One doubts if "Bucks Blog" would have this much material to work with
The hoops universe now has something to distract from the Kobe trade scenarios- KG trade scenarios. While the four team, "This justifies all the time I spend on the Trade Machine instead of watching the kids!" mega deal fell through, apparently the Lakers and T-Wolves are still exploring a deal the old fashioned, two-team way. It's hardly a slam dunk, since there questions as to whether or not the Lakers have the chips to meet Minnesota's needs and whether or not Wolves GM Kevin McHale would sooner parachute with a bed sheet onto the 5 Freeway before sending Garnett to L.A. Then there is the matter of Kobe. ESPN's Ric Bucher reported yesterday that even a deal that nets KG wouldn't change Kobe's "trade me" stance. True or not, it may not matter. Bulls GM John Paxson has said the odds of Kobe heading to Chicago are slim, at least if the Lakers want a prime package in return.
BK
To all those advocating trading Kobe: what equal value are the Lakers going to get short of the #1 pick from Portland? You guys think like Kupcake. He gave away Shaq and now you want the same for Kobe? Please.
If KG comes, Kobe will come around. KG will defend the rim, catch and finish, pass, and shoot. Ty Lue wouldn't be the worst PG off the bench. At least he can stay in front of his man. No more nightmares of Bibby, Nash, Davis, et al. blowing by Smush. Recall Lue guarding AI in the finals?
Finally, if KG comes, Billups might follow for a chance at a ring in LA.
Billups, Kobe, Walton, KG and Mihm = Conference Finals next year and NBA champs in two.
Posted by: diesel_100 | June 26, 2007 at 02:38 PM
I dont want KG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
trade kobe punk A$$ if he doesn't want to be here.
we have to remember their both 30,so how long this shiii going to last.
let's try to move up in the draft
Posted by: COMPTON'S FINEST | June 26, 2007 at 02:38 PM
How about Kobe and Lamar (whom I don't want to see go) to Cleveland for Lebron James. LBJ and Bynum for the next 10 years.
Posted by: Lakalova | June 26, 2007 at 02:38 PM
Jon-
Actually, I left them off that list specifically because I think they are both fine players- I've been one of Luke's supporters, and I also like Mihm, I really hope he heals enough so we can use him this year.
Posted by: Jeff | June 26, 2007 at 02:39 PM
Actually Espnews Say That The Lakers And Minnesota Is Still Talking.
Posted by: J-Cool | June 26, 2007 at 02:40 PM
Ex:
"If the T-wolves don't make that trade, that should tell all of you "Lamar Odom is really an All-Star but no one knows it, Bynum is going to be an All-Star" types what the truth is. Because if that was the case, those two plus Kwame's contract make this deal a no-brainer from the aspect of the T-wolves."
If Odom and Bynum simply look paltry when they have to be compared to their legendary teammate Kobe, they will look just as paltry to the Timberwolves as anyone else. So even if the Timberwolves undervalue them, you might still see them popping up as all-stars in coming years...
Posted by: guity | June 26, 2007 at 02:43 PM
More Info ESPN Think The KG To Lakers Could Happen Late Night Today Or Tomorrow.
Posted by: J-Cool | June 26, 2007 at 02:43 PM
Celtics screw us again. Ainge, Bird, McHale. Three whiny bitches. Screw us out of Garnett. Just toying with us all along.
At least I don't live in any of those worthless cities.
Posted by: HTJ | June 26, 2007 at 02:44 PM
I miss van ex,
First of all, ONE player cannot carry the entire team to a championship. Go ask Wilt. Your ignorance is simply amazing. Jordan "carried the team" by himself? Pippen is a top 50 player. That same Bulls team went to the Eatern Conf Finals WITHOUT Jordan you moron. Kobe's teamates would be fighting Memphis for the top lottery spot without Kobe. Put Kobe on a Western Conf finalist (Utah, SA) or even a semi-finalist (Houston. Phoenix), and the team will win the championship. Are you friggin kidding me?
