Bring Kobe to the Bay? + Kobe Wants Some More "warriors"

by Atma Brother ONE on Oct 12, 2007 8:24 AM PDT in NBA

There's plenty of big headlines making their way around NBA circles right now like the return of OG New York Knickerbocker Allan Houston or even the Warriors finally taking home two straight W's against arch-rival and nemesis LA Lakers (see Preseason Game #1- Warriors 111, Lakers 110- Homer and the Reality Check and OPEN THREAD: Preseason Game #2 - Warriors vs Lakers)- even if it's just the preseason, we'll take it! But the biggest of them all is undoubtedly LA Lakers owner Jerry Buss saying that if the right deal presented itself he'd do his best to accommodate superstar shooting guard Kobe Bryant's high publicized trade request last Spring (it was way more entertaining than the NBA Finals, that's for sure) [AP]:

Buss recalled an offseason meeting in Barcelona when he tried to talk Bryant out of the trade request.

"He listened very carefully for 30, 45 minutes," Buss said. "I tried to explain to him how much the city of Los Angeles loved him, and that to leave 10 million sweethearts for unknown territory might not be the right thing to do. But when I was finished, he said he basically felt the same way. And I said, `OK. With that, I will proceed to see what's available."'

Buss didn't elaborate other than saying he might have acted on a trade offer that was "within reason."

"You have to get comparable value when you make a trade," Buss said. "It's very hard to trade somebody like him because people who have enough material to make it worthwhile are usually contenders and they don't want to make the trade."

Buss also said he occasionally told Bryant of certain offers, none of which he found fair to the Lakers, and acknowledged frustration at losing out to Boston for Kevin Garnett's services.

"I told him that I would try my best to accommodate his wishes, but that I could not afford to let him go unless we got comparable talent -- if there was such a thing," Buss said.

It's pretty bold and honestly shocking that Buss would publicly state that he'd trade Kobe Bryant. He's arguably the best player in the NBA and few people will argue that he's the best scorer in the league (um, 81 anyone?). I just don't see how you could ever get even 75% trade value back in terms of on court production and box office sales, especially in a shallow, star-struck locality like SoCal. Kobe is a one of a kind in every way imaginable- good and bad.

Even former MVP Steve Nash knows whassup.

I don't think I need to tell you how good Kobe is or how nuts it would be to pair him up in the backcourt with Baron Davis (The BoomBryant backcourt anyone?), so I won't. If I need to tell you, then well you probably haven't been watching the NBA since MJ retired (the first time) and you unfortunately missed that whole We Believe thing. Unfortunately for obvious reasons (the Lakers aren't going to trade a superstar like Kobe to a squad in the West, let alone the same state, who do the Warriors even have that the Lakers would want for Kobe?, etc) it'll never happen.

Still I know you'll want to make the jump to see Kobe's request for some more warrior action and a trade to the Dubs trade that actually works money-wise.

Let me get this out of the way. The Lakers will never trade Kobe Bryant to the Warriors.

Never.

NEVER.

But what if the Warriors' front office somehow bamboozled the Buss family and Mitch Kupchak? What if Kobe stayed true to his golden words from yesterday and demands to be traded to the Bay? From The Press-Enterprise by way of GSoM friend Rich Twu:

To Fisher, who played eight years with Bryant and won three NBA championships with him, Bryant wanted some more "warriors."

(Don't you just love how quotes out of context make for silly, but wildly entertaining reads?)

Email this one out to all your friends who are Faker fans (unfortunately we all have at least a handful) and see how pissed off they get at you:

We'll even throw in Kosta!
(This nonsensical trade wouldn't have been possible without ESPN's Trade Machine!)

We all know it'll never happen, but what's the best package you can put together for our SoCal friends to bring Kobe to the Bay? Do you see any possible way that Kobe could come to the Bay?

I should add that it looks like my preseason prediction for the second game of the Warriors-Lakers meaningless mid-October war is in full effect:

I can just see the headlines and news items on October 12th: "After suffering two straight beat downs at the hands of the Golden ones, superstar shooting guard Kobe Bryant issues a statement 'I believe! I believe! And I demand a trade to the Warriors!'"

Well maybe not exactly, but you get the point.

A goodie from our grizzled friends over at Fear the Beard: Kobe, you have been posterized

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Comments

Kobe Trade

It's not to the Warriors but I think it's a start of a trade between the Lakers-Bulls-Sonics.

Basically:
Chicago gets: Kobe, Wilcox, Turiaf
LA gets: Durant, Noah, Ben Wallace, Kurt Thomas
Seattle gets: Bynum, Vujacic, Deng and Gordon

I think Chicago gives up a lot but you kind of have to. They still keep Hinrich, Nocioni, and Ty Thomas and bring over two big men, Wilcox and Turiaf, to replace the overpaid Ben Wallace.

