Nothing would be better for the league than Kobe Bryant going to the Bulls, and somehow Garnett going to the Celtics. I doubt it happens, however ( the latter, mainly).
The last thing that the Bulls need is someone like Kobe. He would destroy the way that team plays basketball. Besides, can you imagine Kobe with Scott Skiles? Ouch.
Kobe never took "no" as an answer for his "back channel overtures". Thank you. I'm here all week. Try the veal.
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I sincerely hope that Kobe goes to the Suns. As much as I hate Stat, I hope that Nash gets to win his 1st NBA title. Since the suns were looking to trade away Marion anyways, why not have Kobe fill in the slot and have the team stay competitive even after Nash fades away. A team of Nash, Kobe, Amare would definitely be a lot of fun to watch.
Let's say you the Lakers GM, would you do the following: Phoenix trades: Marion - $16,440,000 Diaw - $9,000,000 Barbosa - $5,600,000 2007 24th and 29th pick 2008 Atlanta's unprotected pick Total: $33,040,000 Los Angeles trades: Kobe - $19,490,625 Odom - $13,524,000 Total 33,015,625 Phoenix perspective: They acquire perhaps the best back court in the league and the best perimeter player in the NBA. Nash, Kobe and Amare is a 3 headed monster and even though this trade empties their depth, the Suns still have Raja Bell, Kurt Thomas, and the MLE to acquire a veteran bench player. I believe Steve Nash can make a player out any scrub so it doesn't really matter who is playing on his bench. Nash Kobe Bell Odom Amare Kurt Thomas MLE James Jones Marcus Banks A nice 7-8 man rotation can be made of of this lineup and the Suns would become heavy favorite to win the championship. Los Angeles perspective: Look any trade involving a player like Kobe in his prime is never a good one but the Lakers have no choice. Kobe wants and out there is nothing the Lakers can do to keep him. Other teams simply won't trade with them because every GM knows they are desperate and hanging by a small thread. That is why Indiana refuses to even talk about Odom for Jermaine Oneal trade. Even NJ who was very close to trading Kidd for Bynum near the trade deadline and now the Nets say they won't trade him to Lakers for Bynum. Lakers are in a tight position and need to cut their losses ands take whatever is available. This deal is much better one than what Chicago offered because it has better talent of players and more picks perhaps even a top 3 pick next year if Hawks live up to their silly reputation. This would be the idea time for Lakers to rebuild and restock ammo. They need to hit the jackpot in the draft or via free agency to get back on top.
No GM in his right mind and a bit of common sense would ever trade his franchise player to a rival much less a DIVISION rival. The Lakers would soon keep Kobe than to trade him to the Suns unless the name Amare comes up in the talks.
Not if they get one all star, one potential all star, and one lottery pick for the follow year. I would say that is absolutely a steal for the lakers if they managed to fetch even that for Kobe. Plus, the if the Lakers are horrific the follow year, they might even get a lottery pick of their own in 2008. I would pull the trigger if I was Mitch Kupchak.
Divisions mean next to nothing in the NBA. They would face Kobe just as often if they sent him to Utah or Minnesota as they would if he went to Phoenix, and unless they think they are going to be challenging for the division title (and it's guarantee of a top 4 seed) anytime soon -- they won't be -- there is absolutely no difference. This isn't the NFL or MLB where you play division rivals a lot more and the best chance of making the playoffs is winning your division.
I think if the Lakers are going to be in a rebuilding process (and they will be if they trade Kobe), they must take the BEST offer. And if the best offer comes from their division rival, then so be it. I can't remember the details but many Laker fans have said that the front office should learn from the Shaq deal 3 years back. Maybe they could have gotten a better deal if they traded him to a western conference team? That Brian Grant contract was huge.
I don't remember what Dallas was going to trade for Shaq but it was along the lines of Nash, Howard, some other guy, etc and that alone is better than what Miami sent. Regardless, by the time the Lakers are playoff contenders after they rebuild, it won't be the Suns they will be playing against, it would be along the lines of Portland and Utah.
Guys I think I made the point clear that under normal circumstance Kobe would never ever be traded. But Kobe himself is demanding the trade and not letting down. Also factor that the Lakers are having a hard time trading for guys like Jermaine Oneal and Jason Kidd whom they might have gotten if the their ability to leverage wasn't exposed to other GMs. Nobody in the NBA wants to make a FAIR trade with the Lakers. Everything Mitch Kubchak tries to trade for is now priced twice as much. They cannot get Oneal, Kidd or any other player without overpaying the other team. Lakers are in a corner and they need a superstar alongside Kobe to keep him in town and that is not happening. Now the real question is if things continue the way they are and every NBA GM keeps price gouging players then how the hell will Lakers keep Kobe happy and expect him to stay in LA?
Phoenix wants to trade Marion because the owner is stingy. Why would they want to ditch Marion's contract for an even bigger contract?
Because Marion is a 2nd banana type player at best and his numbers are inflated because playing alongside Nash and Kidd his entire career. Kobe is only 3 mil more for a player who could get you a championship and become your no 1 threat and go-to-guy. Any owner would happily pay the luxury taxes to have Kobe play for his team. Sorry but Kobe is the kind of guy who puts people in those expensive court side seats and luxury box. If Kobe goes to Phoenix just remember to look how fast season tickets will sell. The owner in Phoenix doesn't want to pay a guy like Marion top dollar cause he is their 3rd best player and not even a superstar.
That is a legitimate question. I think the Lakers completely blew it when they did nothing significant during this past season (but then who couldve predicted Kobe's 'outburst' -- Kobe should already know what situation they were in when the Lakers chose to draft Bynum 2 years back). it's hard to do anything now. But keeping Kobe happy is not gonna happen. I think for me, the Lakers front office is being stupid if they choose not trade Kobe this offseason. Like you said they won't be able to change their team significantly without trading Kobe. And if they don't change the team AND they keep Kobe, Kobe's value will keep on dropping (especially when he hits 30 or when there's one year left on his contract and there's no guarantee for him to stay on the team he gets traded to). Just trade him now please. Everybody wins. Ok, the lakers lose, but they lose less.
