The Sports Rumors

Lakers To Acquire Another All-Star?

The big buzz around the league today is that the Lakers are in trade talks again to acquire another player who will make the squad the clear cut favorite to win the title. Who is this mystery player? Caron Butler, the Washington Wizards’ All Star forward who was traded by the Lakers a few years ago for Kwame Brown. Rumors are the Lakers are trying to ship Odom for Butler, straight up, despite the $5 million more that Odom makes. The move would make sense for both teams on the court, maybe not financially. By acquiring Butler, the Lakers would have a small forward who can score 25 points a game and grab 12 boards or score 8 points, grab 14 boards and have 4 steals and still be happy. Butler’s unselfish attitude and willing to do whatever it takes has made him a much sought after player. Not to mention, he has shut down defense capabilities.

The move would make sense for Washington because they would acquire a tall, lanky power forward in Odom who can shore up their mediocre interior presence. By having Odom and Haywood playing inside, Antawn Jamison would be able to move back to the small forward spot where he has a much easier time playing defense. The critics of this deal say that Odom is better playing small forward than power forward. This is true; in the west. The guys who he has to face in the west when he plays power forward are the likes of Amare, Tim Duncan, Carlos Boozer, Andrei Kirilenko, and so forth. In the east, as a power forward, he would face guys like Drew Gooden and Hedo Turkoglu. Big difference. Adding a presence inside will make the Wizards a force and adding Butler to the Lakers will make them even more dangerous than they already are.

I have a feeling that the Nuggets are going to make a sizeable splash any minute now. Word got out that they were pursuing Ron Artest from the Kings, given the fact that the Kings are looking to unload (despite what they say), and the fact that Artest doesn’t come with a heavy price tag. Throwing him into the mix of Melo, AI, Kenyon Martin, and Marcus Camby will make the fifth best defense in the league the best, right away. Imagine being the three seed in the West and having to face the Nuggets in the first round. Scary thought.

If the Nuggets don’t go the Artest route, look for them to get big man from New York Zach Randolph. The Knicks seem to have realized they made both a personnel and financial mistake in acquiring the power forward less than a year ago. Picking up Randolph won’t be as nice as Artest, but an improvement nonetheless.

ESPN had a report that Avery Johnson wanted to trade Dirk Nowitski after last year’s first round loss to the Warriors because Dirk was a softy. Apparently, Johnson’s opinion was shot down by who else; Mark Cuban… a.k.a. Mrs. Nowitski.

Cassell to the Celtics? Rockets? Caveliers? Sam Cassell wants to be on a contender right away and look for the three aforementioned teams to make some sort of a push to acquire the veteran point guard. If he is not moved by the trade deadline, he could be released later in the season in time to make a playoff roster.

F’ing Balling

The Los Angeles Lakers have won six straight, including last nights 100-99 victory over the Grizzlies, and 9 out of their last 10 to pull within .5 games of Phoenix in the Pacific Division. That’s probably because Kobe is doing his thing, and Lamar is grabbing all the “f’ing” rebounds, according to Andrew Bynum, who the Lakers may have lost to injury last night.

In Case You Didn’t Know…

…The NBA Season kicked off last night with three games, highlighted by…take a wild guess… Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers.  I’m an avid basketball fan but I didn’t even realize until a few days ago that the NBA season was about to be upon us.  This led me to think, of all the big time sports in the U.S., the NBA has the least hyped or anticipated opening day of any.  We all know when college football is about to start.  We all DEFINITELY know when the NFL season is about to start because it is talked about everywhere from schools to offices to nursing homes.  We all know about the start of the MLB season.  Most of us have an idea about the start of college basketball.  But the NBA just strolls in on a Tuesday night out of nowhere!  I guess this is because they know that they cannot compete with the college football weekend, NFL weekend (especially this year with Pats-Colts), and usually the World Series (barring a sweep).  I guess it wouldn’t hurt to try though.  I would have watched the Lakers game had it been on Sunday night around 9pm.  And would a little advertising the week before the start to your season really hurt Mr.Stern?

Anyway, only thing of significance that you need to know is that Kobe Bryant was booed and booed loudly at the start of the Lakers game against the Houston Rockets. 

“So what?  Isn’t he booed everywhere other than Los Angeles??” 

