http://www.sacbee.com/kings/story/445186.html
NBA Beat: Trading Bryant looks to be tough proposition for Lakers
By Scott Howard-Cooper - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 2:35 am PDT Sunday, October 21, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C8
Of course the Kings have a great chance to land Kobe Bryant and become meaningful again. One side has playboy owner Jerry Buss, a Vegas-run kinda guy, and the other has a hotel just off the Strip with hot nightclubs and gambling. Done.
Because they must deal in basketball terms, though, and because it's hard to work a lifetime pass for the penthouse suite under the salary cap, the Lakers have few realistic options as they officially opened the Bryant sweepstakes after Buss' change of direction that he would entertain offers. Offers with a fair return, that is.
That's where it gets very difficult for the Lakers. The challenges are many, even if one of the biggest – their previous public and private stance that Bryant will not be dealt – was removed when Buss said all possibilities are now on the table. The owner, a man of patience during many moments in the organization of the never-ending soap opera, had enough and decided to take back his team.
Not only must the Lakers search for fair value, they almost certainly must get marquee value as well. Talent alone almost certainly will not do it. They will want glitz as part of any package for Bryant, not just a new future with the players.
The Hollywood thing may be a tired cliché in references to many Los Angeles teams, but it remains very real with the Lakers, whose owner not only understands the appeal of show-business sparkle but pushes it. The Laker Girls were Buss' idea. So he knows it would be a tough sell to a demanding fan base if the biggest name that came in return would be Luol Deng, even if Deng has the makings of becoming a star and the Bulls could make a very credible offer.
Few teams have the necessary salary to send back without involving bad contracts (Bryant is on the cap for $19.49 million this season), the necessary players that would seriously tempt Buss and Co., and the necessary pop. Phoenix for sure, if the Suns would start with Amare Stoudemire. But that's unlikely, since they wouldn't sacrifice Stoudemire to get Kevin Garnett, who was a greater need as a big man. Chicago only maybe, since the Bulls have several talented young players, except none is able to top a marquee.
Plus, it is almost certain that Buss would prefer to send Bryant as far from Los Angeles as possible, just as Bryant would love the opportunity to be close enough to stay in the Lakers' face and remind them what they lost. Meanwhile, he holds the only no-trade clause in the league, with the option to dictate a destination. It's just much different from actually getting there, or anywhere.
Healing powers
Meet the new Nets, same as the old Nets.
New Jersey goes from a .500 team to one that could contend for the Eastern Conference title, despite a mild offseason where the boldest additions came in the signing of Jamaal Magloire and the drafting of Sean Williams, neither of whom is ticketed for the starting lineup. Consideration of a major shake-up ended as soon as Jermaine O'Neal trade talks ended with Indiana.
Finding the potential for real improvement already in-house, the Nets instead get their old starting lineup back. Underrated center Nenad Krstic returns after his 2006-07 season ended in December because of a torn knee ligament, and Richard Jefferson is back at small forward after missing nearly two months following ankle surgery. Jefferson did return late last season to help a 13-8 push for another playoff berth. Krstic and Jefferson together again with Jason Kidd and Vince Carter means anything is possible in the East.
Williams is the intriguing newcomer, an athletic power forward from Boston College with the potential to torment opponents as a shot blocker. He comes to a team built to win now, though, so the possibility of the Nets and Pacers rekindling the O'Neal talks remain, perhaps a slow start away in New Jersey as healthy players return and expectations grow.
Houston: Mission aborted
The Allan Houston comeback ended Saturday without ever really beginning. His latest retirement became official after the Knicks openly portrayed his chance of making the team as bleak and, come to think of it, the fourth-leading scorer in franchise history didn't have much chance in the first place.
What could have been a unique tale of a player returning to his former team after a serious knee injury and a little more than 2 1/2 years since his last game was actually little more than a team doing a favor for an old friend. Houston came to camp a long shot without a guaranteed contract, but coach-president Isiah Thomas soon admitted to the media that any other 36-year-old with a history of knee problems "never would have" been indulged in the same way.
Houston played in one of the first three exhibition games, for six minutes, and was asked not to dress for the fourth – sitting behind the Knicks' bench Thursday at New Jersey. Two days later, he saved the Knicks the trouble of cutting him and left on his own.
About the writer: The Bee's Scott Howard-Cooper can be reached at showard- cooper@sacbee.com.