Posted by: Mitchell | June 26, 2007 at 02:45 PM
J-Cool,
Where exactly did you hear that?
Posted by: Mitchell | June 26, 2007 at 02:49 PM
Thanks for that J(cool).
Ex, maybe it's time to do a seance? As far as I know zombies cannot be called, because they're soulless, hence we would not be able to call them up.
Posted by: Faith | June 26, 2007 at 02:50 PM
An interesting read:
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2007/insider/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=ProRater&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba%2fdraft2007%2finsider%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcolumnist%3dhollinger_john%26page%3dProRater
If numbers guy Hollinger is right (and he's got previous draft history in there to prove that his system works..kinda sorta...), then we're better off drafting Fazekas or Stuckey with the number 19.
Posted by: hariyahu | June 26, 2007 at 02:50 PM
J Cool,
Are u for real? I don't have cable so keep me up.
Posted by: wow | June 26, 2007 at 02:51 PM
Generic ...on the mark again...
I think in general the league did a great job in the eighties and then got greedy.Simple as that.They are paying for it now.The focus on global expansion and marketing is just ffing it up.Thats fine but the number one focus should be on basketball plain and simple.
Too much money it in now so that rules it in every sense...even at the expense of common sense.As long as the product is 'good enough' and appeals to the 'right' people...then this is what we get.
damn shame.
Posted by: Kiwi | June 26, 2007 at 02:52 PM
Just trade Kobe. He's made fools of us all.
Just like Shaq, they could care less about the fans.
Posted by: jq | June 26, 2007 at 02:52 PM
Lakers, Timberwolves reportedly talking trade
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-lakersfuture&prov=ap&type=lgns
Posted by: J-Cool | June 26, 2007 at 02:56 PM
Mitchell, check your facts, you are wrong.
The 93-94 bulls without Jordan made it to the eastern conf semis, not the finals. Get your facts straight bud.
Posted by: Janice | June 26, 2007 at 02:57 PM
I Heard It On ESPN.
Posted by: J-Cool | June 26, 2007 at 02:58 PM
ex:
I'm not sure about zombie status as this rumor seems to be a bit more insidious than zombies generally are. I'd call it "undead" status as there are a lot more stealthy and sinister categories out there than zombies. Ghouls, vampires, and ghosts for example. Regardless of what type of undead it is, with McHale involved it's not looking good for us.
But, it does happen to go along with my theory that this is all just a sham created by the LHC's (Laker Hating Celtics) to lead us along and screw us in the end by not giving us a damn thing. And we all remember the discussion we had about the zombies at the Garden during the 80's.
Posted by: generic_one | June 26, 2007 at 03:00 PM
Kiwi,
"I think in general the league did a great job in the eighties and then got greedy"
Some of it is the league's fault (expansion, for instance) but a lot of it is the player's fault. The league would definitely rather they stay in college, but legally they can't force that. The league would also (I assume) rather not have the same level of free agency that currently exists; that also comes from the players.
I think bringing in foreign players has been a blessing; we wouldn't have any fundamentals at all without them!!
Posted by: exhelodrvr | June 26, 2007 at 03:01 PM
Hey, maybe....
Just maybe....
Kobe doesn't like the idea of losing Lamar...
MAYBE....
MAYBE...
If with get Paul Gasol, we can keep Lamar...
Hey...is a better trade to me.
Now....I like Garnett....don't get me wrong.
But with Gasol we have more finantial freeedom to tap some other holes.....
But if they can get Garnett...in one or two years they will be at the western finals.
Posted by: jorema | June 26, 2007 at 03:03 PM
Janice,
I stand corrected. Either way, the 1994 team was an excellent team that won 55 games, and lost to the Knicks on a bad call.
Posted by: Mitchell | June 26, 2007 at 03:08 PM
Bucher just said that Kobe has went dark on everyone. What he meant by that is this: Kobe isn't speaking with anyone.
To me that means: Not Bucher, not Gray, and certainly not Jackson.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | June 26, 2007 at 03:08 PM
KG to LA , the championship will be back in LA, i believe Lakers will do it, Kobe will stay im LA.
