C'mon Ford. Not even trying. You can't trade a player without a contract for the next season after the trade deadline. At least pretend it's a sign and trade.
Kobe and the Laker's struggles are really just a symptom of the true problem: The owner should get the GM's back. The GM should get the coach's back. The coach should get the player's back. Without the above structure, the team falls apart. Would JVG allow Kobe to dictate decisions? No. Why not? Because A) JVG is tough as nails B) JVG knows that his GM (and subsequently, the owner) support him. A championship-quality coach can't coach successfully if his words have no iron in them, and if the players can just do whatever they want. If this were not true, there would be no need for coaches at all. A general manager can't build a championship-quality team if he A) is hindered by one player's fat paycheck and B) must get approval by the player in who gets hired and fired. Buss allowed Kobe to push him around. He directly supports Kobe first and foremost. That's a very bad thing. A GM will not successfully build talend around that. And a coach won't successfully coach around that. The Lakers will continue to fail as long as Kobe stays in LA. I would hate to see Kobe go to the Clippers. I like the Clippers. They're like the runt of the litter. The underdog. I'd love to see them fight into contention without bringing in a major ego, like Kobe. -- droxford
Very good point - it's way I don't think any coach working for Isiah Thomas (notorious for interferring with players behind the coaching staff's back) can be very successful. Evan
"Wow, A-Train. Long time, no hear! " "Any time A-Train posts anything, it's a welcoming back parade." "A-Train's back??" "All aboard!" ______________ "A-Train, A-Train, A-Train..."
Trade for what? a bunch of good players so the lakers can become mediocre. Not likely. He's no cancer. He's great and he proved it. And he will prove it again. He has killer instinct. MJ, he was no more saint than Kobe. No worse. These two guys are the pinnacle of basketball like it or not. Give kobe another player who doesn't smoke pot and the championship will be within their reach once again. And don't think the Lakers don't know it too. They will make their move for another great player. They always do.
come on. 1. Kobe is no MJ . maybe the closest we have seen in awhile but not this year. 2. Players dont want to play with Kobe or AI for that matter. They dominate the ball too much which means alot of guys dont even get to touch it. 3. The Lakers might be able to get back into the playoffs within 5 years unless they get someone solid to sign with them. Odom / Butler are solid players that I would love to have on our team. Kobe can go to hell and I hope his team stays right on the cusp of the playoffs every year but misses it every year. Kobe is showing the world he doesnt make his teammates better and his stock has been dropping this year. I think Shaq makes whoever he plays with look like a superstar! J
