Links: Or, Kobe Not On The Move?
Straight from 24’s Blackberry…
The other night I posted about a story being reported by ESPN that Kobe was demanding a trade unless Jerry West was brought back in as GM. Then, a day later, Kobe claimed that he never said that.
So what happened there? Did Ric Bucher make it all up? No way. And Ric says he double-checked with Kobe before reporting his comments. (Also, ESPN hasn’t issued a correction of the story.)
What’s really happening? Well, let’s check with Kobe himself.
According to his official site, KB24.com, Kobe didn’t demand anything…
I have NOT asked to be traded, I don’t want to be traded and I have given no ultimatums or demands of being traded.
I love it here in LA, my family loves it here.
I’ve been a Laker fan my whole life. A REAL Laker fan! I’m talkin Silk Wilks days, and know the history of the Lakers going back to George Mikan era. I WANT to retire a Laker and contend for titles.
It is my opinion that Mr Clutch, one of the greatest GMs the game has ever seen would b able to get us to back to that level sooner rather than later.
If he is available, then it makes sense to give him the reigns and let him do what he does BEST. I KNOW I can trust him to build us an elite team.
I’m tired of losing and I’m sure you guys are tired of it as well.
Now is the time to step up and make some things happen. We have all have waited patiently for three years…Let’s GO!
This is pretty interesting, and not only because Kobe misspelled the last name of Jamaal Wilkes. I love that he has a blog he can use to get his side of things out there. In this post he seems rather adamant that he wants to the team to get better now.
There’s a lot of talk about Kobe’s contract and how that’s keeping the team from having more cap space. But what I don’t understand is, Why does Dr. Jerry Buss care about cap space? According to USA Today, he was worth about $380 million two years ago. And from what I understand about money — which, admittedly, ain’t a whole lot — people with a lot of money are generally able to turn it into even more money.
The Lakers are a marquee team with a marquee player. Surely they’ve got some cash to throw around. Forget the cap, just make moves, right? Doing something is better than nothing, isn’t it?
In another post, Kobe also says he doesn’t like hearing a Lakers “insider” say he ran Shaq out of town…
Man, hearing something like that, which is not true, and which comes from the “inside” is totally frustrating. The fact of the matter is that many people don’t know what really went down when I was approaching free agency because I have stayed quiet about it this whole time.
The real facts are that Dr. Buss requested a meeting with me during the 04 season long before I opted out of my contract, and he told me he had already decided to not extend Shaq, as he was concerned about Shaq’s age, fitness and contract demands. Dr. Buss thought it was best for the Lakers to make a trade to get value for Shaq while they could.
Dr. Buss made it clear that his decision was final, his mind was made up and no matter what I decided to do with free agency he was still going to move Shaq.
I’ve heard many people say “the Lakers are letting Kobe take the bullet for the Shaq trade” but I always just let that go. But now when I hear “Lakers insider” it makes me feel so unsupported that a Lakers “insider” is tryin to spin Dr Buss’ decision about Shaq on me.
Laker fans should know that when I was a free agent Dr. Buss called me from his Vacation in Italy on the eve of my decision and promised me that the Lakers would do everything to build a contender NOW. I told him at that time that my fear was the Lakers waiting to save Cap Room to sign a top notch free agent in 3 or 4 years, so that was why I was leaning towards other teams like the Clips and Bulls, both of who had a cast of good young players.
But Dr. Buss promised me he would rebuild right away, and I believed him. That is why I put my trust in the Lakers. As I said yesterday, I am a die hard Laker fan, so I will keep my trust in them to remain here and play for the team I love.
This is all interesting as well, but I guess the point people have made here is that by not standing up for Shaq, by not saying “Well, if Shaq’s gone, I’m gone,” then in a way Kobe kind of did sign off on his departure. Although, to be fair, maybe Kobe did stand up for The Diesel — he never tells us what his response to Dr. Buss was.
The most damning part is when Kobe says he was worried the Lakers were going to wait 3 or 4 years to rebuild. Well, it’s three years later, and guess what? Yeah.
Anyway, there’s a lot of truths and non-truths floating around out there about all of this. At least we know Kobe’s side of things. And from the sound of it, he has no interest in leaving.