NBA Beat: Trading Bryant looks to be tough proposition for Lakers
By Scott Howard-Cooper - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 2:35 am PDT Sunday, October 21, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C8
Of course the Kings have a great chance to land Kobe Bryant and become meaningful again. One side has playboy owner Jerry Buss, a Vegas-run kinda guy, and the other has a hotel just off the Strip with hot nightclubs and gambling. Done.
Because they must deal in basketball terms, though, and because it's hard to work a lifetime pass for the penthouse suite under the salary cap, the Lakers have few realistic options as they officially opened the Bryant sweepstakes after Buss' change of direction that he would entertain offers. Offers with a fair return, that is.
That's where it gets very difficult for the Lakers. The challenges are many, even if one of the biggest – their previous public and private stance that Bryant will not be dealt – was removed when Buss said all possibilities are now on the table. The owner, a man of patience during many moments in the organization of the never-ending soap opera, had enough and decided to take back his team.
Not only must the Lakers search for fair value, they almost certainly must get marquee value as well. Talent alone almost certainly will not do it. They will want glitz as part of any package for Bryant, not just a new future with the players.
The Hollywood thing may be a tired cliché in references to many Los Angeles teams, but it remains very real with the Lakers, whose owner not only understands the appeal of show-business sparkle but pushes it. The Laker Girls were Buss' idea. So he knows it would be a tough sell to a demanding fan base if the biggest name that came in return would be Luol Deng, even if Deng has the makings of becoming a star and the Bulls could make a very credible offer.
Few teams have the necessary salary to send back without involving bad contracts (Bryant is on the cap for $19.49 million this season), the necessary players that would seriously tempt Buss and Co., and the necessary pop. Phoenix for sure, if the Suns would start with Amare Stoudemire. But that's unlikely, since they wouldn't sacrifice Stoudemire to get Kevin Garnett, who was a greater need as a big man. Chicago only maybe, since the Bulls have several talented young players, except none is able to top a marquee.
Plus, it is almost certain that Buss would prefer to send Bryant as far from Los Angeles as possible, just as Bryant would love the opportunity to be close enough to stay in the Lakers' face and remind them what they lost. Meanwhile, he holds the only no-trade clause in the league, with the option to dictate a destination. It's just much different from actually getting there, or anywhere.
Healing powers
Meet the new Nets, same as the old Nets.
New Jersey goes from a .500 team to one that could contend for the Eastern Conference title, despite a mild offseason where the boldest additions came in the signing of Jamaal Magloire and the drafting of Sean Williams, neither of whom is ticketed for the starting lineup. Consideration of a major shake-up ended as soon as Jermaine O'Neal trade talks ended with Indiana.
Finding the potential for real improvement already in-house, the Nets instead get their old starting lineup back. Underrated center Nenad Krstic returns after his 2006-07 season ended in December because of a torn knee ligament, and Richard Jefferson is back at small forward after missing nearly two months following ankle surgery. Jefferson did return late last season to help a 13-8 push for another playoff berth. Krstic and Jefferson together again with Jason Kidd and Vince Carter means anything is possible in the East.
Williams is the intriguing newcomer, an athletic power forward from Boston College with the potential to torment opponents as a shot blocker. He comes to a team built to win now, though, so the possibility of the Nets and Pacers rekindling the O'Neal talks remain, perhaps a slow start away in New Jersey as healthy players return and expectations grow.
Houston: Mission aborted
The Allan Houston comeback ended Saturday without ever really beginning. His latest retirement became official after the Knicks openly portrayed his chance of making the team as bleak and, come to think of it, the fourth-leading scorer in franchise history didn't have much chance in the first place.
What could have been a unique tale of a player returning to his former team after a serious knee injury and a little more than 2 1/2 years since his last game was actually little more than a team doing a favor for an old friend. Houston came to camp a long shot without a guaranteed contract, but coach-president Isiah Thomas soon admitted to the media that any other 36-year-old with a history of knee problems "never would have" been indulged in the same way.
Houston played in one of the first three exhibition games, for six minutes, and was asked not to dress for the fourth – sitting behind the Knicks' bench Thursday at New Jersey. Two days later, he saved the Knicks the trouble of cutting him and left on his own.
About the writer: The Bee's Scott Howard-Cooper can be reached at showard- cooper@sacbee.com.
