Ben Maller thinks Kobe to suns...

[mribnik]

I live in San Diego and listen to Xtra Sports 690am all the time. They host clipper games but all the callers and the hosts talk about the lakers. Anywho, ben maller, who hosts the late night show on some days of the week thinks kobe is going to the suns. I didn't start listening until late, but I heard him telling a caller that he thinks kobe is going to phoenix. I don't think he heard this from a source or anything, just his opinion. I just thought it was interesting that the host of a talk show which mainly discusses the lakers thinks kobe is going to be a sun.

 

[mribnik]

A guy on the espn board also heard from the same station (different time) about kobe and the suns...

http://boards.go.com/cgi/nba/request.dll?MESSAGE&room=nba_pho&id=158538

 

[George O'Brien]

If it weren't for the court case I'd say there was a real chance. But the case is not going away and the fallout of signing a convicted rapist is not going to be pleasant. Even if it voids the contract, it would mean going into the season with the same roster as last year with no free agency help.

 

[az jam]

Would anybody besides the Lakers really sign Kobe while the rape case is still going on? Lots of risk from a public relations viewpoint to make a big salary signing until this is resolved which will probably be at the end of Sept/beginning of October. Additionally if he is convicted; that could be a public relations disaster.

 

[slinslin]

Yes they would. Kobe is a top3 or top5 player in this league who has like 6 years in his prime remaining at least.

The only team than might not try to sign him before the trial might actually be the Lakers because they probably need to deal Shaq to keep him.

 

[Dan H]

If Kobe's convicted his contract is null and void, anyway. I don't want him to be a Sun, but if they do sign him and he's convicted there's no loss to the Suns from a business standpoint.

 

[Southpaw]

If it weren't for the court case I'd say there was a real chance. But the case is not going away and the fallout of signing a convicted rapist is not going to be pleasant. Even if it voids the contract, it would mean going into the season with the same roster as last year with no free agency help.

If Kobe were a convicted rapist, there would be a matter of jail time, which would preclude anyone from signing him. In that unlikely event, fallout would not be the issue.

P.S. I wish Kobe would just go away. Punk of the century.

 

[devilalum]

I don't think the SUns have much to lose by signing him.

It's not like they have to give anything up to do it. The remaining free agent pool is not that great.

The Suns may have some inside info on the trial? If Kobe wants to be here his agent might tell the Suns something encouraging the general public doesn't know.

 

[scotsman13]

Yes they would. Kobe is a top3 or top5 player in this league who has like 6 years in his prime remaining at least.

The only team than might not try to sign him before the trial might actually be the Lakers because they probably need to deal Shaq to keep him.

so was kidd when the suns traded him for hitting his wife. we traded cliff for pocket change because of a drug bust. heck almost everyone on the 87 roster was cut or traded because of drug. even one of the all time best suns walter davis for almost nothing.

all i am saying here is from the history of the suns there is lots of prof that they dont like and wont keep anyone with legal problems. phoenix as a city holds their players to a high standard and doesnt back those that go to far outside of that. allen iverson would never be able to stay in phoenix. he cause to many problems.

it maybe that the dream of kobe on the suns is just that because of the rape trail and the suns not willing to take that chance with damaged goods.

 

[slinslin]

1. I don't believe one second that Kidd was traded because of hitting his wife. The trade rumors were running wild way before that happened. We were talking a lot about a Kidd for Bibby and Abdur-Rahim swap at that time.

2. Jason Kidd was NEVER a top3 or top5 player at that time either. Shaq, Duncan, Garnett, Webber, Kobe were the top 5 anyway.

3. We traded Jason Kidd and got the best young PG in return. And Marbury didn't exactly have a clean past either and wasn't traded after his DUI.

Charles Barkley got drunk and threw people through windows. KJ was accused of sleeping naked with a girl. etc etc
Charles Barkley was a total headcase and was still loved by the fans.

You can't tell me the Suns won't pursue Kobe Bryant just because he was accused of something. Innocent until proven.

And taking damaged goods? What exactly has Kobe's trial to do with basketball? Nothing.

