As usual, Kobe Bryant had to do something to get the spotlight back on him because we all know how much he loves it. The NBA Finals weren’t much of an obstacle for him but the Paris Hilton saga was. But of course, Kobe dwarfed that story in L.A. too with his month of “trade me” “trade me not” “trade me #%@!’ing now!” drama. So what do I think is going to be the end result you ask? Ok, well, you didn’t ask but I’ll tell you anyway.
I think there is a 1% chance that the Mamba will ever be a Laker again. That 1% chance rests only because its Kobe Bryant, the Lakers, Hollywood, AND because there is a minute possibility that the Lakers make a splash and send Lamar Odom, Bynum and some other scrubs to Minnesota for K.G. I don’t see it happening at all but you never know. In that case, I’m sure Kobe would stay. That being said, he’s as good as gone in my book and should be in yours too.
Right now, Jerry Buss and Kobe are playing chicken. Buss is saying through his people that he’s not going to trade Kobe and Kobe is saying through his people that he’d be willing to sit out the entire season next year if his demands are not met. Obviously, one of them is going to blink first and I think it’s in the Lakers’ best interest to bite the bullet now before a tank rolls up and demolishes that franchise (that tank being an angrier Kobe).
You cannot have an infuriated and stubborn superstar on your team. You just can’t. It doesn’t work. Never has, never will. Yes, I realize that you can’t get even close to fair value for Kobe, especially since he’s holding the Lakers hostage with his three team list of Phoenix (of course), Chicago, and Dallas. But holding onto him for another season is just going to make matters worse inside the locker room and the end product on the floor won’t be good. We saw what Kobe is capable of doing in the infamous Game 7 against Phoenix where he didn’t shoot the ball in the second half. The Lakers don’t need that for 82 games.
What they should do is go ahead and trade him before the draft. Three teams are possibilities as mentioned before. The Lakers don’t want to send him to Phoenix because they don’t want to see him in the playoffs. So instead, they’d send him to the east for lesser value which to me makes absolutely no sense at all. You HAVE to trade the guy so you go out and get the best possible value. I would rather have Marion, Diaw and Barbosa or a draft choice verses getting Ben Gordon, Tyrus Thomas and the 9th pick overall. (Deng isn’t likely to be moved if the trade is for Kobe). You can send Kobe to the east for less value and have the comfort of not seeing him the playoffs, or send him to the west for better value and risk seeing him in the playoffs (which really doesn’t matter because the Suns can wax the Kobe-less Lakers with their bench!). Chances are the Lakers won’t be any good either way but at least they’ll have a better start on their future by sending him to the Suns and getting legit compensation. Take the best value you can get, and move on.
I think the majority of the blame should fall on Jim Buss, the son of Jerry Buss and the apparent heir to the throne of Lakers’ Owner. He drove away Jerry West, a lifelong Laker, he drove away Phil Jackson until Jeanie Buss, Jim’s sister, convinced Phil (her boyfriend) to come back. (Could this be any more Hollywood? Seriously this is a script for Guiding Light or As The World Turns.) Jerry Buss got Shaq booted and now it looks like he’s going to have to get rid of Kobe too. What a legacy Mitch Kupchak will have. Imagine interviewing for another GM position as Kupchak, “Well I uh, I traded Shaq…um I traded Kobe. I brought in Kwame Brown by trading for a player who became an All Star. And I signed Vladmir Radmanovic to a long term contract. (Awkward silence). Yeeeeah so should I go ahead and shut the door on my way out?.” Good luck with your career buddy.
Lakers should move on before the draft and get the maximum value that they can get. Send the Mamba to Phoenix and start your 3-5 year, or 20 year rebuilding process.
Yes Mamba, you have won the spotlight yet again…
June 25th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
I love you.