AM 570 Reporting Bryant Trade Imminent...To Dallas
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That division will be pure insanity. I'm honestly horrified right now.
Spurs - defending champs
Rockets - T-Mac/Yao and a seriously scary looking offense right now
Mavs - Kobe and Nowitski, finally someone who won't completely choke for them
Hornets - barely missed the playoffs despite not having Peja the whole year. David West and Chris Paul both missed extended time
Grizz - bad year last year, but two years removed from the playoffs and now they actually have a PG and Darko to play in the front.
I think I"m going into a corner and crying.
Spurs - defending champs
Rockets - T-Mac/Yao and a seriously scary looking offense right now
Mavs - Kobe and Nowitski, finally someone who won't completely choke for them
Hornets - barely missed the playoffs despite not having Peja the whole year. David West and Chris Paul both missed extended time
Grizz - bad year last year, but two years removed from the playoffs and now they actually have a PG and Darko to play in the front.
I think I"m going into a corner and crying.
Kobe departure? This ride could make Laker faithful queasy
By Mark Stein
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&page=KobeTradestein
After the latest wild spin on the Kobe Coaster, another 24-hour scramble of disorienting turns and steep drops with No. 24, things were actually pretty clear at the end of the ride.
So clear that the end of the Kobe Bryant era in Lakerland has never seemed closer.
The events of a zany Tuesday allowed for no other conclusion. You inevitably wondered, once your stomach settled, whether the Lakers are going to have to live like this for the rest of Bryant's days in purple and gold, however many are left, with the smothering expectation that he's headed to the airport any minute.
It's difficult to believe otherwise when Kobe asks to skip his third successive practice to give his legs some rest … and is promptly asked by reporters whether he thinks he's played his last game as a Laker.
It's especially difficult to imagine a different ending when the famously quotable and revealing Phil Jackson responds to almost every Kobe question he gets by saying he either can't comment or doesn't know the answer.
The Zen Master? At a loss for words? Dark days, indeed.
The Lakers, according to NBA front-office sources, have no looming intentions to initiate any Bryant trade discussions and still would prefer to hang onto to their most popular player since Magic Johnson. There is nonetheless a growing belief around the league that the proposals will be flooding in now and that Bryant will indeed be moved -- possibly even before the season starts -- after last week's admission from Lakers owner Jerry Buss that he "would certainly listen" to trade offers for Bryant in the wake of Kobe's loud declaration in May that he wants out … and Kobe's subsequent refusals to recant the request.
So edgy is Lakerland that Bryant, after dodging the media for a few days, was forced to address reports Tuesday that he already has cleaned out his locker at the team's practice facility. One team source insisted to ESPN.com that Bryant indeed removed his personal belongings, but Bryant and agent Rob Pelinka told ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher that Kobe had merely cleaned up his locker after Monday's practice, leaving plenty behind.
Yet such is the tension around the team now that Bryant can't sit out a practice without sparking an immediate panic that he's leaving for Chicago or Dallas, with multiple sources insisting that Bryant -- who possesses the league's only active no-trade clause -- lists the Mavericks as his No. 1 destination.
It's a tension Kobe created, of course, when he demanded a trade nearly five months ago with a slew of critical comments aimed at the organization that helped make him a worldwide brand and which backed him steadfastly through a sexual-assault trial in the 2003-04 season. But Buss' comments -- which Bryant admitted Tuesday "caught me off guard a little bit '' -- appear to have permanently changed the dynamic.
Those comments marked the first-ever acknowledgment from the Lakers of any openness to parting with Bryant, after months of scoffing at the mere suggestion.
Fears that Bryant might skip training camp or hold out for a time in an attempt to force the Lakers to move him proved unfounded. The 29-year-old reported for camp on time and with the apparent intention to put the turbulence of the offseason behind him, announcing that he was prepared to move forward with the only team he has ever played for. "Priority No. 1 for me," Kobe said on Oct. 1, "is to bring the title back here in Los Angeles."
The healing didn't last even 10 days, though. In that short span, Bryant's status was officially changed from the ultimate untouchable to stunningly available.
