroaded Terry Porter for doing what they asked him to do. I don’t get what they’re trying to accomplish in Arizona right now.
well said DC
Behind the clown mask Shaq is a cancer
I’m sure a lot of GM’s would trade having a little “team cancer” for 4 rings. I think Shaq’s great. His quotes are hilarious and he’s unique. So he bad-mouths his former bosses – that happens in all walks of life.
When he was coming out of LSU he had a small lunch at the top of a downtown Portland hotel. Phil Knight was there and so was I – as the waiter. The deal with NIKE never happened. I got the feeling he wanted his own line like M.J. so Shaq went with another company.
Of course, the most startling thing was how big he was. I mean I saw Andre the Giant at the hotel one time, but other than that this was the biggest combination of height and weight I ever saw. The notion that he could move and jump was unimaginable when you saw him just sitting there.
That was the scary thing – the guy was a building that could move. I remember a reporter asking Larry Bird if he thought that after LSU, Shaq could go on to be one of the best players in the world, and Larry said Shaq was one of the best players in the world already. That’s what size and speed will do for you.
The lunch was pretty interesting. I’ve been around Phil Knight so often it was routine, but the person who made the biggest impression was Shaq’s stepfather. This guy radiated a lot of character and I always figured if he raised Shaq, it was done right. I mean, what’s the most trouble Shaq’s been in?
Now Shaq himself was still basically a teenager back then but he seemed even younger and cartoonish. I mean the guy had a childlike side to him that was kind of funny. I wouldn’t say he was a clown. Shaq was more of a scamp – a 300-pound scamp.
I don’t blame him for what happened in Phoenix. Weren’t his numbers last year good? It’s not his fault Amare hurt his eye.
I also thought it was very entertaining when he talked about Greg Oden and said there were a lot of low-level ninjas but only one shogun. Something like that. He didn’t even say Greg’s name correctly. I thought it was sort of funny in an impish way. If Greg wants the respect, go get it.
I think Shaq’s been a big plus for the league and his going to Cleveland is THE story line of next season. How many old players can still say that?