Bill Simmons wants Kobe on the Suns

[cly2tw]

Lots of other teams could put together nice packages, but Kobe has to sign off on it. No way he would go to Utah, especially if they are losing Williams/Boozer. Same with Detroit losing Hamilton/Prince.

Dallas is a possibility though.

I'd do Hamilton/Prince for Kobe in an heart beat. A no brainer for Pistons.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

I'd do Hamilton/Prince for Kobe in an heart beat. A no brainer for Pistons.

That wasn't my point.

 

[cly2tw]

That wasn't my point.

OK, I got it now. But then Kobe is not going anywhere and will rot in LA for the rest of his career.

 

[azirish]

In another thread, I said the key is whether the team that gets Kobe is more capable of winning the championship than the Lakers. I don't think he would agree to a deal that sent him to a bad team or would require stripping the assets so they are no longer competative.

When Shaq went to Miami, he insisted the Wade NOT be included in the deal.

 

[Cheesebeef]

When Shaq went to Miami, he insisted the Wade NOT be included in the deal.

what's this based on and what kind of leverage did Shaq have to get this done? He didn't have a no-trade clause did he? I'm pretty sure it was Riley who wouldn't budge on Wade in this scenario, although I wouldn't be so bold as to just say something like that definitely without being able to back it up.

 

[cly2tw]

In another thread, I said the key is whether the team that gets Kobe is more capable of winning the championship than the Lakers. I don't think he would agree to a deal that sent him to a bad team or would require stripping the assets so they are no longer competative.

When Shaq went to Miami, he insisted the Wade NOT be included in the deal.

But the following core of a team will compete for title with a little more tinkering of the roster:

Amare/Kobe/Diaw/LB/Kurt for suns

Kobe/Billups/Rasheed/Weber/McDyce with pistons

Kobe/Deng/Hinrich/BenWallace for bulls

Kobe/Harris/Howard(Stackhouse) for mavs

Oden/Kobe/Randolph for blazers

 

[azirish]

what's this based on and what kind of leverage did Shaq have to get this done? He didn't have a no-trade clause did he? I'm pretty sure it was Riley who wouldn't budge on Wade in this scenario, although I wouldn't be so bold as to just say something like that definitely without being able to back it up.

I definitely remember statements to the effect that Shaq made it clear that Wade should not be included. But if you don't believe me, frankly I could care less. I happened.

 

[cly2tw]

I definitely remember statements to the effect that Shaq made it clear that Wade should not be included. But if you don't believe me, frankly I could care less. I happened.

I remember the same thing. Shaq said he'd have vetoed the trade had they included Wade in the package.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I definitely remember statements to the effect that Shaq made it clear that Wade should not be included. But if you don't believe me, frankly I could care less. I happened.

You seem to know an awful lot about everything that went down three years ago with the Lakers, Shaq and Kobe... stuff, that I NEVER heard substantiated as fact, or even as rumor, even though I live in LA, listen to Sports radio constantly and loved every second of the Laker implosion. But hey, you say it happened, so I guess we should just take all your word as gospel. Far be it for me to actually assume you have SOME kind of substantiated evidence behind these IRON-CLAD statements you ask over and over and over and over and over again.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I remember the same thing. Shaq said he'd have vetoed the trade had they included Wade in the package.

with what power? Did Shaq have a no-trade clause? And even if Shaq said this after the fact, it's soeasily could be him stroking that massive ego of his as brokering the deal himself, when in all likelihood, Riley just fleeced Kupcake, regardless of what Shaq wanted or not. Do you guys think the Lakers were cow-towing to the guy they wanted no part of anymore? I don't.

 

[hsandhu]

But the following core of a team will compete for title with a little more tinkering of the roster:

Amare/Kobe/Diaw/LB/Kurt for suns

Kobe/Billups/Rasheed/Weber/McDyce with pistons

Kobe/Deng/Hinrich/BenWallace for bulls

Kobe/Harris/Howard(Stackhouse) for mavs

Oden/Kobe/Randolph for blazers

Bulls not possible for salary reasons
Blazers no, kobe wants a contender.
That leaves suns, mavs, pistons.

Really it leaves suns/mavs since they can offer the best packages of the three, and I just dont see kobe as wanting to play in detroit. I think he wants to put a team over the top, not one that has won one without him.

Actually, dallas can offer the best package that actually works salary wise
howard/harris/terry or dirk straight up.

But...I dont think the first one leaves the mavs with a contender:
damp/diop
dirk
kobe
re-signed stackhouse, george
would have to sign a point guard for midlevel,

That team is just too thin, I dont see that team winning a title, would kobe want that team?