Yes.  He is booed everywhere other than Los Angeles but this game WAS in LA.  He was booed early and often in the first quarter, which, given the fact that it’s Kobe Bryant and he’s the most competitive, angriest basketball player on earth, fired him up en route to him dropping 45 points.  Those very same fans that jeered him to start were chanting M-V-P by the 4th quarter.  The Lakers lost on a late Shane Battier 3 pointer, as Bryant had little help from teammates.  Now isn’t that a shocking development?!

It’s Time to Move On

It seems odd to be writing about a basketball story while we’re in the middle of college football, pro football, and the major league baseball championship series. Especially since the basketball season hasn’t even started yet. But here we are, talking about basketball, and who better to talk about than the most polarizing figure in the game since Michael Jordan. It doesn’t matter if you love or hate Kobe Bryant. You pay attention when his name is in the news. That’s how he’s polarizing. You hear about him and either hate him more or love him more. Either way, you have an opinion on the guy.

This time is a little different though. We saw him shoot off at the mouth about wanting to be traded, then not wanting to be traded, then being indifferent about it. Since training camp has started in Los Angeles, Kobe has been mum on the topics of early summer and has focused his interviews and conversations on the future of the Lakers basketball team. Funny thing is, he is the future of the basketball team and his mood, good or bad, dictates the direction of the franchise.

I predicted in an article I did back in the middle of summer, “Eye of the Storm”, that Kobe would have another explosion and the Lakers would be forced to trade him.

…But in order to advance in the playoffs, Kobe is going to need a lot more than what he’s got. What are the Lakers waiting for?

I still can’t see this feud ending quietly. I don’t see it that way. I am giving this until the second week of September, a little over a month, before we hear from Kobe again, louder than ever. And don’t be surprised if this time, a lot of the same media members who bashed him in May have come around and see his viewpoint. He will have a lot more support this time around and remember, what Kobe wants, Kobe gets.

I was about a month off on the time frame, and granted, Kobe wasn’t the one who brought this to the media this time around, but nevertheless, it’s a story again. The Trade-Kobe or Don’t-Trade-Kobe debates have changed direction to Where-To-Trade-Kobe. It’s no longer a matter of “if” anymore. It’s a matter of “when and where”.

So why is Kobe Bryant all over ESPN and national talk radio again if he didn’t say anything? Because his owner, Jerry Buss, decided to unleash the media frenzy by admitting that he will listen to offers for Kobe. Translation: Kobe Bryant is on the trading block. Now what really irks me about this decision is why it took so long to decide to trade him. There were players like Kevin Garnett, Baron Davis and Jason Kidd available much earlier, yet the Lakers were persistent upon not trading #24. Now, all of a sudden, they have decided that it’s best to part ways. I absolutely understand the importance of trading Kobe Bryant due to his contract. For those of you who aren’t aware, Kobe is the only player in the league who has the power to veto any trade. He can dictate where he wants to go. Kobe also has an option in two years to become a free agent. If he becomes a free agent, he most certainly will sign with another team and the Lakers will get nothing in return. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to trade Kobe for the most value that they can get in return. Why it took so long to do so? I don’t know and don’t understand.

There were rumors that came out late yesterday afternoon that Kobe was so infuriated by Jerry Buss’ opening up to the media, he emptied out his locker.

a) Kobe shouldn’t be mad at anyone for opening up to the media, because he did it first.

b) Those rumors proved to be false anyway.

The reason I brought it up though was because the Lakers season and team cameraderie, any that they would have had, is now shot. It is impossible to play with the same focus and effort when you don’t know if your star player is going to be with you in a week or not. That’s how it will be for his teammates. How will it be for Kobe? I don’t question his competitiveness or want to win at all. I even took a lot of heat over the summer for saying he is as competitive as Michael Jordan. However, he is still a human being. Take your job as an example, whatever it may be. If you are not sure that you will be working for your company next week or not, will you be able to maintain the same type of focus and enthusiasm compared to if you knew you’d be there for 5 years? If your boss was talking to other companies about swapping you out, even if it is at your own request, you won’t be able to maintain the same level of focus at work. It’s just not possible. My point in all this is that the Lakers MUST move Kobe as soon as possible.