Posted by: bluesky | June 26, 2007 at 03:10 PM
Generic,
Has anyone checked on the status of Red Auerbach lately? My gut tells me that he is behind this somehow.
"Generallissimo Francisco Franco is still dead."
Posted by: exhelodrvr | June 26, 2007 at 03:12 PM
Bucher said that if the Lakers get KG, that those around Kobe said Kobe would have to pause and think about that. What that means is that nobody knows what Kobe's response will be. But here's a hint.
If Kobe and KG have already talked and Kobe is determined to get traded then the deal will probably die.
As of right now the deal is dead. Through all the spin the only thing you can rely on is a deal actually getting done and having Kobe resind the trade demand.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | June 26, 2007 at 03:12 PM
I know there are problems in the front office right now.
Still, how can anyone with half a brain say Jerry Buss is only about the money with his playoff and championship track record???
Unless there is proof and not just digruntled fan speculation that something has changed, I have to go with the championships.
Posted by: Andy B | June 26, 2007 at 03:12 PM
I Heard That Kobe Is Trying To Get KG To Come To The Lakers.
Posted by: J-Cool | June 26, 2007 at 03:13 PM
I Miss....
Whoa Boy...get a hold of yourself. I never said Kobe compares to Jordan, or that Kobe can carry a team by himself (he clearly can't. Niether could Jordan, but that's besides the point) or a lot of the other crap you are insinuating that I came up with.
Here are the FACTS:
1. Kobe Video (shot in early May)
2. Kobe Radio Binge (late May)
3. Kobe meeting with Buss (early June)
4. Kobe meeting with Kupchak (last week)
5. Paxson saying Bulls trade is not that likely
Now there's been a lot of stuff attributed to "league sources" (What the heck is a league source anyway?), but I take all of that with a healthy dose of NaCl.
Case in point: Yesterday Ric Bucher "stated" that Kobe's camp would want a trade even if KG came to town. Which was followed by everyone asking "What the hell does Kobe want?". Today, though, it's a volte-face - now Kobe is supposed to be reassuring KG that he'll stick around if KG comes down. So which is it?
I'm going by what Kobe stated - that he has lost trust in the FO who promised him a team to win now, and didn't back it up. While I don't agree with that statement (Kobe AND Phil signed off on all the FAs we acquired in the last couple of years), that's what I'm going by. Now, from what I hear, LA is trying to get KG here - which would solve the "win now, at all costs" issue - especially if it involves trading Bynum.
So, unless I hear Kobe say/state that he still wants out, I'm going with the assumption that he will stay if KG is coming to town.
And after what Paxson let out, I don't think Kobe will want to go anywhere. Unless Phoenix offers Marion and Barbosa.
Actually, if the Hawks play this draft right, they could be runners too :) Marvin Williams, Joe Johnson and a future #1 for Kobe might help both teams.
Posted by: hariyahu | June 26, 2007 at 03:13 PM
Faith,
"Ex, maybe it's time to do a seance? As far as I know zombies cannot be called, because they're soulless, hence we would not be able to call them up."
If they can't be called up, can they be permanently sent to the D-League?
Posted by: exhelodrvr | June 26, 2007 at 03:13 PM
ESPN said that the Suns and the Wolves are trying to get the Hawks involved with a Amare leaving Phoenix.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | June 26, 2007 at 03:15 PM
Mitchell,
Very true. After MJ retired in 93, the Bulls added Kukoc and Kerr, the 4th and 5th leading scorers on the 93-94 team, so it was not the same team that Jordan left at his retirement.
As well, the next year, in 94-95, the Bulls slipped to 47 wins, and were playing .500 ball until MJ returned for the last 17 games, where the bulls finished 13-4.
The next year of course, the Bulls won 72 games and went on to 3 more rings in a row.
The bulls without MJ were clearly not as good of a squad.