So how do the Lakers get better? They’re going to have a hard time getting much for Lamar Odom, because he’s coming off two surgeries and his contract doesn’t expire until 2009. I really like Bynum’s potential, but if they want to win now they’ve got to move him for someone who can help now.
A lot of you people are Laker fans and Kobe fans, so what do you do? How do you make the Lakers better right away?
72 Responses to “Links: Or, Kobe Not On The Move?”
May.29 at 4:44 pm
rg says:
bynum and change for bosh is not going to work. just thought i’d point that out to anybody who was thinking that.
May.29 at 4:49 pm
Justin H. says:
first
May.29 at 4:51 pm
white hot eboy says:
Lang, just to continue the deconstruction of Russ’s Bulls title hopes, let’s hope Kobe is feigning the truth, and he winds up alongside Big Ben and Capt Kirk and requests that #23 is taken out of retirement for the remainder of his Bulls playing career. Shave’s his head bald, requests Ron-Ron to play alongside him as his version of the Worm and ask’s for a statue to be erected to trumpet his arrival in Chi-town.
May.29 at 5:02 pm
Mike C. says:
The Lakers are in a tough spot. They don’t really have any assets to offer up in a trade. Nobody wants Kwame Brown. Not even Isiah Thomas wants Kwame Brown. Odom is a nice player, but he has injury concerns and a fairly large contract. The Lakers are in a tough spot, and the reality is that their only real asset is Kobe Bryant.
May.29 at 5:14 pm
Cheryl says:
I agree with you that if they truly want to contend, they need to forget about the cap. Cuban did it and his team has contended since he bought the club. I’m not sure if he’s savvy enough, but Kupchak needs to pull one of Riley’s deals and bring in 2-3 teams to figure out how to get Jason Kidd/Andre Miller, Jason Kapono and KG. They’ll have to give up Odom, Walton, Bynum, and whatever picks they have for the next 2 or 3 years. Maybe it will take West to pull something like this off. The above may seem out of the question, but what I’m suggesting is that it will take some real wheeling and dealing to get the Lakers back to real contention.
May.29 at 5:16 pm
Nads says:
Sign and trade Rashard Lewis
May.29 at 5:24 pm
mutoni says:
kobe is talented.
May.29 at 5:29 pm
Tom says:
I think the main thing that needs to be fixed is the interior for LA, they need some consistent rebounders and guys who will defend. I think Bynum definitely has a lot of trade potential, seeing as how the Nets were willing to give up Kidd to get him. So if you package him to get some solid big men, like maybe a chris Wilcox and Nick Collison I think that would be ideal. There perimeter players are actually ok with the exception of Smush who’s gone anyways……maybe pickup Jalen Rose to ease the burden on Odom, since he essentialy a less athletic version of Odom, and he could be got pretty cheap, mid-level exception type money.
May.29 at 5:33 pm
Ryan Jones says:
What mutoni said.
May.29 at 5:34 pm
Tom says:
As long as phil Jackson is the coach, forget about bringing in Kidd, cause in the triangle a pg like kidd would be able to do what he does. Look at all the pg’s who have succeeded in the triangle, Paxson, Kerr, Fisher, all low turnover guys who hit open shots, I don’t think that suits Jason Kidd, I actually like Farmar as a point and Vujacic is a solid backup, so I don’t think the point is a big issue, it’s the pf and centre position that need to be addressed.
May.29 at 5:39 pm
Sko says:
Cheryl is right about the need for a major deal, but if not, most attainable, probably Chris Duhon, he defends shoots and can run a team, then sign Gerald Wallace and let Luke walk, more stable than Artest,more secure than Marion, clearly less talented than either. keep kwame, you can’t move him with the surgery now anyway. nobody’s going to trade a big who’s ready to contribute now for bynum - bring him along. Keep odom, he earned it. Decide whether Magloire is worth Mihm’s money, and see if you can give him 2 years with a team option on the second. that should be enough to get out of the first round at least, if they get a higher seed. then the year after, Kwame comes off and maybe they can do something better.
May.29 at 5:41 pm
Sko says:
oh and the lakers are young enough, trade any picks
May.29 at 5:59 pm
mutoni says:
as a laker fan, the first thing i’d do is help kupchack grow a set of balls. hell, i’d be willing to buy him a couple on the ebays. yodel at your mans, mitch!
