The 'Kobe Bryant Will Leave The LA Lakers' thread

Hey, I thought we ran Rok off ... this was big news!

 

Been thinking about this . . . . .

I am a Lakers fan. They are my team, always have been. I am a Kobe Bryant fan and defender. And I will go round and round with anyone who wants to try to sell that Shaq should have stayed instead.

But. . . . . .

I know I'm not saying anything new or groundbreaking. But there are a lot of players in the NBA who hate their situation. And trying to force a trade is something I associate with a little bitch like Vince Carter.

Guys like Garnett, Pierce, etc.; these guys don't piss about getting traded even though their teams have never done anything worth a damn.

Kobe signed the max contract at a time when the Lakers had already established a recent pattern of mediocre personnel moves under Kupchak. He was the right choice when the Lakers made the unfortunate choice between he and lazy-ass Shaq. But this crap goes way beyond Jordan's petulant "my supporting cast" rants after playoff losses. Is he unhappy with management? Sure, as are all Laker fans. And if you want to complain about how Kupchak blew draft picks and trades (though a Kidd trade made little sense in the long run, really), I'm right there with you.

But telling people to buy Bulls jerseys, if that is really what he said? Saying he wants to be traded basically because the team isn't good enough, largely due to his cap-killing contract and perhaps the scuttlebutt that he's not a great teammate? Trying to get out of town because you can't stick out trying to lead the NBA's Greatest Franchise to being good again? There's frustration, and there's "I'm gonna betray the franchise and the fans by skipping town when both need me most."

Screw that. As a fan, if he stops the trade demand and is still a Laker, he has my support. But if he manages to get himself traded - again while guys in much worse situations in worse NBA towns with worse franchises who haven't won a damn thing in decades say nothing - then he is every bit the prick his detractors say. And like with Mike Piazza, I will never say his name again without prefacing it with "That son of a bitch."

Rant over.

Now I've done the unthinkable: revived this damn thread.

 

In honor of my brotha RokSki, it's time to put this thread back on the front page!
According to the L.A. Times, the Lakers, T-Wolves and Pacers (and possibly a fourth team) are in talks that would send Kevin Garnett to the Lakers; Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum to Indiana; and a package of players (I'm assuming Jermaine O'Neal) and draft picks to Minnesota.
Here's the link: http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-lakers26jun26,1,6107504.story?coll=la-headlines-sports

It says Buss and Glen Taylor had a short chat Friday. From what I've heard, KG wants to sign an extension and Buss confirmed during that conversation he'd be willing to sign Garnett to a long-term deal, paving the way for the G.M.s to work out the details.

Think adding KG would be enough for Bryant to forget his trade demands?

 

Looks like the rivalry has struck again.

Could be courtesy of these guys...



...that Kobe's going bye-byes.

 

Yep, it was merely a matter of time:

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/47401/20070731/source_kg_trade_to_factor_in_kobe_situation/


From the article:

One more premier player getting traded, but not to the Lakers, means that "the Laker situation is only going to get worse," the person with knowledge of the situation said. "I'm sure Kobe's wondering, 'Why can't we do that? If Danny Ainge got it done, why can't we?'"


Somebody tell Richard Bucher and Jim Gray it's "Go Time" -- DefCon 1 has arrived. Others who might merit heads-up calls are: Stephen A., all sports radio hosts, and enterprising teenagers with video-recording cellphones.

 

As predicted (and, IMO, almost mandated on a day when a report of Bryant's potential divorce was released), here's Bucher, right on cue, trying to parse and spin as is his wont, while all the while continuing to beat the drums for Kobe's departure:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=bucher_ric&page=bucheronkobestatus

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And here's a snippet of Bucher's Friday 8.3.07 ESPN.com chat, with some relevant points highlighted.



Ric Bucher Chat on ESPN
===============
http://www.prosportsdaily.com/forums/showthread.php?t=130420

Phil (LA): As one of Kobe’s closest confidants (as a reporter), do you know if he’ll sit out camp if the Lakers don’t pull off a blckbuster or trade him? Are any trades still in discussion, and if so, who’s coming to LA? J Oneal?

Andrew (San Diego, CA): Gotta throw the Kobe question out there. Strangely quiet, its freaking me out. Also, Laker schedule posted on kb24.com. Ric, all that “never play in a Laker uniform again” stuff is looking a little, um, shaky. Care to explain?

Chris, LA: KG was an obvious move for Ainge and a good one, do you see the Kobe Lakers doing a GOOD move like AK, or any other not including Odom (BWallace)? Thanks

Ric Bucher: (3:06 PM ET ) I don’t see how the Kobe-will-never-play-in-a-Lakers-uniform-again premise is looking shaky. He’s simply decided to let the Lakers make his case for him, concentrate on Team USA and stay out of the news. I plan to write a column later today on why the Lakers’ inability to make a move and the bittersweet experience of playing with JKidd in Vegas leaves us exactly where we were last time Kobe spoke.

————————————————————————–

Chris, New York, NY: Ric, you’ve had experience with Yao and some of the Chinese basketball players. What do you think of Sun Yue, the Lakers draft pick. Can he play? Will he be able to contribute?

