Jeremy: It Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time

I'm willing to admit it.  I'm willing to admit that streaking is a bad idea.  It's mostly illegal.  It can be embarrassing.  It's probably punishable by flogging in several countries.  But let's be honest here, if you are a heterosexual guy, there really isn't anything quite as exhilarating as seeing the faces of your friends when they get a glimpse of your bare white buttocks.  Streaking is sort of like eating Mexican food: it always seems like a good idea right up until the point that you finish up.  It's at that point you realize what you've just done, and no matter how much you enjoyed it, now that it's over, you will have to deal with the consequences.  The difference between streaking and eating Mexican food?  Streaking provides for a better story to tell.  Having said that, I will keep the story to myself.
So say that you are the Lakers and because you are the Lakers, it's a party.  Everything seems to be going along as normal when somebody yells "WE'RE GETTING RID OF SHAQ!!!!"  ("WE'RE GOIN' STREAKING!!!").  Suddenly everyone is laughing, screaming, having a great time.  I mean, we've had Shaq (clothes on) all this time, there's no need for him (these clothes) anymore, it's time to shake things up, lose Shaq (our clothes), and really get this team (party) going.  Great idea!!!  So everyone is running around, elated at the idea of not having Shaq (clothes on) anymore.  There's laughter, rejoicing, people are cheering, clanking glasses, enjoying the suddenly Shaqless (clothesless) team (evening).  I mean, really, what's the big deal.  We don't have Shaq (clothes on) anymore, but we've still got Kobe(beer) left.  All we have to do is give the team over to Kobe (drink more beer) and we'll continue to have a great team (night). 
So the Lake Show (the party) continues without Shaq (clothes) but plenty of Kobe (beer).  Everyone thinks that this is going to be a great arrangement for the team (party).  But nobody really took the time to realize how important Shaq (clothes) really were to the success of the team (party).  What nobody seemed to realize was that had Shaq (having clothes on) covered up a lot of problems on the team (a lot of ugly naked bodies).  Nobody understood that with Shaq around (clothes on) everybody was (looked) better, but as soon as Shaq (the clothes) was gone, all the Lakers (party) had left was Kobe (beer), and nobody (everybody) looks better when Kobe (beer) is in charge. 
Okay, so the analogy breaks down a little bit at the end.  But you get the idea.  The point is it seemed like a good idea to treat the Diesel like garbage and get rid of him, but it's going to bite the Lakers in the butt (naked or otherwise).  Nevermind the fact that Shaq has now guaranteed a championship in Miami, the Lakers are just flat out a worse team than the were with Shaq.  I know that I've said that given the circumstances the Lakers got the best deal that they could for Shaq, and I still stand by that, but that doesn't change the fact that they destroyed any shot they will have at a ring in the near future.  No matter how much you think getting rid of your clothes (Shaq) will make the party (your team)better, you will without question regret it in the morning(next year).