Shaquille O'Neal 1996 NBA Free Agency ( Old Article)

[QUOTE=Rasheed1]and at the same time while they were hauling in the diesel, they drafted Kobe and Fisher....

that was good work right there[/QUOTE]

Fisher was expendable on the 3peat teams, I wouldn't throw him in there. The only year he did anything in the playoffs out of those 3 seasons was 2001. Fisher has always been a below average starting PG, in fact, he's really always been a streaky combo guard. Getting Shaq/Kobe in the same offseason has to be the most successful offseason ever though. Midseason they got Robert Horry too.

[QUOTE=Rasheed1]knicks werent on the list... In fact there wasnt a list... It was LA or bust for Kobe...

but you are right about the hornets, I meant to say the picked him up in a pre-arranged draft day trade...[/QUOTE]

Agreed. I've never heard of a "list" Kobe & his agent had.

It's been explained here ,to Kobe haters doubts, that he loved the Lakers & MAgic Johnson as a child(mom used to get copies of recorded Lakers games mailed to Italy or recorded them herself when possible. Openly cried when dad told him Magic had HIV & would retire).

Vlade Divac was an expendable/valuable big man the Lakers had as West & the organization were very confidewnt that Shaq would sign there.

No brainer for West who has stated Kobe gave the best workout he ever saw in his career as GM.

Pretty astounding that they were able to pull this off . Ricky Rubio tried it with the Kincks(?) & it failed.