Kobe opting out for his 2004 contract, can Houston get him?

Bear in mind that Kobe does make scrubs around him better, something that no one on the Rockets can do.

 

Kobe is worth any player in the league except T Mac (why bother), KG, and Duncan.

 

Also, the Lakers would be able to offer Kobe WAY more than any other team, since Kobe already has a max contract. The most another team could offer him is the max starting around 10 mill or so for the first year. Kobe makes like 14 mill or so right now, so he's up for 15-16 mill his first year.

He would have to take a severe pay cut. Unless a team can sign and trade for him.

Kobe leaving LA is as likely as Steve Francis playing defense. It ain't gonna happen.

 

You guys are crazy. I could see trading anyone but Yao for Kobe.

If you were really the owner and you had the power to trade Kobe for Yao, would you do it.

Think about how much money he is going to bring to this organization. No owner in the league would give that up.

But i guess thats why you guys arent owners. You have to be a little smart to be able to be a millionaire.

 

When Shaq's huge contract comes off the book in 3 years, they will have plenty of cap room to pick up big name FAs and rebuild the team around Kobe. After all, who wouldn't want to play in such a big market in LA, a franchise with such rich history and a superstar like Kobe?

That FA class could very well include Yao Ming, Amare Stoudemire etc, mind you.

 

Yes.

Kobe has a killer instinct that only maybe 1 or 2 other players in the NBA have. If Yao develops a killer instinct, then no I wouldn't trade him. However, Yao would have to change as a person, in order to develop a "take no prisoners" attitude. I don't like the odds of that happening.