Jackson tried, in the wake of Buss' revelations, to remind us all that the owner's "initial statement was that we're not interested in trading Kobe Bryant." The coach, however, has since conceded that the resulting uncertainty has been a "distracting thing" for Bryant and the team and backed even further away from a hopeful tone when he met with L.A. reporters for a post-practice briefing Tuesday.
Asked whether Bryant would play in Thursday's exhibition in Bakersfield, Calif., against Seattle, Jackson said, "I can't comment on that."
Asked whether Bryant would at least be with the team for that game, Jackson said, "I don't know about that, either."
Told that his no-comments could give the impression that a Bryant trade was imminent, Jackson said, "I can't comment on that. There's nothing imminent. So I can't comment on anything imminent."
Asked finally whether he thinks Bryant has played his last game in purple and gold, Jackson said, "I can't comment on that. I don't know that at all. I mean, who knows that? Do you know it? We just can't comment on that. There's certain things I think that have to be discussed and will be and then we'll move forward from there."
Make that nervously forward … and headed for a Hollywood blockbuster (deal) that seems more inevitable than ever before.
By Mark Stein
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&page=KobeTradestein
After the latest wild spin on the Kobe Coaster, another 24-hour scramble of disorienting turns and steep drops with No. 24, things were actually pretty clear at the end of the ride.
So clear that the end of the Kobe Bryant era in Lakerland has never seemed closer.
The events of a zany Tuesday allowed for no other conclusion. You inevitably wondered, once your stomach settled, whether the Lakers are going to have to live like this for the rest of Bryant's days in purple and gold, however many are left, with the smothering expectation that he's headed to the airport any minute.
It's difficult to believe otherwise when Kobe asks to skip his third successive practice to give his legs some rest … and is promptly asked by reporters whether he thinks he's played his last game as a Laker.
It's especially difficult to imagine a different ending when the famously quotable and revealing Phil Jackson responds to almost every Kobe question he gets by saying he either can't comment or doesn't know the answer.
The Zen Master? At a loss for words? Dark days, indeed.
The Lakers, according to NBA front-office sources, have no looming intentions to initiate any Bryant trade discussions and still would prefer to hang onto to their most popular player since Magic Johnson. There is nonetheless a growing belief around the league that the proposals will be flooding in now and that Bryant will indeed be moved -- possibly even before the season starts -- after last week's admission from Lakers owner Jerry Buss that he "would certainly listen" to trade offers for Bryant in the wake of Kobe's loud declaration in May that he wants out … and Kobe's subsequent refusals to recant the request.
So edgy is Lakerland that Bryant, after dodging the media for a few days, was forced to address reports Tuesday that he already has cleaned out his locker at the team's practice facility. One team source insisted to ESPN.com that Bryant indeed removed his personal belongings, but Bryant and agent Rob Pelinka told ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher that Kobe had merely cleaned up his locker after Monday's practice, leaving plenty behind.
Yet such is the tension around the team now that Bryant can't sit out a practice without sparking an immediate panic that he's leaving for Chicago or Dallas, with multiple sources insisting that Bryant -- who possesses the league's only active no-trade clause -- lists the Mavericks as his No. 1 destination.
It's a tension Kobe created, of course, when he demanded a trade nearly five months ago with a slew of critical comments aimed at the organization that helped make him a worldwide brand and which backed him steadfastly through a sexual-assault trial in the 2003-04 season. But Buss' comments -- which Bryant admitted Tuesday "caught me off guard a little bit '' -- appear to have permanently changed the dynamic.
Those comments marked the first-ever acknowledgment from the Lakers of any openness to parting with Bryant, after months of scoffing at the mere suggestion.
Fears that Bryant might skip training camp or hold out for a time in an attempt to force the Lakers to move him proved unfounded. The 29-year-old reported for camp on time and with the apparent intention to put the turbulence of the offseason behind him, announcing that he was prepared to move forward with the only team he has ever played for. "Priority No. 1 for me," Kobe said on Oct. 1, "is to bring the title back here in Los Angeles."
The healing didn't last even 10 days, though. In that short span, Bryant's status was officially changed from the ultimate untouchable to stunningly available.
Jackson tried, in the wake of Buss' revelations, to remind us all that the owner's "initial statement was that we're not interested in trading Kobe Bryant." The coach, however, has since conceded that the resulting uncertainty has been a "distracting thing" for Bryant and the team and backed even further away from a hopeful tone when he met with L.A. reporters for a post-practice briefing Tuesday.