May.29 at 6:01 pm
Max Airington says:
If Kobe is on the move, I just hope Jerry Buss isnt driving.
May.29 at 6:02 pm
Max Airington says:
Or Lindsay.
May.29 at 6:19 pm
Reggie Evans says:
I love kb24.com … except for “Strength and Honor” He sounds like a 16 year old boy who just saw 300 and LOVED it.
May.29 at 6:20 pm
Reggie Evans says:
Also, if you listen to the video of Bucher speaking, he says that Kobe would be “willing to waive his no-trade clause”. I know it’s splitting hairs, but that’s not exactly a trade DEMAND.
May.29 at 6:22 pm
ANAKA420 says:
I think the lakers should move Kwame for Artest which is something I heard locally here in LA and then the LakeShow should sign and trade or trade Luke to the Suns who would be a perfect fit for them in exchange for Boris Diaw who never really looked like the Diaw of last year after Amare’s return. Diaw would excel in the tri and Artest would be our stopper and if Bynum or Mihn steps up and Farmar at the one and of course KB24 doing his thang… OH MY like NAS/Lauryn Hill imagin THAT!!!
May.29 at 6:24 pm
Tariq says:
I think Kobe is talented.
May.29 at 6:25 pm
Tariq says:
On a different note: beware the Ides of March.
May.29 at 6:27 pm
Reggie Evans says:
Kobe is talented. Also, why do you guys see the full pictures on the main page? I get maybe a 1/4 vertical slice of the photos.
May.29 at 6:46 pm
Joel O's says:
I think getting someone like KG would make it possible to contend right away; trading away several bits of the supporting cast is fine, those’re replaceable bits. KG + Kobe would be the perfect combo, since KG has the reputation of doing everything BUT being clutch and making the big shot, which Kobe lives for. KG would take care of all the rebounds and make their interior defence solid. Giving up a bunch of their little irreplaceable supporting cast is fine, even if it means giving up Bynum. Remember those alley-oops KG & Kobe were throwing to each other during Kobe’s first allstar game? I think they’d have great chemistry…
May.29 at 6:59 pm
Bryant Reeves says:
Put together a package of Bynum, Odom and draft pick for: Brand; Matrix; R. Lewis. Trade Bynum and Odom for Kristic and Kidd Trade Odom and Bynum to Celts for Pierce. Trade Walton, Bynum and Odom for Mike James and KG
May.29 at 7:03 pm
Kyle S says:
I gotta say, at least we’re getting some blood pumping in Lakerland. It’s about damn time. http://the-second-coming.blogspot.com
May.29 at 7:08 pm
SA says:
Good to see that the online Bryant Reeves is as incoherent as his real life counterpart.
May.29 at 7:12 pm
Co Co says:
Send Kobe to Atlanta.
May.29 at 7:22 pm
Ltrain says:
I always thought Mike James would be the perfect PG for Kobe. Kobe needs a point who can hit the open three on the penetrate and kick out. James is cool enough not to trip about Kobe ballhoggin but agressive enough to take it to antoher gear in the clutch. James also doesn’t need to have the ball in his hands to feel comfortable, in my opinion, which is key with Kobe. Of course this is just part of the equation for the Lakers but Kobe-Odom-James would be a nice start. Bad Vlad and the 1st for Mike James.
May.29 at 7:25 pm
rg says:
i just hope that all this supposed kobe trade talk isn’t getting to jerry buss’ head and forcing him to do something crazy like drink and drive. oh wait… you mean..
May.29 at 7:52 pm
slamfan4lfe says:
its crazy, i never imagined kobe leavin the lakers, im sure he just got pissed theres no way but maaann what if u played for another team like the chicago bulls instead of comin bak in 04 they would have been incridible
May.29 at 7:58 pm
MALONE_FT_CLOCK says:
both teams played hard
May.29 at 8:09 pm
me says:
kwame brown is terrible
May.29 at 8:24 pm
John says:
What Ryan Jones said.
May.29 at 8:29 pm
Reggie Evans says:
What me says. Also 710 AM ESPN in LA has a Kobe podcast from today.