On the other hand, if they trade kobe for dirk straight up, that dallas team is scary, about as good as the suns would be giving up a marion/barbosa/picks package.

That is the best package right now, dirk straight up, based on
1) working salary wise
2) having enough assets after trade to be a contender, what kobe wants

But would cuban pull that trigger...

 

[cly2tw]

with what power? Did Shaq have a no-trade clause? And even if Shaq said this after the fact, it's soeasily could be him stroking that massive ego of his as brokering the deal himself, when in all likelihood, Riley just fleeced Kupcake, regardless of what Shaq wanted or not. Do you guys think the Lakers were cow-towing to the guy they wanted no part of anymore? I don't.

It's more complicated than that. Shaq's power was to decide whether to resign with the team after the one year left on contract. Particularly, he had to agree on reconstruct the contract so that it's more cap friendly. In the end, he opted out his final year of 33mil and struck a deal for 5 years and 20 mil each.

 

[cly2tw]

On the other hand, if they trade kobe for dirk straight up, that dallas team is scary, about as good as the suns would be giving up a marion/barbosa/picks package.

That is the best package right now, dirk straight up, based on
1) working salary wise
2) having enough assets after trade to be a contender, what kobe wants

But would cuban pull that trigger...

The problem is, would that make the Lakers a team with a chance for getting into 2nd round of playoffs? Even if you swap Harris with Farmer to sweeten the deal. On the other hand, Nash/Marion/Bell/Atl-pick for Kobe/Radmo/Farmar would make them at least as last year's Suns, and better if Bynum improves. The big 4 in the West would be Spurs, Mavs, Suns (Amare/Kobe/Diaw/LB at core), and Lakers. Mavs and Lakers will meet in the 2nd round and Nash-led Lakers would have a real chance to WCF vs. the winner between Spurs and Suns.

 

[Goldfield]

I really think the following trade would work well for both teams:

Suns Trade

Shawn Marion PTS: 17.5 REB: 9.8 AST: 1.7
Leandro Barbosa PTS: 18.1 REB: 2.7 AST: 4.0
James Jones PTS: 6.4 REB: 2.3 AST: 0.6
#29
2008 ATL pick

Suns Recieve:

Kobe Bryant PTS: 31.6 REB: 5.7 AST: 5.4
Vladimir Radmonivic PTS: 6.6 REB: 3.3 AST: 1.2

The Lakers get a Perrinial All-Star in Marion, a potential All-Star and leading Scorer in Barbosa, a 1st round pick this year and a potential high lottery pick next year to build toward the future. This trade gives them a chance to win 50 games next year, and still be built for the future with a rotation of:

PG: Farmar
SG: Barbosa
SF: Marion
PF: Odom
C: Bynum
Bench: Jones, Turiaf, Walton, draft: Derrick Byers?, #29-Ante Tomic?

The Suns will meanwhile boast a linup of:

PG: Nash
SG: Kobe
SF: Bell
PF: Diaw
C: Amare
Bench: Radmonivic, Rose, KT, #24-Splitter?

With a potential 7 man rotation with Diaw and Nash facilitating the offense, they could litterally average 120 a game, and still improve their overall team defense form 2007.

It is important to note, this trade could not go through unless BOTH Nash and STAT emphatically endorsed this idea, as well as kobe, but if all parties agree, this is a 70 win team...

I think this is still unlikley, but I also believe if the suns offer this deal, it is the best deal the lakers could possibly hope for in exchange for Kobe....

Thoughts

I agree that this trade is fair for both teams.

But if I am the Lakers I trade Kobe for a star BIG like KG or O'Neal.


The interesting parts is Kobe has the power of what team he goes to. How could he NOT like the Idea of playing with Amare & Nash...?

 

[boisesuns]

I wouldn't be surprised if Kobe went to the Mavs. Cuban said he didn't want to mess with the team, but i'm sure he could sell this move.

 

[btimsah]

Unfortunately.. I think Kobe wants to go to the Clippers. He get's to stay in California and play with Elton Brand. He brought them up in that interview too. Loves Elgin Baylor. If there's one team he's "demanding" to go to then that's probably it. The Suns are too good to give them Kobe. It's like cutting your own throat.

As much as I want it to happen, It just won't. Unless we give up Nash or Stat.

 

[AsUdUdE]

Sure I'd trade Stat for Kobe... Odom, and 3 unprotected 1st round picks the next three years....