As with most of the trade posts I see here, I must ask the same recurring question that is seemingly never addressed by the trade poster: WHY would the (insert team here:Lakers) do this?!?!? Seriously, what motivation would the Lakers have for making this deal? Come on!
Yeah, that trade was out there three years ago and the Rockets should have capitalized now. Sadly, as it is now, Kobe Bryant's value has sky-rocketed while I get the opinion that Francis' value has started to dwindle.
Let's archive this thread until July 1, 2004, when: 1) Francis is no longer a BYC player and can for the first time realistically be trade bait; 2) Francis has played a year at SG; and 3) the Lakers have not won the title for the second year in a row. Shaq will be talking retirement, Phil will be quiting, and the team dissention from two years ago will look minor. Then this will be an awesome thread.
this idea is a joke. the rox would do it in a HB, butthe lakers would laugh in the face of such a deal!!
Ok I didn't say it was legit or that the Lakers were seriously considering doing this - but it's a rumor that isn't TOO far-fetched. Kobe wants to win a title without Shaq alright. Now Yao is a guy who doesn't command the ball in his hands all the time. I know Yao will never be Shaq and that's the point. Yao will pass off more, so if we did Francis/Mobley for Kobe, Kobe would be winning a title by himself so to speak with a little help from Yao who would be happy with passing the ball out all the time unlike Shaq. The Rockets would want to, and the Lakers wouldn't want to, of course, but the reason the Lakers do the trade it cuz Kobe asks/demands they do it. Yeah the chances of this happening are like .01% - I laughed too when I heard it, but it's a nice thought.
Then we beter hope the T-Wolves upset the Lakers tonight. Yao and Kobe would make the Rockets the NBAs new favorite franchise. Yao abd Kobe on one team! Just to good to be true.
Why would La do it? Why would they give up the a 24 yr old superstar for a star pg and a avg sg?The only way that happens is id Shaq retires and Jackson decides to follow him out the door. I doubt if either happens until Kobe's contract is up after next season.
You are kidding right? MJ has already taken the title of "Greatest Ever". Kobe has already won 3 rings that you cannot contest; however, he won the rings as a second option or shall we say the compliment to Shaq. Until, Kobe wins the Championship as the number 1 option, he will never be considered as the "Greatest Ever". As far as I am concerned Shaq is Batman and Kobe is Robin. If we are to look at the winning percentage of Laker's when Shaq is not playing you will see that is far below .500. It is actually closer to .300. This would mean the Lakers without Shaq would be lottery bound. You can make the argument that this team was assembled to compliment Shaq, which would be true. So what would a team that was assembled for Kobe look like? And would it be that much different? Well, lets advance to 2006 when Kobe is going to be a free agent and lets assume Shaq is retiring and Kobe has decided to stay. Here are a list of some of the free agents in 2006 by position. * RFA = Restricted Free Agent 5) Center - a 300 pounder who can hold his own but not an allstar Jahidi White Ervin Johnson Zydrunas Ilgauskas RFA Theo Ratliff RFA Eddy Curry RFA DeSagana Diop RFA 4) Power Forward - Someone who can post up. They don't have anyone on the team who can post other then George but even he is undersized and often plays the small forward spot. The Lakers could spend their money on an all star type player. Lets look at who would be available. Shareef Abdur-Rahim Tyson Chandler Theo Ratliff Antoine Walker Zach Randolph RFA Bo Outlaw Eddie Griffin (Just a Joke ) but he will be a FA in 2006) 3) Small Forward - Small Forward spot is tricky cause they could go really big on this spot. They could get a guy like Paul Gasol or go for a more athletic smaller guy in Richardson. I am guessing they would go for a taller guy considering they are playing in the West where size is everything. Pau Gasol RFA Jerry Stackhouse Jason Richardson RFA Andrei Kirilenko George Lynch 2) Shooting Guard - Kobe of course. However, what if the Lakers decided to go with a small backcourt that consists of another Shooting guard who could light it up. Allen Iverson Ray Allen Richard Jefferson Latrell Sprewell 1) Point Guard - Lakers will most likely want to go cheap here considering Kobe seems to take over the point guard position any time he feels like. Essentially they want someone who is pass first point guard. I know this isn't a good list but here is what I found as free agent point guards or RFA in 2006 Bobby Jackson Steve Nash Stephon Marbury (humm not pass first), Joseph Forte RFA Terrell Brandon The idea is that Kobe is going to have another superstar to play along side of him to fill Shaq's void. The most likely case is that they will go for another small forward or shooting guard because these are the most loaded positions. You can mix and match it all you want. However, my general feeling is that even with another all star on the team, Kobe cann't contest in the West without Shaq because the simple fact is without Shaq the Lakers are going to rely on more outside jumpers from Kobe. Kobe's jumper isn't more reliable then lets say Duncans bank shot. The truth is that the best big guy usually wins the West. Right now that is Shaq but when Shaq retires it will be Tim Duncan. Duncan will probably create a dynasty in San Antonio. Jordan never need Shaq and there never was a question about his leadership abilities or the idea that he could be stopped during his years with the Bulls. Jordan's will to win was unmatched from any era. So to say Kobe will be labeled, as the "Best Ever" is in my opinion a little premature. Lets see Bryant win one on his own first.
Am I the only one who would not do the trade? If Stevie were playing with Shaq, he would have had three rings already. Shaq is the most dominant player in the NBA. Kobe benefits from him. Period! Without Shaq, lakers were mediocre at best. I mean, Some people used to think Pippen was the second best player in the NBA.
Steve Francis can't get a good shot all the time like Kobe. He's not even half the defender that Kobe is neither. Kobe is a top 10 player in this league, Francis is maybe top 20. You can't even compare the 2.
