Shaq to the Heat

[Clarkmeister]

Lakers get Odom, Butler, Grant and a future first round pick.

Obviously if you are the Lakers don't want to trade Daddy, but given that you are forced to, this is probabaly a decent swap. Your team is old, old, old and thin, thin, thin. This adds youth and depth.

The future first rounder is valuable for a team that will still have cap problems. Butler had a terrible 2nd season, but did start to come around at the end of it and in the playoffs. Grant is a solid serviceable center. Odom keeps getting better and is a very good player with perennial All-Star potential. If Payton can change his 'tude under Rudy T, and Karl can rehab and come back, the Lakers could be the favorites in the West again.

I think they did pretty well considering how much they were under duress. One has to assume they have received assurances from Kobe that he will re-sign. Younger and deeper isn't a bad combination, even if you do lose the unstoppable (when healthy) force.