May.29 at 8:33 pm
John says:
KG is 31 years old so if they could get him for bynum odom walton and some trade picks(and probably some cash) they could most likely contend and also if they don’t win the first year together Buss could sign a good free agent as a role player in 2009
May.29 at 8:57 pm
Sesa says:
Get Chauncey Billups, trade Vlad, get Udonis Haslem, put Luke Walton on the bench as their 6th man, get Mihm healthy, execute on Lamar Odom trade if Boris Diaw, AK-47 or Tayshaun Prince are willing to be traded to the Lakers.
May.29 at 9:00 pm
Dennard says:
Detroit isn’t going to let a core guy leave 2 seasons in a row. So Billups won’t end up with the Lakers.
May.29 at 9:42 pm
nacho says:
an inside source says they had a deal allready done with the knicks for channing frye and jared jeffries for lamar. the knicks pulled out because of lamar’s health around the all star break. this trade would help the lakers as well as free up some cap space.
May.29 at 9:54 pm
Will Lee says:
Why always Rashard Lewis? He can’t do much perimeter defense. If Phil Jax’s plan is to build a team similar to the Bulls, they have a lot to do. Perimeter Defense - Ron Harper, Pip, who can play like them these days? 3pt shooter - Kerr, Beuchler? Dirty work guys - Rodman, Simpkins, Caffey? Tall guys that can at least hit a mid range - Longley, Wennington? They need every position except SG. Another thing is the game changed alot more that 1 player cannot outscore the whole other team. MJ scores 30ppg and its nearly half of the team’s total. Now you score 35ppg its about 1/3 of the whole damn team. How can you outscore Phoenix by scoring 35? You at least have to avg 45 to do what MJ had been doing.
May.29 at 11:44 pm
Dan says:
Are you kidding me?!?!?! Almost everyone that is posting on here is living in some kind of fantasy world. . . Or high on hallucenogens at the very least. First of all, I can almost garauntee that these rumours are simply that: rumours. There is little to no truth to any of these stories floating around, and everyone here is simply ignoring reality and rolling with these outlandish ideas. But, for arguements sake, let us just suppose that these rumours are true. The trade ideas I have read on this page are truly comical. To swing a trade with Minnesota is next to impossible, unless of course the deal includes Kobe. Whether you consider his age or not, Garnett is a franchise cornerstone, and there is no way they would trade him for anyone less than a player with that same kind of potential. Now tell me, who on the Lakers, besides Kobe, has any hope of becoming a franchise player? NO ONE! ! ! Another issue that arises is Cap Room. Considering no team wants Kwame, and most have no interest in Odom, how do you expect to swing a deal for a player like Garnett or Lewis? One team or seven, there isn’t enough value outside of Kobe to bring in a player of such a high calibre. I think that I have provided more than enough to chew on, especially when you consider that I have yet to discuss other factors such as team chemistry. I think the Lakers should paraphrase the Warriors for next year’s add campaign: Make Believe.
May.30 at 12:48 am
TC says:
Kobe Bryant is really hard to like…… Really, he could be the best player in the L today but he is in such a deep denial about things that you just don’t trust him. Kobe’s ability to lie and make up his own reality make OJ Simpson blush. Now he’s saying he didn’t run Shaq out of town. But that only means he never made an official annoucement in public. How about that article he wrote for DIME last year about him “wanting to be the strike player in this system to win a championship?” I used to be a big time Kobe fan but every year Kobe came up with some drama or some other manipulative schemes to just turn me off. Now I still respect him as a player a great deal but I really have a hard time believing the things he said.
May.30 at 12:57 am
TC says:
I have a question for all the SLAM writers here: do you guys remember this interview Kobe did with Jim Gray for ESPN in his 2nd or 3rd year. In the interview Kobe said he used to sabotage some games so that the games came down to one final possession and he can have a chance to win the game with a final shot. Jim Gray then asked him “so how many times have you done that to Del(Harris, then Laker coach)?” And Kobe laughed and said “zero times, I can’t play around in the pros…” Anybody remembered that interview. Then you read Phil Jackson’s book and he said Kobe got pissed off and cursed at him for making up the story about him sabotaging high school games. Even Tex Winter got mad at Jax and asked him why would he make up story like that. Well, I still got that ESPN interview on tape at my home so maybe it is not Phil Jackson who is doing all the lying.
