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Originally Posted by Amahk  I was just about to post that particular espn article for all the people that said Kobe pushed Shaq out of the Lakers. I didn't believe it then and now that Shaq has backed Kobe 100% with his side of the story, I still don't believe it now. |
Here's a thing: My limited understanding of the NBA salary cap says that only one player can make "The Max", which is 35% of the cap. Shaq wanted (to keep) it with his 3 year, $80 million extension. Kobe probably didn't say "trade Shaq or else" but he could have effectively said the same thing if he was pushing for a Max contract for himself. An indirect way of saying trade Shaq by trying to sign him to a lesser extension, since Shaq probably would have requested a trade himself is the only offer he was getting from LA was a 3 year, $35-40 million offer.
