Who Will Play the Lakers in 2010 NBA Finals? CleveBron Shaqaliers?

(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

To me, the highlight of the day wasn’t the Ariza-Artest “trade,” but rather Shaq’s news conference in Cleveland, and his follow up interview on ESPN’s PTI.

The big goof ball certainly has gotten a better sense of humor with age, and you gotta love the fact that he said his kids like LeBron more than their father.

And what other player in the NBA would receive boots and a snow shovel as a welcoming gift to a new team other than Shaq?

Oh, and the fact he told PTI’s Michael Wilbon that he hates Tony Kornheiser literally made me fall of my couch laughing.

Shaq sure is more entertaining on camera than on his Twitter—the man appears to have the spelling skills of a fourth-grade student.

The big man talks a big game for a 37-year-old man, though. Shaq said he would deliver “a ring for the King,” but with all the other free agent frenzy going on, you got to figure that Shaq may not be enough to carry the previous one-man show that is Cleveland.

The Cavs will need to add one more player to compete with the Magic, who signed Vince Carter, and a Celtics squad seeking Rasheed Wallace’s services. That’s just in the East. Too bad for the CleveBron Shaqaliers that they weren’t able to able to convince Ron Artest or Trevor Ariza to join them in their quest for the NBA title.

With the Lakers apparently on the verge of signing Ron Artest, it appears the Cavs, Magic, and Celtics will all be fighting for the right to dethrone the Lakers in the Finals. Who’s going to be able to compete with the Lakers in the West?

The Nuggets? Their offseason will probably consist of acquiring more tattoos. The Rockets? I don’t think so, Mr. Ariza. The Clippers? Not yet, Blake Griffin. The Warriors? Ha, I wish! I may be (well, actually I am) from Los Angeles, but I hate the Lakers—I ain’t no homer. But, seriously, who’s going to compete with them in the West? Nobody.

For Shaq, winning "a ring for the King" is easier said than done because the Cavs may have to face Boston and Orlando just to get a chance to play the Lakers next year.

If the Cavs pick up another big name, they’re the pick. If not, a healthy Boston would certainly create some heat between the two storied-rival franchises.

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