May.30 at 1:20 am
lukelookslikenash says:
I wonder what KB24 would say if you restructured his contract over the next couple of years?…Is his contract really causing Garnett-like restrictions of money and therefore players into and out of the Lakers HQ?
Thats what stopped KG from getting past the first round….wanted the benajmins, well that and Minnesoda needs better cheerleaders.
May.30 at 1:25 am
lukelookslikenash says:
@ Dan….nah you got it all wrong. How ISNT Bynum the next franchise player the T-Wolves want????? Admit it. I wouldnt trade away Odom though…..unless it was for KG AND cash considerations…or In & Out Burger franchisee papers. Or a years supply of Dr Pepper… Does anyone else think Carlos Boozers hair could be used for medicinal purposes…?? While we’re on the subject.
May.30 at 1:38 am
hardcourt kid says:
kobe bryant, corey magette, elton brand, sam cassell, chris kaman entertainment and a 64 win season and a possible championship.
May.30 at 2:59 am
Sesa says:
I really didn’t understand. Isn’t Shaq’s the one who had screamed at Jerry Buss at the practice; calling him names so he can get the contract extensions?
Why do so many people ignored this fact?
May.30 at 2:59 am
g says:
i remember before - people WANTED to go to the lakers and play w/ shaq and kobe… and were willing to take less than market value. unfortunately, i don’t think players are lining up to play with just kobe…
May.30 at 3:37 am
kidcatastrophe says:
get younger by signing cliff robinson.
May.30 at 4:58 am
Sesa says:
See the old transcript between Kobe and Jim Gray all over again.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1648431
May.30 at 5:15 am
Slobodan Chutzpah says:
“…by not saying “Well, if Shaq’s gone, I’m gone,” then in a way Kobe kind of did sign off on his departure.” Come on, now. Which superstar would really do that..? Exactly.————–Get Artest, he’ll be available for chump change. Try to swing that trade with the Pacers to get Jermaine O’Neal. Name those guys along with Kobe Triple Trouble Troop, and enter them in some kind of shady undergroud pro wrestling / cage fighting league. Sit back and enjoy.
May.30 at 5:21 am
Slobodan Chutzpah says:
And by “do” I mean which superstar would have a fellow player’s back to the point of threatening to walk if that player isn’t extended.
May.30 at 5:45 am
Vlade Divac says:
i smoke 3 packs a day… i can still play. We also need to bring back Terry Teagle, Tony Smith, and Kwame’s twin, small hands Elden Campbell
May.30 at 8:38 am
K22C says:
Kobe isn’t going anywhere. No help is going to come to Kobe… at least help that has any value.
May.30 at 9:35 am
Russ Bengtson says:
I love that Jerry Buss is operating the Lakers like they’re a small-market team. Good job, Jerry. Scared money don’t make money.
May.30 at 10:06 am
RedRum says:
Slobo has it right. Get Artest for peanuts, send odom and Bynum for “The Other” (you know who I mean) and you have a contender (and a shot to give Jax an aneurism….)
May.30 at 10:58 am
Detroit11 says:
Other than the trade the Lakers could have made last year for Kidd and they balked at because of Bynum, there really is no trade or free agent who would improve the Lakers ‘now’
May.30 at 11:00 am
Shiz says:
TC, how about Shaq himself saying that Kob had nothing to do with his trade. How he [Shaq] was really angry at Buss for not being man enough to confront him about it…its on the Philly Inquirer webpage. But anyway in more RECENT news…Just to show how impeccible his decision making is, Jerry Buss gets arrested for DUI and going the wrong way down the street…with a 23 year old female “friend” riding shotgun…nice
May.30 at 11:00 am
lisab says:
kobe wants out so bad bunchbiscuits.com
May.30 at 11:00 am
slamrules!!!! says:
get KG, Kirilenko and Ron Ron forget about the cap the Lakers are THE marquee team for the league so lets start ruling the west once again…
May.30 at 11:14 am
Russ Bengtson says:
I hate myself for it, but I kind of sympathize with Kobe just a little. Now I’m gonna go hit myself in the face with a baseball bat.
May.30 at 11:22 am
Max Airington says:
Wait til he’s a Bull.
May.30 at 11:25 am
Russ Bengtson says:
SHUT UP!
