With the trade of Shaquille O'Neal, the Lakers are officially Kobe's team. However, although Kobe and the Lakers' organization suggest the restructuring will greatly benefit the franchise, the loss of Shaq coupled with improvements by other Western Conference teams will cause the Lakers to miss the playoffs.
In return for Shaq, the Lakers acquired a future first-round pick and forwards Lamar Odom, Caron Butler and Brian Grant. Odom, Butler and Grant definitely have tremendous upsides, but are rightfully the subjects of lingering questions. Odom's mental conditioning, Grant's knees and lack of size and Butler's inexperience are all topics of concern.
Additionally, though the three players add depth, youth and speed to the Lakers lineup, they do not compensate for the offensive and defensive dominance Shaq exhibited during his tenure with the team.
Shaq's presence on the low block commanded double and triple teams, thereby allowing open shots and driving lanes for perimeter players. Defensively, Shaq blocked shots, and was an incorrigible rebounding force.
Without Shaq, the Lakers lose their defensive backbone and the focal point of their past offensive success, leaving only an obsolete Karl Malone and Vlade Divac on the team's frontline.
While the new Lakers attempt to create an identity and find roles for the new talent, the rest of the Western teams have reloaded their teams and present the Lakers with many new challenges.
Sacramento, Minnesota and San Antonio -- the other three Conference semifinalists -- retained the core of their teams with the Spurs adding some depth.
Other playoff teams also upgraded their rosters: Houston added Tracy McGrady, Denver acquired Kenyon Martin, Phoenix signed all-star point guard Steve Nash and Dallas found a replacement for Nash with highly-touted Devin Harris. Also, Utah signed two top forwards, Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur.
The increased depth throughout the Conference and the Lakers' search for cohesion on the court will ultimately preclude them from making the playoffs. Though the organization has provided Kobe with the freedom he felt he lacked after years of capitulating to O'Neal, it may not be long before he realizes how truly important his old teammate was.