Another reason is, if they hold on to him the rest of the season and begin next year with him on the roster knowing that the clock to him opting out and walking as a free agent is ticking, every single team in the league will lowball the Lakers. The Lakers have leverage right now in trade talks. They aren’t forced by the hands of time, yet. They will be in a year. I think it’s best to trade him now because your franchise will get fresh new players at the start of the season, rather than in the middle. Your city won’t have to deal with the constant rumors month after month. The Los Angeles fans will be able to come to the Staples Center without having to fret and think, “This may be the last time I see Kobe in a Laker uniform.” The other time you can trade him, and still be able to get a fairly good deal, is right before the draft next April. This way, a team can offer you a nice top pick to go along with the players that they package. Only downside of this is Kobe’s veto clause. Translation: He’s not going to allow you to trade him to the Bobcats, even though they are offering you a top 5 pick in addition to players. The teams that Kobe will go to via trade are Chicago, Dallas, and Phoenix. All three of those teams are championship contenders so they’re not going to have the sexiest draft choices come April.

So to reiterate: Trade Kobe Now.

There are three teams that he will willingly go to, as mentioned above. I’ll start with the least likely of the bunch and work my way to the most likely. Note that in the NBA, the salaries have to match up for a trade to work. You can’t trade Kobe for 5 years worth of first round picks because the money must match. That thought process is used before suggesting or giving my opinion on trades, like the ones below.

Phoenix Suns

Kobe Bryant for Shawn Marion and Raja Bell.

The Suns would make this trade in a heartbeat but the Lakers would be moronic to do so. The dollars match up but the player talent doesn’t. But then again, you can never put something past an owner and GM who traded Shaquille O’neal for Briant Grant, Lamar Odom, and Caron Butler (then traded the best of the three, Butler, to the Wizards where he became an all star and received Kwame Brown in return).

Dallas Mavericks

Kobe Bryant for Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard

This trade makes sense for the Lakers because they get a top 5 player and a solid complimentary player in return. Dirk will give them the low post scoring that they need. Josh Howard won’t score 30+ like Kobe, but 20 a game isn’t unreasonable. The salaries match up. The snag in this trade is that Kobe will be in the same conference and will most likely become the biggest hurdle for the Lakers to overcome in the playoffs. That’s too much irony for Buss to stomach.

Chicago Bulls

Kobe Bryant for Ben Wallace, Luol Deng, Kirk Hinrich

Kobe Bryant for Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, Ben Gordon, Draft picks

Either one of these trades would work financially. Los Angeles could address a number of needs, most notably a big man and a point guard in the first scenario. In the second, they could get a lot of young talent as well as draft picks. Either way, they would be happy. I think the Lakers would take this deal in a heartbeat. Believe it or not, the snag in this deal is the short pockets of the Bulls owner, Jerry Reinsdorf. He doesn’t like to spend a lot of money and if you bring in Kobe, you’re going to have to resign him to an enormous deal. If you don’t, you’ll have to deal with a lot of competition for the free agent in two years. The other reason Chicago is hesitant is because they spent a lot of time and effort putting together the pieces of their team through the draft.

That being said, I think it’s an absolute no brainer. Those pieces that Chicago put together aren’t going to be good enough to beat a Western Conference team. They weren’t even good enough to be in the finals last year. Ask Lebron James what its like to face Duncan, Ginnobli and crew in the finals. It’s no easy task. Kobe has been there, done that. He’s played with the big boys and he’s played them very well. Adding him to the Bulls would put them in the Finals, without a doubt. They’d also have an extremely good chance to win because western teams usually beat themselves up just trying to reach the Finals.

There comes a time where you just need to part ways, and do so without damaging yourself and the other individuals involved. We all knew this would end badly. Now it’s important for L.A. to swallow its pride, and make a move to save face and cut their losses. If not, the fans will never forgive them for letting Shaquille O’neal and Kobe Bryant leave them and getting absolutely nothing in return for two hall of famers.

If You’re Tired of hearing about Kobe and K.G…

If you are one of the many who is tired of the 24 hour a day coverage of the Kobe and Garnett circus that has been thoroughly covered by ESPN, your local news, and your 4 year old nephew’s cartoon station, then this is the article for you. I’m going to talk about things such as, I don’t know, the rest of the league perhaps.

Let’s start with the much anticipated NBA Draft which is approaching us in less than 6 days now on June 28^th.

Actually before I go into this, let me just forewarn you that you’re not going to find some annoying mock draft on this site yet. I’m not going to be one of those people who has a mock draft up 4 months before the draft, then changes it on a daily basis. This is a busy week for the NBA with potentially some big trades that could go down which directly effect draft picks and teams with high draft choices. So from me, you will get one mock draft with thorough explanation for each pick, one or two days before the event actually occurs. I am not a fan of changing mock drafts or pow

rankings 10 times a day like other folks. Now that that’s off my chest, let’s continue with the article.