Both LA and Seattle get quite the haul of young talent. LA does it to get a big name in Durant and they stay competitive by bringing in Wallace and Noah. The only problem here is, why would Seattle do it? For Durant they get a potential stud center in Bynum, a budding star in Deng, and a lights out shooter in Gordon. I think you could swap Ty Thomas with Gordon and it still works money wise but then you're crowded up front with Bynum, Deng and Jeff Green. Is there any scenario in which Seattle trades away Durant? I don't think so, but this is as close as I could get to something fair that brings Kobe to an Eastern Conference team and LA gets a player worthy of losing Kobe.

What do you think?

by Fantasy Junkie on Oct 12, 2007 9:03 AM PDT 0 recs

Seattle

Neither Gordon nor Deng individually or together figure to be the ticket draw that Durant alone is.

Durant will be on the rookie scale for the next 4 years; Gordon and Deng will combine for over $20M in extensions next year fairly easily.

So I don't think Seattle is the right team to facilitate a deal.

Questions? Complaints?

(AIM: JetForze; email: Jon.d.ma@gmail.com)

by OptionZero on Oct 12, 2007 9:37 AM PDT up 0 recs

Yup, that's what I couldn't figure out

Who do the Lakers trade Kobe for? I figure Durant is an option but there's no way Kobe okay's a deal to Seattle so there needed to be a 3rd team. And there's really no way Seattle trades Durant for anything really. He's about as untradeable as Kobe.

There's a short list of players the Lakers would accept for Kobe: LeBron, Wade, Durant or some combo of lesser players. The problem is, the Lakers can't just trade Kobe for a player, that player has to have a big name and attract people to Staples.

by Fantasy Junkie on Oct 12, 2007 9:44 AM PDT up 0 recs

It will be difficult for Lakers to get even return

The Miami Heat aren't going to trade Dwyane Wade for Kobe and I agree about Seattle not trading Kevin Durant. The Lakers make out like bandits in your deal above.

Thus, the Warriors offer may not look too bad. The Lakers get young guys like Monta Ellis, Brandan Wright, POB, Marco Belinelli and Kosta Perovic in Atma's deal. However, I would not include Brandan Wright in that deal, but a future #1 pick, and would want a center back like Chris Mihm. We basically give up the future for now.

PG: Baron, Troy
SG: Kobe, Azubuike
SF: SJax, Barnes, MP, Lasme
PF: Wright, Croshere, Burke
C: AB, Mihm

Sorry. New POB sig coming due to his breaking out :).

by callahan on Oct 12, 2007 10:03 AM PDT up 0 recs

locations

Kobe's no-trade clause pretty puts the kibosh on him being sent to a non-major market, which means it has to be Chicago, New York, Philedelphia, or Miami. I'm ruling out any Western Conference city because, well, the Lakers would rather Kobe sit out a season than watch him on another WC team.

Chicago doesn't have the salaries to balance; NY doesn't have the talent; Phily has some salaries and some talent but not a good fit of either, and Miami has Dwayne Wade.

For a whacky twist, I'll throw out Memphis. It's probably no more realistic than any of the others (it's not a major market so Nike would be pissed), but:

Jerry West factor
excess of young talent
a few non-offensive contracts

Stromile Swift, Mike Miller, Kyle Lowry, Rudy Gay, Hakim Warrick and couple first rounders sounds decent, right?

The Grizz would still have Mike Conley, Juan Carlos Navarro, Gasol, Milcic, Terrence Kinsey. That's a franchise-level big man, the foreign veteran combo guard, your top 5 pick young PG, and the best scorer on the planet. Not horrible.

Sadly, Memphis the city is in the east, but the Grizzlies are in The West.

Questions? Complaints?

(AIM: JetForze; email: Jon.d.ma@gmail.com)

by OptionZero on Oct 12, 2007 10:05 AM PDT up 0 recs

Dude, I wouldn't want Kobe, period.

I know that talent wins games, but the Dubs have a bright future ahead of them, just came out of being the feel-good story of last year, and now we talk about bringing in this spoiled, whiny accused rapist?

The hell with that. Even Barry Bonds never got accused of rape. We've got a couple players with dubious pasts, namely Baron and Jax, but they've also managed to show themselves as guys who wear their hearts on their sleeves, guys who may make questionable decisions out of passion, but not guys with questionable hearts.

Kobe, on the other hand, has never come across as anything better than a self-serving prima donna. I'd rather have Spree and C-Webb back than him.

by sarchasmic on Oct 12, 2007 9:09 AM PDT 0 recs

ahh..

Dude, I wouldn't want Kobe, period.