May.30 at 11:31 am
Max Airington says:
Hey, Im in pain here too. But I guess mine doesnt amuse you as much.
May.30 at 11:39 am
jayman says:
look…I feel for KB24…I mean he’s one of the greatest to ever lace up dem sneaks of his…but…you gotta put talent around a hall-of famer player…you just have to…I mean…he deserves it…he plays his tail off every nite with clutch shot…after clutch shot…so…in my opinion he has a say so one whats going on with HIS team…KG’s situation is extremely similar…
May.30 at 11:42 am
Shiz says:
you can keep j.o’neal. He’s just as injury prone as Odom and Kwame. If they can get Artest and keep Odom, swinging him to the 4 spot, his more natural position, the Lakers would be much improved…The Lakers need a guy that can play 60 games at a high level. J.O’Neal aint that dude. Sure he’s a lowpost scoring threat, but thats only when he’s healthy, which is not very often..Phil can keep Artest amused long enuff to revive his career (hopefully) and he’ll bring some much needed toughness to that frontline. Get rid of Radmanovic, Parker, and Evans for Artest, Big Nasty (rebounding and 6 extra fouls) and any one of their 5 gaurds not named Bibby.
May.30 at 12:24 pm
jayman says:
I mean…ya gotta feel for KB24…I mean…he’s one of the greatest to play the game…the Lakers aint my team but, I repect Kobe….he’s a hall-of-famer…ya gotta put talent around him…the need a good point guard to run that triangle…you know what I’m sayin’….I love Farmar but, he needs to develop a bit…I like Smush as well but, he’s beeen inconsistent in the playoffs…even last year (2006)…he has okay seasons but, he seems to choke in the postseason…Lamar Odom is worth keepin’…I woodn’t trade em’….Bynum needs to develop for his 3rd NBA season…Kwame needs to stay healthy…I feel Kwame is still proving to the world that he can play NBA basketball…he needs to work on everything…I mean…in my opinion, Bynum is WAY better than Kwame…Kwame should take sum of Bynum’s advice by gettin’ lessons from Kareem…Luke is the man..I wouldn’t give him up ever…his passing is incredible….and he knows the triangle well…
May.30 at 1:05 pm
Elvis says:
Russ, If kobe wants to be traded he would be a great fit in the bulls for right now, trade Nocioni, Gordon, Duhon, a draft pick for Kobe. The lakers get a goo core of young players and the bull will be legit contenders. I dont know how the salary cap would be affected but they could work out the kinks. Just saying.
May.30 at 1:22 pm
Detroit11 says:
Ok ya’ll, question. They are now reporting on a Detroit news site that Bryant was just on ESPN radio this afternoon saying again that he would like to be traded. Is this the same story or a new one?
May.30 at 1:35 pm
Max Airington says:
New one. He said he wants to be traded and theres nothing managment can do to change his mind. The Bulls have already contacted LA saying they havethe pieces to make a trade and I think I might move back to Chicago.
May.30 at 1:36 pm
» Links: Kobe Says “Trade Me” - SLAM ONLINE says:
[…] This is in direct conflict with what 24 wrote yesterday, when he said… “I have NOT asked to be traded, I don’t want to be traded and I have given no ultimatums or demands of being traded. […]
May.30 at 1:37 pm
Ryan Harris says:
Kobe says he doesn’t want to be traded, then he demands a trade on the radio? When is he going to make up his mind?
May.30 at 4:33 pm
Troy Dallas says:
How do you make the Lakers better now? Simple answer: you can’t, unless one of two things happen: Either trade Kobe(which he demanded), or Kobe takes a huge paycut(and how many ppl have given away close to $10mil a season? Yeah, thought so.). Its a classic Garnett situation. The team cannot improve unless they part ways, which is the problem with signing those 9-figure deals. It bites the team in the long run. Hard.
May.30 at 5:09 pm
Dan says:
@Luke: I really don’t think I have the time to list the reasons why Bynum is most certainly NOT the next franchise player any team is looking for. But, I will give you one reason, because I am hoping that you will respond. Let us, for a moment, consider who is providing Bynum with training and endless pointers. The legendary Kareem himself. If Bynum was to be traded, he would lose any future pointers from Kareem, thus impeading his development. What now Luke?