This is one of the deepest drafts that we’ve had in recent memory and without a doubt is a credit to the age limit that the NBA implemented. This is what so many people could not come to grips with for the past 15 years. One year of college actually does make a difference. Look at how many more quality players are in the top 15 of this years draft as opposed to the past drafts where you had high school “developing” players coming out completely unready for the commitment and the grueling hard work the NBA requires. Look at Kevin Durant alone! You would not have known what he is capable of or how good he is if you didn’t see him star at the University of Texas. Of course everyone knows the top two picks are going to be Greg Oden and Durant, in that order most likely.

However, there is a little debate going after recent workouts, with some sportswriters suggesting the Blazers should take Durant over Oden. Oden apparently has a few nagging injuries including the wrist that sidelined him for a few games last season with Ohio State, as well as a few back problems. Durant has continued to impress (other than the fact that he can’t bench 185 even once). However, given the makeup of the Blazers with emerging star Brandon Roy in the backcourt and a solid coach in Nate McMillan, it should be a lock for Oden to go number one overall, despite the injury rumors.

Since 1998, either Shaquille O’Neal or Tim Duncan has been in every single Finals series. Think about that for a minute. That is nine years. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure Kevin Durant will have a stellar career. This isn’t only because he is immensely talented but because during the NCAA tournament, he showed heart and desire. That’s something you didn’t see from guys like Kwame Brown and Tyson Chandler, to name a few. However, we can’t set aside the fact that Durant is 6’9 weighing 225lbs while Oden is a 7 footer close to 300lbs (280 to be exact). Size matters in the NBA no matter what you say. Take the Washington Wizards for example; Superstar scorer in Arenas, solid wingman with Butler and a sixth man of the year as well as All-Star forward Antawn Jamison. Sounds like the makings of a title contender, especially in the joke that is the eastern conference. What do the Wizards lack? Inside presence. They do have a 7-footer in Haywood but he is softer than a twinkie left in a car parking lot during 95 degree weather. Oden brings defense right away so he’s already on the level of Emeka Okafur, a solid player. His offense is developing and will get better with time so he has the makeup to become an absolute stud.

Let’s also not forget that the Blazers were not THAT bad last year. Yes, I know they were 32-50 but that’s only 9 games away from a .500 record in the Western Conference. Also, give me another year under star-in-the-making Brandon Roy’s belt as well as player like Oden and I’d feel confident that the Blazers can muster another 10-12 wins. That’s why them getting the first pick was such a shocker. Look for them to be battling for the 7^th or 8^th playoff spot next year, especially if Kobe leaves the Lakers and they are out of the picture.

Durant will bring versatility and some added excitement to a franchise that needs it as much as any. The duo of Ray Allen and Durant should work well. Both Oden and Durant are a can’t miss pick for 1 and 2 respectively. However, at the end of the day, the better pick for pretty much any franchise other than the Spurs or Suns would be to take Greg Oden.

Other Stories and Potential Relocations Around the League:

-Antawn Jamison’s contract expires after next season and he will become an unrestricted free agent. The Wizards will already have their hands full trying to hold on to star guard Gilbert Arenas, despite what he writes on his blog, because there will be plenty of teams salivating at the opportunity of signing him. Zach Randolph’s name of the Blazers has been thrown around quite a lot as a possible trade piece. I’ll keep you posted on this in the coming weeks.

-Andrei Kirilenko is a baby. As if literally crying about his role during the playoffs wasn’t bad enough, Andrei is still whining about it. You would think that, after crying like a 9 year old girl who’s Daddy just told her she can’t have a white pony, the guy would man up a little and bust his behind in the offseason to get better so that he’s not in a situation like this next year. Instead, he has whined some more to management through his agent about possible trades. Utah has said they will not trade him so that’s that. If Andrei picked up a dumbbell as often as he picks up a tissue, maybe he wouldn’t be in this situation. Just a thought.

-Jermaine O’Neal to the Lakers is a deal all but dead. It doesn’t look like O’Neal really wants to go to L.A. now due to recent, ahem, developments out of that city’s basketball team with certain players. New York is the other option but the Knicks aren’t really overflowing with quality trade material so we’ll probably end up seeing #7 in Indy for another year, or maybe just until All-Star break.

I’m going to include an article tomorrow about the Gilbert Arenas situation in Washington and what I foresee regarding his future with the team, despite what he writes on his blog. So look out for that. Also, check in if you want the latest on the Kobe/KG situations as well as other breaking news stories regarding the NBA.

Banged up wrist or not, Oden is a sure thing.