Posted by: Janice | June 26, 2007 at 03:17 PM
I don't care if KG goes to Phoenix as long as Amare leaves because the Suns would basically be the same team, which isn't good enough to win it all.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | June 26, 2007 at 03:17 PM
the league is ruining the game with these ridiculous touch fouls. Who wants to watch Dwayne Wade shoot 25 free throws? Where is the entertainment value in that? It's killing the game. All any guard has to do at the end of the game is dribble around and try to create contact and the refs call a foul every time. That's almost as disgusting as watching Ginobli among others flop for cheap fouls. The guy barely gets bumped and it looks like somebody hit him with a sledgehammer. Is this entertaining? Sure the first time... but by the 40th time, everybody in the building is yelling, "fix!" because the refs KEEP CALLING IT, even though everybody knows they are flopping. Who wants to watch that? Who wants to watch a really weak Cleveland team against the Spurs who have mastered flopping and drawing touch fouls? Oh... the ratings were a disaster this year? Gee, I wonder why...
Posted by: TaosHum | June 26, 2007 at 03:18 PM
Kobe feels "betrayed" by the FO, and says they lied to him? Hmmm...maybe the FO should jaunt on down to Rodeo Blvd and pick Kobe up a $12 mill diamond ring....those seem to soothe feelings of betrayal and having been lied to....
Posted by: Janice | June 26, 2007 at 03:19 PM
Mike T,
"ESPN said that the Suns and the Wolves are trying to get the Hawks involved with a Amare leaving Phoenix."
IF THAT IS TRUE, THEN KG IS GOING TO PHOENIX AND THEY WILL BE IN THE DRIVER SEAT NEXT YEAR!
Posted by: gunner24 | June 26, 2007 at 03:26 PM
What do you think of this line up:
PG: Steve Blake/ Jordan Farmar
SG: Kobe Bryant/ Maurice Evans
SF: Ron Artest/ Vladimir Radmanovic
PF: Kevin Garnett/ Ronny Turiaf
C: Chris Mihm/ Jamal Magloire
I don't know if it work financially but if Blake or Magloire would sign on the cheap and hopefully we could trade Kwame and Luke for Artest (or keep Luke and trade Vlad Rad)
Posted by: Ed | June 26, 2007 at 03:27 PM
hari,
"Actually, if the Hawks play this draft right, they could be runners too :) Marvin Williams, Joe Johnson and a future #1 for Kobe might help both teams."
I've been saying this all along. The best thing that could happen right now is if KG ended up not coming to LA, Kobe freaked out and said "send me anywhere!" and Atlanta was open to a trade. Joe Johnson, Marvin Williams, Lorenzen Wright (salary purposes) and this year's #3 pick.
We go with Conley at #3 to give us our PG, take PF/C at #19 and we have about $12 million in expiring at the trade deadline. Joe Johnson averaged 25 points a game last year, Marvin Williams is a scorer at the 3, and Conley has a damn bright future.
That team could be good.
Posted by: Andrew Z | June 26, 2007 at 03:29 PM
IF PHOENIX GETS KG WITH AMARE, IT'S GOOD NIGHT!
GET READY FOR 2008-2009 SEASON BECAUSE NEXT YEAR WOULD BE A WASTE!
Posted by: gunner24 | June 26, 2007 at 03:30 PM
Kiwi:
"I think in general the league did a great job in the eighties and then got greedy.Simple as that.They are paying for it now.The focus on global expansion and marketing is just ffing it up.Thats fine but the number one focus should be on basketball plain and simple."
Exactly. And that's one reason that you'll never see teams like the Celtics and Lakers from that time period again. Sure, it seems that more teams are attempting to add more than one superstar, but it still doesn't come close to the talent on the teams before the expansion started. Who do you get rid of, though? Do you just go reverse order and get rid of the Bobcats, Grizzlies, Raptors, and Magic? Toronto and Orlando are attended by a lot more fans than the other teams in the league. Or do you go by the smallest attendance? Right now Philly's in the bottom four, and would you really decimate some of the most fanatical sports fans in the country? It's a tough decision. The only conclusion that one can come to is that the League really screwed itself and there's no easy way to fix it.