Asked whether Bryant would play in Thursday's exhibition in Bakersfield, Calif., against Seattle, Jackson said, "I can't comment on that."
Asked whether Bryant would at least be with the team for that game, Jackson said, "I don't know about that, either."
Told that his no-comments could give the impression that a Bryant trade was imminent, Jackson said, "I can't comment on that. There's nothing imminent. So I can't comment on anything imminent."
Asked finally whether he thinks Bryant has played his last game in purple and gold, Jackson said, "I can't comment on that. I don't know that at all. I mean, who knows that? Do you know it? We just can't comment on that. There's certain things I think that have to be discussed and will be and then we'll move forward from there."
Make that nervously forward … and headed for a Hollywood blockbuster (deal) that seems more inevitable than ever before.
On paper, the Mavs would be downright scary if they had the two superstars, but do their styles of play really mesh?
This is a difficult situation for the Lakers, similar to what the Wolves faced this past summer. What do you do when your superstar is upset and wants out? You know you won't get equal value, so you go out and get as many cents on the dollar as you possibly can.
howard, terry, two first rounders is probably 75 cents on the dollar, and I don't know that they'd get more value anywhere else.
This is a difficult situation for the Lakers, similar to what the Wolves faced this past summer. What do you do when your superstar is upset and wants out? You know you won't get equal value, so you go out and get as many cents on the dollar as you possibly can.
howard, terry, two first rounders is probably 75 cents on the dollar, and I don't know that they'd get more value anywhere else.
i def agree about gettin 75 cents abck on the dollar....im sure the lakers would love to have a pg in jason terry and a a great player in josh howard. Personally i think howard is one of the best on that team.
if that trade was to go down, the lakers would be gettin the better part of the deal, theyd have more of a complete team instead of a superstar plus 4
if that trade was to go down, the lakers would be gettin the better part of the deal, theyd have more of a complete team instead of a superstar plus 4
That's not the way those deals normally work -- the superstar almost always turns out to be the more important piece than the good but not great players. You can win a title, lots of them actually, with a couple of stars and a bunch of roleplayers. Winning one with just a bunch of good players is a freak occurence at best.
This deal could be mana from heaven for the Mavs. The "could" centering around whether Kobe's megaego would run right over Dirk's weeniehood. Need some mutual respect to have a top team. But they would retain their entire perfect roleplaying center rotation, a solid young point to be the third scorer, their scoring 6th man, and couold likely just plug Trenton Hassel in there to play the Rick Fox defensive specialist role.
Pssshhh.... And when Houston traded for McGrady, I remember everyone kept saying how Orlando won in that deal.
Mavs fans hate Jason Terry too. He's reliant way too much on jumpshots and has zero dribble penetration ability. His defense isn't all that great either. I lik Josh Howard a lot but the guy is a number two on any team. He's not a franchise player.
The Lakers are getting hosed on this deal. Go trade with Chicago.
And as for selfishness, look I'll cite T-Mac again. EVERYONE said he would mess up Yao and was a selfish scorer who didn't care about anyone after he lead the league in scoring for two years. Now he averages more than 6 assists and Adelman won't stop talking about his court vision. The same can easily be said about Kobe once he actually has a damn supporting cast.
Mavs fans hate Jason Terry too. He's reliant way too much on jumpshots and has zero dribble penetration ability. His defense isn't all that great either. I lik Josh Howard a lot but the guy is a number two on any team. He's not a franchise player.
The Lakers are getting hosed on this deal. Go trade with Chicago.
And as for selfishness, look I'll cite T-Mac again. EVERYONE said he would mess up Yao and was a selfish scorer who didn't care about anyone after he lead the league in scoring for two years. Now he averages more than 6 assists and Adelman won't stop talking about his court vision. The same can easily be said about Kobe once he actually has a damn supporting cast.
The problem is that Kobe is said to be exercising his no trade clause with several NBA teams on his no go list. It's rumored (most everything is rumor at this point) that he only wants to go to Dallas or Phoenix. He has reportedly rejected all of the teams in the East and only will consider a small handful in the West. The Lakers are said to not want to send him to the Suns (even if a deal could be worked out) as that's a big Pacific Div rival and they don't want Kobe constantly rubbing it in nearby.
