If you’re still wondering if Shaquille O Neal is still a Laker, don’t worry. It seems as though the Lakers are finding it difficult to ship the All-Star center out of LA. The Dallas Mavericks are very interested in the 3-time champion, but are still pondering possible ways of acquiring him. One thing is for sure, Mark Cuban does not want to send budding superstar Dirk Nowitzki to the Lakers, which would create a powerful one-two punch if Kobe were to resign. I for one do not want to see Dirk leave Dallas, but rather I would prefer he tag team’s with Shaq in hopes of reaching to the top of the West.

Steve Nash

In other news, the Mavericks lost their all star point guard, Steve Nash, to the team that drafted him back in 1996, the Phoenix Suns. That leaves the point guard spot open to Marquis Daniels and their first round draft pick, Devin Harris out of Wisconsin. It’s definitely a summer of change in the NBA.

The Kobe Sweepstakes is still open with no prize yet awarded to any team. The Lakers are willing to offer Kobe the max, but Kobe is checking his options. One thing for sure is that he likes the Los Angeles area and would like to remain their. The Clippers are one team that has expressed interest in the all star guard. However, if he is to end up in Clipperland, the lost Los Angeles team, how will guys like Corey Maggette and Quentin Richardson get any minutes? Richardson is a free agent and is looking into his options. The Denver Nuggets like Richardson, but also want to see Kobe or Manu Ginobli sign with them. That leaves Richardson out of the picture. If the Nuggets cannot get Kobe, there second option is Manu, who I would consider a great pick up for them to assist Carmelo.

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Mehmet Okur has a great opportunity in Utah. The Jazz offered the 6-11 center a 6-year, $50 million contract. I like Mehmet as a player. He can hit the outside jumper, a valuable skill for a guy with his height. He didn’t get that much minutes, especially when Rasheed Wallace came to town. I would like the Pistons to match that offer and keep Okur, but what are the odds of that happening? He can start for a lot of teams and in Detroit, he is a great back up center who reminiscent of Arvydas Sabonis. He doesn’t have the moves, but can play the game at his height and without any fear when it comes to the rest of them. I hope Joe Dumars really looks into this because Mehmet will be a force to be reckoned with if he starts in Utah and gets the minutes he deserves. Starting over Greg Ostertag is not a question to begin with. Greg can backup Okur and see minutes dwindle.

During the draft, the was talk that the Celtics were willing to trade their lone superstar Paul Pierce to the Chicago Bulls for Tyson Chandler and a first round pick. Their was no way in hell that Boston fans would hear of such a horrible trade. It would have been so clear that Danny Ainge was trying his hardest to dismantle the Celtics and make them look like the next Chicago Bulls. One thing for sure, Paul would have demanded a trade right away or frowned his hardest just like Steve Francis did on draft day when Vancouver selected him. I would have no reason to even watch the superstar-less Celtics. Thank God the trade never made it to the serious level or Boston Celtic fans would have been on suicide watch again (see Red Sox 2003 ALCS game 7 against the Yankees).