Thread: Kobe: Hire West or trade me

Originally Posted by bland

You DO realize that Brown has never averaged more than a bucket a game more than Wallace over his career, right?

Let's see, a moody, malcontented, nearly special-ed intelligence level baller with small hands, or a hard-working, motivated defensive and board beast who averages nearly the same offense? Yeah, it's a tough one...

However, the Lakers simply cannot make any trade that does not bring back an above average point guard. It would be asinine to reduce your skill level without addressing your most pressing needs.

Yes. Yes. And Yes. I'd almost do the deal for Hinrich, Wallace, and the #9. Pick up a guy like Noah or maybe Wright or Conley (if he falls that far).

Why are we still comparing Kwame Brown to Ben Wallace? Wallace is NOT worth 15 million/year, period.

Originally Posted by borinka99

Why are we still comparing Kwame Brown to Ben Wallace? Wallace is NOT worth 15 million/year, period.

Right, why did Kwame Brown even get thrown into the discussion? Yes, he sucks we all know that. Doesn't change the fact that Ben Wallace is an overpaid one dimensional player whose skills are declining.

According to ESPN, Wallace is owed 16 million over the next 4 years. No thanks.

The Bulls and even the Suns present the best trading partners for the Lakers but I'm guessing Buss wouldn't want to trade within the division and basically hand Kobe another ring. We'll see though.

FWIW here's some stuff from Chris Sheridan.

ESPN colleague Ric Bucher moved the story further forward by reporting Saturday that the third team is the Phoenix Suns, and I'm hearing rumblings that Dallas could make the list, too. I'm also getting strong signals that the "list" will be a fluid thing from Kobe's end.

I've been saying since this story first broke that Kobe could very well wind up with the Bulls or the Knicks. The latest information I'm getting is that Bryant feels the Bulls are a more desirable destination because he feels they're better equipped than New York to compete for a championship.

I expect the Lakers to take one last hard run at placating Bryant by trying to make a deal to bring a top-caliber talent to L.A. to join Kobe. I was hearing at Game 4 of the NBA Finals in Cleveland that Los Angeles was making a push to acquire Shawn Marion from the Suns in a sign-and-trade deal that would send Luke Walton, another player and the Lakers' first-round draft pick to Phoenix, if the Lakers could draft Spain's Rudy Fernandez at No. 19.

In any case, I expect the Lakers to bring a proposed acquisition of some kind to Kobe a few days prior to the draft and ask if that'll be enough for him to withdraw his trade request.

And if Kobe says no, I expect the wheels to go in motion quickly.

Any trade to Chicago would be a sign-and-trade deal (involving either Andres Nocioni or P.J. Brown) and thus could not be announced until after the free-agent signing moratorium ends July 12. But if the parameters of a deal were agreed to before draft night, the Bulls would be picking for the Lakers at No. 9 if that pick were to be included in the package Chicago would be sending to Los Angeles in a Kobe deal.

Originally Posted by ASUcruz

Right, why did Kwame Brown even get thrown into the discussion? Yes, he sucks we all know that. Doesn't change the fact that Ben Wallace is an overpaid one dimensional player whose skills are declining.

Because being overpaid was brought up. Wallace would do better in a system like the Lakers where defense is at a premium and they aren't running up and down the court like in Chicago. My opinion, but I feel it's true. Right now, the Lakers are built a lot more like Detroit (good defensive wing player, small PF, smart SG/SF, no one in the middle, shoot first PG) than they are Chicago (long players on the front line, running PG and running SG). Wallace is made more for a slow team that picks you apart with screens and set movement.

As far as the trade goes, I KNOW Kupchak will screw this one up too. If Chicago offers anything less than Gordon, Deng/Hinrich, the #9 and another player to make the money work, I tell them to stick it. I tell Kobe to shut his mouth and play. Then I work to get him out of here later. I WOULD NOT give him away just because he's bitching and moaning.

did they trade him yet?

Originally Posted by SmytheKing

Because being overpaid was brought up. Wallace would do better in a system like the Lakers where defense is at a premium and they aren't running up and down the court like in Chicago. My opinion, but I feel it's true.

Huh are you joking? You might be the only person in the world that thinks Scott Skiles runs an open system. The Bulls don't play like the Rick Carlisle Pistons but they are by no means a running team. THey are very much a defensive oriented squad with only one real gunner in Gordon. Your absolutley nuts if you think the Bulls run up and down the court. Skiles is about as defensive as it gets.

The Lakers offense is predicated on precise passing and movement, especially passing from the post. Say goodbye to precise passing from your big men if Ben Wallace is involved.

You must spread some karma around before giving it to ASUcruz again.

Seems to me if Kobe is under contract for two more years the Lakers do have some leverage here. They are not held hostage to have to trade him, even if he is demanding it.

I just hope the Knicks don't get him, especially giving up young talent to get him. I've been in Isiah's corner to this point (it's a lonely place, by the way), but if he brings Kobe here I'm bolting to the "Fire Isiah" corner.

Originally Posted by Italian Seafood

I just hope the Knicks don't get him, especially giving up young talent to get him. I've been in Isiah's corner to this point (it's a lonely place, by the way), but if he brings Kobe here I'm bolting to the "Fire Isiah" corner.

I don't want Kobe to go to the KNicks either because other than probably a few high draft picks there is nothing on that Knicks roster that interests me except David Lee who at best is a 12-12 guy at his prime. No thanks. The Knicks young talent you talk about is pretty mediocre.