Kobe Bryant is too box office for the Lakers to move without some sort of fight. He's not only valuable to Jerry Buss, but to AEG, the company that owns 30% of the Lakers and all of Staples Center. They've been able to completely develop downtown L.A. and a lot of these properties depend on the Lakers success. Buss knows this. Dude's been doing this for too long to let the most box office player in the league go over unhappiness. Magic Johnson asked to be traded in the early 1980s, but Buss never let the guy go. He made things right.The difference between this and the Kevin Garnett situation is that the Lakers are not a lottery team with no prospects of improvement. For the most part, injuries killed their season last year. Their number two, three, four, five and six guys each missed at least 25 games. You can't win in this league with injuries like that.
Lastly, this is Jerry Buss. People say he bungled the Shaquille O'Neal deal, but honestly he got Caron Butler and Lamar Odom. Which right now would be an even trade. The problem is they traded Caron for Kwame Brown. Also, like I mentioned above, he actually wanted to trade Shaq because he didn't think he was worth the dough and didn't think he'd hold up over the years. So far, he seems to be correct about both of those theories. I just don't think he's going to let that money pot go. Especially when he holds all the cards.
Kobe can opt out in two years. Is he going to leave all of that money on the table in order to sign a mid-level deal somewhere? I didn't think so. If Buss really has stones, he'll hold on to Kobe, try to make things work, and if they don't try to play chicken with him on the sign and trade situation. When you're losing a player like Kobe, it really is almost better to start over and get free from the money you were paying him rather than bring in a bunch of over paid players. Unless of course they are trading with someone that has an expiring contracts and lots of picks. Either way, there's no point in trading him right now.
Right now, there are two choices for Kobe: Play or sit out and not get paid. And when he can opt out there are two choices, take a tremendous pay cut or play with the Lakers. People need to grow some balls around the league. Unless you're dealing with a Vince Carter type guy that will not play hard unless he gets his way, what's the point of caving in. Kobe's going to play hard every night. We know this. He's too much of a Type A guy not to.
Previously on FanHouse
Inside the Lakers' War of Words
Kobe Responds to Ridiculous Trade Rumors
Kobe Denies He's About to Be Traded
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-17-2007 @ 2:04PM
Fornelli said...
You can be rational, I'm going to act like a moron until he's in Chicago.
Reply
10-17-2007 @ 3:10PM
sleazyE said...
If Kobe wants to go, Buss should just let him walk unless we getting LeBron, Wade, or Arenas. The fact is, players are always going to want to come to LA, and if Kobe walks then there is a ton of cap space (Lamar's deal should be up by then, as should Kwame's) to sign the next big free agent. As long as it's not Mitch making the signing it should be alright.
Reply
10-17-2007 @ 3:51PM
jbn74sb said...
Aside from your asinine assertions that Kobe would or would have to sign for the mid-level when he opts out, this is a great piece, and I agree with most of what you say.
Reply
10-17-2007 @ 4:48PM
rtbraye said...
On CNNSI, Marty Burns cites the Chicago Bulls as the best or ideal place for Kobe to land. He says:
"If any team could get a deal done now, most NBA types seem to agree it's the Bulls. Chicago could offer a combination of Luol Deng or Ben Gordon, along with a rising stud such as Tyrus Thomas, Joakim Noah or Thabo Sefalosha, plus a future first-round pick in '08 or '09."
I don't think it will happend, but if I were John Paxson, I'd package Ben Gordon, and the 2009 draft pick, in a heartbeat.
I'd have to deliberate over Thomas or Noah, because, in my mind it's a wash. I'd flip a coin on it. If you value athleticism you go with Thomas; Baskeball IQ, then it's Noah. Either way you'll get about the same as far as production.
I like Sefalosha, but don't think he'd be a make-or-break chip in any deal with L.A. The Bulls should keep him though because his size is an asset against larger backcourts. Gordon for all his fire power is an undersized defensive liability.
The one thing you don't do is part with Luol Deng. He's about as closest thing the Bulls have as an "untouchable" player. And besides, as far as skill-sets go, Deng's a better compliment to Kobe, than Ben Gordon. You get rid of Gordon, and his defensive match-up problems in the backcourt and get a more reliable end-of-game clutch player in return.
That's my two-cents on the matter.
Reply
10-17-2007 @ 5:43PM
KD said...
Marty Burns also called the 31-year old Raja Bell "young talent" in that column.
Reply
10-18-2007 @ 11:08AM
m schroeder said...
If we were just dealing with the level of talent that Kobe has the Bulls trade would be a no brainer. But what happens when you bring his attitude into the locker room. I think he destroys the chemistry! Don't give up Deng.
Reply