Posted by: generic_one | June 26, 2007 at 03:30 PM
Okay so many things going on right now with KG. I mean my head is spinning. Why are the suns even willing to trade Amare for KG? I just hope the lakers win this KG sweepstakes. One thing is for sure, KG has alot of interest, and we have to win.
Posted by: wow | June 26, 2007 at 03:33 PM
GUNNER24,
People are talking all kinds of stuff but the word is that Phoenix doesn't want to part with Amare.
Right now ESPN is still reporting the 4 trade deal. Right now this moment Bucher is saying that the deal with all 4 teams is dead.
Bucher just said that both Atlanta and the Lakers are trying to get the Hawks invovled to get a deal done but that there's nothing even close to happening.
The deal is dead. But these people are still talking about it as if though it's still something to talk about. All that is spin at best, in order to sell paper and stuff like that.
This report on ESPN that I'm listening to right now is the same one that came on about 20 minutes ago.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | June 26, 2007 at 03:34 PM
Mike T,
At this time, KG is better than Amare. The gamble is he's seven years older and has peaked and Amare is still getting better. The main reason they would go for KG is because he's a much better defender than Amare and could match up with Tim Duncan better.
If KG goes to Phoenix in a swap for Amare, Phoenix has to be the team to beat next year.
Posted by: Andrew Z | June 26, 2007 at 03:36 PM
BREAKING:
Bucher and Ford both on ESPN - Bucher said no Laker/ Wolves deal is on the table, very unlikely anything will happen; Ford said that Garnett wants to go to Phoenix. Both the Lakers and Phoenix are speaking with Atlanta trying to create a three team deal that would involve Atlanta' s third pick going to the Wolves....
Posted by: 10milliondollarzen | June 26, 2007 at 03:37 PM
The trade's not dead. Kobe's just staying hush about whether he wants to stay or go. (thank gosh) If he goes to the LA Times, ESPN, radio, or his blog and says "I want to stay if KG comes," it will be a media circus...again. I think it finally seeped in his head that him talking doesn't help the Lakers make trades or try to acquire free agents. And he knows that if he flip flops (again), his image will take another hit.
I think its smart of him and the Lakers to keep saying what they've been saying to the media and keeping all the real talk between themselves.
Posted by: nyla | June 26, 2007 at 03:39 PM
ED,
If we can get that lineup, we will no doubt win the championship. That is a really good lineup for Kobe and KG. The only reason why we did not win so many games was because of our defense. I mean we scored and scored, but never could get stops. Kobe would make clucth shots, but our team would come down and give up a score on the offense. No doubt that team you have will be a great team for us. We just have to hope this trades goes through. And it really sucks that both teams are in the west and would not like to help us especially the Kings.
Posted by: wow | June 26, 2007 at 03:40 PM
ex:
"Has anyone checked on the status of Red Auerbach lately? My gut tells me that he is behind this somehow. "
Hah... yeah, Red is definitely lurking in the shadows somewhere smoking his damn zombie cigars. He's like the Lich King or something and goes by the name "Red Auerbrrrrraaaaiinnsss" now.
Posted by: generic_one | June 26, 2007 at 03:40 PM
J-Cool,
Where did you hear that? From the grapevine?
Posted by: dacsila | June 26, 2007 at 03:43 PM
Janice,
Of course the team was better with Jordan. My point was that he had a decent group of teamates that could compete without him. Kobe' teamates are a lottery team. 'Nuff said.
Posted by: Mitchell | June 26, 2007 at 03:45 PM
Speaking of Garnett to Phoenix...I heard on NBA Radio today that the Suns are offering Marion, Kurt Thomas, both of their drafts picks for this year, and their 08 unrestricted draft pick from the Joe Johnson to Atlanta trade. There could of been someone else in there, but I forget who.
Ouch! That would kill our shot a KG.
Posted by: nyla | June 26, 2007 at 03:46 PM