What's worse - our power forward play or Karla on the Rockets? Karl won't be going back to the Lakers. Could he be the answer? Just a thought, with the atrocious PF play being a major contributor to our awful start.http://msn.foxsports.com/story/3227666 Malone rules out return to L.A. because of Kobe Story Tools: Print Email John Nadel / Associated Press Posted: 6 minutes ago LOS ANGELES (AP) - Karl Malone has ruled out a return to the Los Angeles Lakers because of comments made by Kobe Bryant in a radio interview, Malone's agent said. "Karl is furious," agent Dwight Manley said Tuesday. "He felt very disrespected and betrayed after personally being the first to stand up for Kobe over the last year throughout his rape charge and all he went through." Manley said remarks made by Bryant on Monday, coupled with what the agent called "recent personal attacks made in private," led Malone to his decision. Asked if Malone might play elsewhere, Manley replied: "This certainly opens up that possibility." Bryant told XTRA on Monday he didn't believe Malone, who is recovering from knee surgery, would come back to the Lakers, calling it "just intuition." "It's not really fair to hold it over the guys' heads that are here," Bryant said. "The guys that we have here are working hard, practicing hard every day. It's kind of tough for them to be looking over their shoulder, wondering if he's going to come back and then everybody is going to disappear. "They are here giving me 110 percent. It's really not fair for us to sit around and speculate how long this is going to go on. I mean, you can't sit up here and speculate for the remainder of the season whether or not he is going to come back. I mean, that's not fair to the guys that are working here." Malone, 41, told the Lakers on Oct. 1 he was still recovering from arthroscopic surgery he underwent three months earlier on his right knee and wasn't ready to play. But he didn't rule out returning at some point this season or beyond. Malone, the second-leading scorer in NBA history, opted out of his $1.65 million contract following last season, making him a free agent. After playing 18 seasons for the Utah Jazz, Malone joined the Lakers before last season in search of his first championship. He took a pay cut of about $18 million to sign for $1.5 million. "Karl sacrificed financially to come to L.A., he sacrificed personally," Manley said. "He put his name and reputation on the line, put his arm around Kobe and said he was a good kid, tried to be his friend, told people to give him the benefit of the doubt. "And now, basically, to get stabbed in the back, that's how he feels. This has ended any possibility of Karl returning to the Lakers in any capacity." Malone and Bryant live about six blocks apart in Newport Beach. Manley said his client is fully recovered from knee surgery and 100 percent physically. "Karl will have something to say, probably in the next month or so, about his future," Manley said. "It will likely be after the first of the year. I'm personally crossing my fingers that he decides to play." Several teams, including San Antonio, Minnesota and Miami, expressed interest in Malone during the offseason. While with the Lakers, Malone was one of the few players who was close with both Bryant and O'Neal. Bryant signed a $136.4 million contract last summer to remain with the Lakers while O'Neal was traded to Miami. Malone played in 1,434 of a possible 1,444 regular-season games with the Jazz, but missed 40 games with the Lakers - 39 after tearing a knee ligament Dec. 21 against Phoenix. He returned in March and played a key role as the Lakers reached the NBA Finals before losing to the Detroit Pistons in five games. Malone reinjured his knee in Game 2 of the finals, was limited in Games 3 and 4 and didn't play in Game 5. The Lakers lost the last three games. Malone had played in 193 straight playoff games with the Jazz and Lakers before having to sit out the last game of the finals. Considered one of the best power forwards in NBA history, Malone averaged a career-low 13.2 points and 8.7 rebounds in 42 games last season, leaving him with career averages of 25.0 points and 10.1 rebounds. His 36,928 points in 1,476 games trails only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who finished his career with 38,387 points in 1,560 games.
Malone is smart, he's sitting back and playing his cards. Eventually he's going to sign on to a contender and try to w**** his way to a championship. As of now, we are far from being a contender. And historically speaking, would you really be able to look at Karla wearing a Rockets uniform without throwing up??
Very true, but I've been throwing up all season watching our current PFs, so I probably won't notice the difference!
you would notice bigger chunks while throwing up if karla was a rocket. karla isnt the answer anyway, he wouldnt want come here and the rockets need a rebounding/shot blocking power forward that they can count on being around for longer than a season.
Yao has nothing against Malone. I bet Yao likes Malone very much. Bring em here!!! MING+MCGRADY+MALONE = TRIPLE M ATTACK
with all of the young PF's that can help us in this league, i don't think we should rent malone for one year. bring in someone who will be here for the next 5 years.
My Honest Opinion: My enthusiasm as a fan for the Houston Rockets would drop significantly should the Rockets ever even consider signing that Jazzhole. Just picturing Malone in a Rockets uniform sends a chill down my spine and makes me gag at the thought. My 12-year, loyal devotion to the team would fade until the wrong has been made right. I believe it is not only disturbing, but also dangerous to be engaged in any sort of conversation that has a Malone-to-Rockets theme or centre of topic. In addition, any fan of the Rockets who can remember the injustices and ungodly acts committed by Karla against the Rockets circa '97/'98 cannot possibly be advocating the possible addition of Malone here now in 2004/5. I say the game is better and certainly safer and perhaps even a tad more classy with Karla farming in Arkansas (*Pacers-Pistons notwithstanding). So, to answer your question, I would take 5 years more of the Taylor/Howard combination than to have Malone for 6 months. -Turbo
Rocket fans must set standards. Karl Malone as a rocket crosses my line. I don't see how any person could root for Karl Malone.
We need a quick strong defensive PF that can rebound like a muuuug. This team will then have some winning streaks.
I would root for anyone that would make this team better, and Malone would do that a ton. I think he signs with San Antonio though. DD
Why would he come here? If he wants a ring he will go to the Spurs, Kings, Wolves, or maybe the Mavs. If he did come here he might get booed the first time he stepped on the court at TC. Additionally, we dont know exactly what he has left in the tank. He is coming off of knee surgery and is 40+ yrs old. I say pass on him and try to get a younger more athletic PF.