Ric Bucher: (3:15 PM ET ) I’ve seen Sun Yue as much as any U.S. writer, having watched him play for an ABL team called the Aoshen Olympians last season and with the Chinese National Team. (His nickname is Q-Tip, for what it’s worth.) He is long and athletic and has decent skills, but the next time he goes right will be the first time. Some people favor their strong hand, but he is ALL left. He’s intriguing, but I thought the same of Slava Medvedenko.
Short answer: No, he won’t be able to contribute.

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sukhreet: bakersfeild,CA: Ric, do you think kobe will change his mind if lakers some how get jermaine oneal and sign webber?

Ric Bucher: (3:18 PM ET ) No.

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Phil (LA): Ric, you didn’t answer my question… Any talk between the Lakers and other teams about a possible trade? What are the chances we land Oneal without giving up both Odom and Bynum? Will that ever happen?

Ric Bucher: (3:19 PM ET ) The Lakers are offering Kwame and Bynum. The Pacers want Odom and Bynum. I’m told that will never happen.

————————————————————————–

Jim: It seems like Chicago has the piece to go get a post player, so what are they waiting for?

Ric Bucher: (3:21 PM ET ) My guess is that Chicago is waiting to see how the Kobe saga unfolds. My sense is that’s where he ultimately would like to go, and despite a lot of innuendo otherwise, the Bulls would love to have him if they don’t have to give away their entire team to get him.

————————————————————————–
PK (Seoul, Korea): Had Lakers traded Bynum for JKidd at the Feb. deadline and kept Kobe from publicly bashing the Lakers management, could KG conceivably been willing to force his way into LA after realizing it was time to move on? I know that’s a huge if, but after how everything unfolded in Celtic’s acquistion of KG, as a Laker fan, I just have to wonder.

Ric Bucher: (3:55 PM ET ) If the Lakers had traded Bynum for JKidd, you wouldn’t have Kobe wanting out. In either case, KG wasn’t coming to LA. They simply don’t have anything Minnesota wanted. And for someone else who asked about why I hate the Lakers, just stop it. I can’t help that your team is in a bad way. When I was proclaiming that the Lakers were better than the Kings back when Sac mattered, then I was a Lakers’ homer. I don’t have personal interests in any team, in part because I grew up in Cincinnati without a team, in greater part because I’m just not wired like that as a journalist.

————————————————————————–
Steve( Alabama): What are the chances that Kobe stays a Laker? 1-10, 10 being the highest and 1 being the lowest.

Ric Bucher: (3:59 PM ET ) I can only go by what he has said, which is he never intends to play for them again. So give me a 10.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ok, there you have it, as close to the horse's mouth as can be.

Another thing which should be added to this mix is CBS 2 L.A.'s report that Kobe and his wife Vanessa may be heading for a divorce. In other words, perhaps part of Kobe's thinking in wanting out of LA is to have a 'clean break' if he and his wife decide to pursue the ending of their marriage. That consideration has to be taken into account, IMO.

After KG's departure to Boston, it is looking as though there are no moves which the Lakers' front office could make which will satisfy Kobe's vision of an acceptably-upgraded team (if adding KG itself would have been deemed acceptable). So it appears as though we may be headed towards a protracted game of 'chicken.' Bucher's coming out with these statements, IMO, is by no means a coincidence -- Kobe is still not happy, and he still wants out. Bucher saying it for him allows Kobe to get the point across without having to risk the repeated gaffes Bryant made in his whirlwind 'radio tour' (which Bucher unsuccessfully tries to 'massage' in his column) of approximately a month ago. This is letting the Lakers know that they are on notice, nothing has changed in the Kobe camp, and start thinking about which Bulls players would be acceptable in return for Kobe.

Though Bryant and Bucher recently failed to successfully co-ordinate their message (Kobe had talked to KG on the phone, and then he hadn't - KG didn't have Kobe's recently-changed number, etc. : [Note to self: Never hire Bucher or Kobe as a PR agent or liason; that's one of the weakest 'backpedals'/'corrections'/justification for conflicting stories I think I've ever heard]), it would appear they are now on the same page, with Kobe wisely allowing Bucher to navigate the media campaign for Kobe's desire to leave LA. Bucher's line in his column saying something to the effect that "fans will be able to sympathize with Kobe's wish to be traded" leaves me without doubt: Kobe is very serious about forcing his way out of LA, and the PR battle over public opinion has resumed.

Who will flinch first? Will Kobe sit out training camp and/or regular season games in order to force the Lakers' hand? Could Kobe try to 'time' the potential announcement of a divorce from his wife to coincide with the start of training camp and/or the regular season so that he can miss games for the Lakers for 'personal reasons' rather than for what could be seen as 'selfish' reasons, i.e., turning his back on the fans that have loved him through everything?

Stay tuned. Have Kobe, will be drama. This baby looks like it's just getting started.

 

Hearing reports that Kobe cleaned out his locker in LA today...

 

You. Fucking. Moron.

 

Chicago biatches?

 

POST OF THE MONTH!

 

I wish you were dead.

 

I'd settle for somebody stealing his computer.