As good as the Mavs were last year, I would not touch a thing if I were them. I sure as heck would not make a big gamble like sending away two of the best players they have for a problem child super star.
They are clearly championship quality as is.
*note: I would enjoy watching Cuban screw the whole thing up with a Kobe trade, however.
They are clearly championship quality as is.
*note: I would enjoy watching Cuban screw the whole thing up with a Kobe trade, however.
One quote I heard on ESPN radio by Ric Bucher was something like this: "It seems Kobe's more interested in staying in the West with a championship contender than going to the East - and Dallas or Phoenix are surely in the mix. With his no trade clause he can veto anything which makes inquires much less serious negotiations difficult to get underway."
The Mavs are at a tipping point. First, they weren't good enough to close the deal in the Finals the previous year, and now they had a horrific collapse last year to damage their psyche. Their superstar isn't ruined, but psychologically they may be in a similar place to where we were after we lost ot the Mavs in the 2003 playoffs (post Webb knee blowout). The bloom is off the rose, and its unclear if they will ever overcome those demons wiht new powers popping up around the league. Acquiring a Top 20 all time talent for a couple of good players and a couple of late first round picks would give them a huge breathe of air. I do not say "fresh" simply because its not 100% sure with Kobe's ego. But a huge breath of air and a clean slate. The collapses will be wiped clean of the slate and you get to take a whole new set of championship drives with a ridiculous tandem.
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I realize Sacto fans hate Kobe and hate the Lakers, but I seriously see Kobe the way T-Mac was during his post-playoff years in Orlando. He had an ego, whined a lot, wasn't a team player, and everyone thought he'd ruin the Rockets.
I think a change of scenery would be damn good for Kobe. The guy is still the best player in the league and when on a team with actual talent, I think he'll rack up plenty of assists. Plus Dirk doesn't have an ego so it'll be ok. The Mavs would be idiots not to capitalize on this. Terry is worthless, they've been trying to dump his contract. They like Harris a lot more than him because he can actually dribble penetrate and play very good defense. Howard is good but he's a second fiddle at best. And the draft picks are expendable. The Mavs need a fiery player to lead that team because Dirk isn't getting it done.
This is a no brainer. Why wouldn't they do this?
I think a change of scenery would be damn good for Kobe. The guy is still the best player in the league and when on a team with actual talent, I think he'll rack up plenty of assists. Plus Dirk doesn't have an ego so it'll be ok. The Mavs would be idiots not to capitalize on this. Terry is worthless, they've been trying to dump his contract. They like Harris a lot more than him because he can actually dribble penetrate and play very good defense. Howard is good but he's a second fiddle at best. And the draft picks are expendable. The Mavs need a fiery player to lead that team because Dirk isn't getting it done.
This is a no brainer. Why wouldn't they do this?
I don't think it's a no brainer just because one crucial element to winning a championship in this league is having a superstar player. If you look at the champions, dating back to the Lakers/Celtics of the 80's, nearly every championship team had a superstar (with the 2004 Pistons being the exception). Therefore, you don't just trade your superstar if it isn't absolutely necessary.
If this trade were made, all of a sudden your two best players are no better than number two options, and you're looking at a pretty solid 4-5 years of mediocrity. Even with Kobe, they could be facing that mediocrity, but at least there is the chance and HOPE that someday his team could evolve into Jordan's Bulls of the 1990's.
If this trade were made, all of a sudden your two best players are no better than number two options, and you're looking at a pretty solid 4-5 years of mediocrity. Even with Kobe, they could be facing that mediocrity, but at least there is the chance and HOPE that someday his team could evolve into Jordan's Bulls of the 1990's.
Unless the Lakers have absolutley no other options as Buss and Jackson approach their collective wits end. All kinds of bizarre rumors are out there, like the Lakers brass is now completely resigned to trading Kobe, but Buss thinks if he goes to Dallas the Lakers should get Dirk N. in return - not Howard, Terry, etc.!! What could be more idiotic than that completely implausible deal it would seem? I even heard a straight up LeBron for Kobe - rumors flying all over the place but most are not even being discussed at this point.