Good thing you're not the GM of my team, then.

by GameSix on Oct 12, 2007 9:39 AM PDT up 0 recs

If you're a Dubs fan...

you could suffer worse. Do the names St. Jean or Twardzik ring bells?

by sarchasmic on Oct 12, 2007 10:01 AM PDT up 0 recs

Living in LA

the second half of my life, there's no way I would pull the trigger on that trade. Look how far we have come in the last two years. I'll keep the team we have, thank you very much.

Kobe is officially on the downhill side of his career. This year will prove it. Also he doesn't make his teammates better. Our team is in a very strong position for the next 5-8 years. Let's let 'em roll!

by warriorfaninlakerland on Oct 12, 2007 9:15 PM PDT up 0 recs

since when

were the people of los angeles "sweethearts." i didnt know buss was already senile.

by llamalimbo1 on Oct 12, 2007 9:39 AM PDT 0 recs

never

never would I cheer for kobe no matter how good he is F*** that punk. I hate him more than I hate the Lakers

Listen to the wise, be patient.

by raypress23 on Oct 12, 2007 9:39 AM PDT 0 recs

Second that

I can't stand that Kobe guy. He is pretty much the ultimate hater. Kobe needs to take his dress off and quit all the drama. His attitude and antics make me want to puke 40 ounces out my nose and ears. Unprofessional, cry baby, spoiled brat. I don't even care if he is one of the best players in the world, you couldn't pay me to deal with his mess. Support the cause Mully: Don't Do It!!!!

"Hold It Down For The Bay Reppin Oakland" --Keak Da Sneak

by Section 233 Row 1 on Oct 12, 2007 12:08 PM PDT up 0 recs

MORE WARRIORS

Bryant wanted some more "warriors."

this quote can also be interpreted that KOBE wants BARON to go to the LAKERS, which would be bad news for us!

F*CK any trade w/ the LAKERS that either doesn't get us KOBE or have to trade BARON.

"S.C. gooooo hooooome!!!"

by scottiepimppen on Oct 12, 2007 10:09 AM PDT 0 recs

mullin would not do it

i dont think mullin would trade all those young players for kobe. not when he has better assets to trade...

i personally that by february, al harrington plus the $10MM TE will be the best offer lakers can get for bryant. i cannot think of a better offer out there today unless chicago loses their mind.

by stedanko on Oct 12, 2007 10:14 AM PDT 0 recs

except

You can't combine Harrington with the TPE, so that trade doesn't meet the CBA rules.

Questions? Complaints?

(AIM: JetForze; email: Jon.d.ma@gmail.com)

by OptionZero on Oct 12, 2007 10:22 AM PDT up 0 recs

This is not right

Kobe is not what this team needs, all this team needs, is it's fans. Everything else is in place at this point, we have no real "bad" players as far as our 15 man roster is concerned, this is it, and of all times I think it's the worst time to start pondering a trade involving us getting rid of all the youth we've worked for so many years to get.

This is wrong in my opinion, but whatever gets hits right?

If War brings peace Dubz wit' it den!

by gsdubz on Oct 12, 2007 12:11 PM PDT 0 recs

The most important part of a team is chemistry...

Last night on the radio after the game, Matt Steinmetz was saying that in his 15 years in the Warriors' locker room, he feels this team has the best chemistry he has seen. The Warriors have always had good chemistry, but this particular team is really clicking. All we need is to stay healthy and hope our young guys come through. Emperor Nero says, "Pbbbbbbbbbt" to Kobe coming to the bay.

by onetwocross on Oct 12, 2007 1:02 PM PDT 0 recs

I've been a Warriors

fan since the days of Sleepy Floyd when I was taken to games as a little kid

and my Dad and Grandfather and uncles went to the championship games in the 1970's

Straight up I would never watch them again if they traded for Kobe.

by Zig on Oct 12, 2007 2:27 PM PDT 0 recs

no doubt

that we can all see our players clicking well.

i'd love to see more behind the scenes of our guys just chillin with eachother.

i haven't a clue where kobe will end up.

by jdmsir20 on Oct 12, 2007 3:17 PM PDT 0 recs

Baron KNBR interview...

Baron was on earlier in the week with Fitz in Hawaii. Baron was talking about the different teams they had for the paintball war. He said Andris was his own team, being from the Russian area. I nearly crashed my car, laughing so hard. This team really likes eachother and they believe like we do.

by onetwocross on Oct 12, 2007 5:12 PM PDT 0 recs

no kobe in the bay - ever

wouldn't want this guy in a warrior uniform. don't care if he can drop 81 in a night. his off the court exploits make him a hard guy to root for. and on the court, he's all about himself. i know that pro athletes are stereotypically rich and self-centered, but kobe takes the cake. he chased away shaq, for God's sake. to me, that says it was more important to him to be the man than to win championships.

this warrior team looks like a lot of fun. unless a chance to win it all comes along (and i think the kg talks fell into that category), let's see if they gel.

by oh the humanity on Oct 13, 2007 8:24 AM PDT 0 recs