And the fans started to love Marbury as well, why wouldn't Allen Iverson be able to convince him? Fans want to see good basketball not 12 innocents christian monks.

 

[playstation]

"KJ was accused of sleeping naked with a girl"

OH MY GOD!
LOL

 

[sunsfn]

"KJ was accused of sleeping naked with a girl"

OH MY GOD!
LOL

I believe the problem in that is, she was very young!

 

[Joe Mama]

"KJ was accused of sleeping naked with a girl"

OH MY GOD!
LOL

I was thinking the same thing. Slin, just because you haven't done it that doesn't make it a crime.

Seriously though, he is talking about the accusations that KJ had an inappropriate relationship with a minor.

I've brought this up before. What happens to a team that signs Kobe Bryant if he's found innocent but looks extremely guilty like O.J. Simpson? I want the Phoenix Suns to win more than anybody. I don't want to cheer for someone who I think got away with rape.

Joe Mama

 

[slinslin]

girl = young teenage female
woman = adult female

 

[George O'Brien]

My prediction is that the Suns will focus on Nash or Barry. Neither are superstars and both are older, but there is less downside and it leaves enough money to get another big.

There is an article in a San Antonio paper saying Kobe says he would not go to the Spurs because it is a small market. There has been speculation about whether the market size would be a real issue, but this is the first time I've seen it written about explicitly in the press.

 

[devilalum]

My prediction is that the Suns will focus on Nash or Barry. Neither are superstars and both are older, but there is less downside and it leaves enough money to get another big.

There is an article in a San Antonio paper saying Kobe says he would not go to the Spurs because it is a small market. There has been speculation about whether the market size would be a real issue, but this is the first time I've seen it written about explicitly in the press.

Phoenix is no LA but it is the 6th largest media market. Barkley didn't have any problem getting attention in Phoenix.

 

[Evil Ash]

Phoenix is no LA but it is the 6th largest media market. Barkley didn't have any problem getting attention in Phoenix.

5th actually, we passed Philadelphia recently. This city is growing at an insane rate.

Funny you should bring up Barkley because that was one of my ideas for convincing Kobe to come here ... have Barkley come here during Kobe's visit and tell him how he owned this city and stayed a superstar at the national level. Maybe kinda risky though since its Barkley and who knows what he might say.

 

[ajcardfan]

Maybe kinda risky though since its Barkley and who knows what he might say.

Charles Barkley to free agent QB Steve Beuerlein:

"If you're gonna get your ass beat, get it beat in the sun. At least you can play more golf."

Beuerlein signed with the Cardinals, so you may be on to something there!

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

5th actually, we passed Philadelphia recently. This city is growing at an insane rate.

Funny you should bring up Barkley because that was one of my ideas for convincing Kobe to come here ... have Barkley come here during Kobe's visit and tell him how he owned this city and stayed a superstar at the national level. Maybe kinda risky though since its Barkley and who knows what he might say.

Barkley talked constantly on TNT about how the Suns should not pursue Kobe, and how he isn't the player that will bring a championship.

I would go ahead and say we should keep the two of them apart before anything is signed

 

[Joe Mama]

Frankly I'm not sure Kobe Bryant is a player to bring the Phoenix Suns a championship either, but I definitely think it's worth a shot. Last night Phoenix Suns commentator Tom Leander was in "the pit" on Channel 12 sports tonight. When asked what the Phoenix Suns should do with their $16.3 million in free agency he said they should back up a truckload of cash in front of Steve Nash's house and say, "what's it going to take to get you here?"

Joe Mama

 

[SunsTzu]

Frankly I'm not sure Kobe Bryant is a player to bring the Phoenix Suns a championship either, but I definitely think it's worth a shot. Last night Phoenix Suns commentator Tom Leander was in "the pit" on Channel 12 sports tonight. When asked what the Phoenix Suns should do with their $16.3 million in free agency he said they should back up a truckload of cash in front of Steve Nash's house and say, "what's it going to take to get you here?"

Joe Mama

Leander doesn't really know whats going on with the team IMO. I remember he was for drafting Jared Jefferies and thought that was who the Suns were gonna take.

I know a lot of people are worried about us signing Nash and Okur to big money. I don't think its going to happen though, so I'm not too worried.

 

[minercon]

To me it would be ridiculous to sign Nash to any big contract, and what exactly is big compared to reasonable. We had the two top PGs in the league with Kidd and Marbury and we won nothing. Now Nash is okay, but different surroundings can diminish some of his talent or make it explode. He is injury prone which bothers me the most (besides his horrible hair). Spend the money elsewhere....Barbosa is doing just fine IMO. I think Barbosa would need appendicitis before he would stop playing....and then rejoin the team the next week fully recovered and ready to play. Barbosa is NO BABY and won't even let on he has a sprain, leg cramp, or whatever some of these guys go down for weeks at a time with.

 

[George O'Brien]

To me it would be ridiculous to sign Nash to any big contract, and what exactly is big compared to reasonable. We had the two top PGs in the league with Kidd and Marbury and we won nothing. Now Nash is okay, but different surroundings can diminish some of his talent or make it explode. He is injury prone which bothers me the most (besides his horrible hair). Spend the money elsewhere....Barbosa is doing just fine IMO. I think Barbosa would need appendicitis before he would stop playing....and then rejoin the team the next week fully recovered and ready to play. Barbosa is NO BABY and won't even let on he has a sprain, leg cramp, or whatever some of these guys go down for weeks at a time with.

My oft stated preference would be sign Brent Barry because he could team with either JJ or Barbosa. If the Suns sign Nash, it greatly reduces Barbosa's minutes because you really can't play both at the same time.

 

[Yuma]

1. I don't believe one second that Kidd was traded because of hitting his wife. The trade rumors were running wild way before that happened. We were talking a lot about a Kidd for Bibby and Abdur-Rahim swap at that time.

I've heard from sports people, who I WILL NOT name, that Kidd's wife and her MOUTH constantly denigrating Mr. C., was what ran Jason more than the trouble with the law. They were giving Jason time off, no matter what Mrs. Kidd says, and were still looking long term with Kidd.

2. Jason Kidd was NEVER a top3 or top5 player at that time either. Shaq, Duncan, Garnett, Webber, Kobe were the top 5 anyway.

He was getting publicity like a top five guy, though. He was "supposedly" putting fans in the stands for Phoenix.

3. We traded Jason Kidd and got the best young PG in return. And Marbury didn't exactly have a clean past either and wasn't traded after his DUI.

Marbury was traded because of salary. He was playing here even with legal problems and even with people saying he was a ball hog.

Charles Barkley got drunk and threw people through windows. KJ was accused of sleeping naked with a girl. etc etc
Charles Barkley was a total headcase and was still loved by the fans.

KJ took a shower with a young teenage girl, but both sides said nothing happened. It was EXTREMLY INAPPROPRIATE, but NOT illegal!

You can't tell me the Suns won't pursue Kobe Bryant just because he was accused of something. Innocent until proven.

And taking damaged goods? What exactly has Kobe's trial to do with basketball? Nothing.

And the fans started to love Marbury as well, why wouldn't Allen Iverson be able to convince him? Fans want to see good basketball not 12 innocents christian monks.

The reason they are pursuing Kobe is he is viewed as the NEXT Michael Jordan, plain and simple. Think Phoenix wouldn't like a few Championships!

 

[sunsfn]

Leander doesn't really know whats going on with the team IMO. I remember he was for drafting Jared Jefferies and thought that was who the Suns were gonna take.

I know a lot of people are worried about us signing Nash and Okur to big money. I don't think its going to happen though, so I'm not too worried.

I watched most of the games last year, and when Leander made comments about the suns in regard to other players coming, or being traded for, or drafted, he was wrong many many times. It is like he shows up to do the games and starts talking and what he says is the truth.
Leander needs to brush up on the suns and their history "a lot"!

I for one do not want them to sign Steve Nash.

They need to get a veteran backup and let Barbosa have some time to see if he is the real deal. Barbosa has a couple years to learn how to be a point guard, because this team will not go far in the playoffs for a couple years.