Honestly . . .

[Cheesebeef]

Anyone here who still thinks Kobe Brynat shouldn't be priority NUMBER 1 this off-season for fear he could screw up JJ needs to be LABOTIMIZED - otherwise - we're gonna have to watch six years of this crap - it was bad enough watching Jordan winning continually - now think about Jordan if he was actually wearing our most hated rival's gear - A LAKER JERSEY.

I may stop watching the NBA if the Suns don't get him this offseason because all will be futile - that kid is freaking unbelievable - I mean did anyone REALLY think he was gonna miss that shot? I hate the ****ing Lakers.

 

[George O'Brien]

Anyone here who still thinks Kobe Brynat shouldn't be priority NUMBER 1 this off-season for fear he could screw up JJ needs to be LABOTIMIZED - otherwise - we're gonna have to watch six years of this crap - it was bad enough watching Jordan winning continually - now think about Jordan if he was actually wearing our most hated rival's gear - A LAKER JERSEY.

I may stop watching the NBA if the Suns don't get him this offseason because all will be futile - that kid is freaking unbelievable - I mean did anyone REALLY think he was gonna miss that shot? I hate the ****ing Lakers.

This is really irrelevant. There were issues of "chemistry" but not JJ in particular. In any case, I have never believed that the Lakers would be willing to let him leave without a major struggle. Rumor has it that they are willing to not re-hire Phil Jackson if Kobe wants him gone. The Lakers will do whatever it takes to keep him including getting a coach that will make it Kobe's team.

I'm sure the Suns will make an offer. It seems likely the Bobcats will take White and the Suns will be able to make max offer. I'm not so sure they will want to wait until after the trial, since that would preclude going after other free agents. But they will talk to him after July 1st and at least try. I just don't think it will lead to him becoming a Sun.

 

[Evil Ash]

This is really irrelevant. There were issues of "chemistry" but not JJ in particular. In any case, I have never believed that the Lakers would be willing to let him leave without a major struggle. Rumor has it that they are willing to not re-hire Phil Jackson if Kobe wants him gone. The Lakers will do whatever it takes to keep him including getting a coach that will make it Kobe's team.

True but that rumor also involved the Lakers hiring Byron Scott. Problem is he was hired by the Hornets first.

I'm sure the Suns will make an offer. It seems likely the Bobcats will take White and the Suns will be able to make max offer. I'm not so sure they will want to wait until after the trial, since that would preclude going after other free agents. But they will talk to him after July 1st and at least try. I just don't think it will lead to him becoming a Sun.

You may be right. Then again who knows?

Usually you can get a pretty good idea on what a player is going to do when it comes to free agency. However with Kobe, nobody can get a good read as to what exactly he is going to do.

So we're just going to have to wait and see

 

[cly2tw]

Kobe maybe convinced to stay, but the Lakers have to get rid of both PJ and Shaq in the process. Where to deal Shaq to? Nobody would trade young franchise players like Dirk for him. So, Suns may get a chance to get Shaq. It would be a good consolitation prize.

 

[Joe Mama]

Anyone here who still thinks Kobe Brynat shouldn't be priority NUMBER 1 this off-season for fear he could screw up JJ needs to be LABOTIMIZED - otherwise - we're gonna have to watch six years of this crap - it was bad enough watching Jordan winning continually - now think about Jordan if he was actually wearing our most hated rival's gear - A LAKER JERSEY.

I may stop watching the NBA if the Suns don't get him this offseason because all will be futile - that kid is freaking unbelievable - I mean did anyone REALLY think he was gonna miss that shot? I hate the ****ing Lakers.

I agree that Kobe Bryant should be priority #1 this summer. I agree that he is one of the greatest players in the NBA right now. I definitely do not agree that he has proven he can have carry a team like Jordan did the Chicago Bulls. Did you happen to see +/- numbers for Shaquille O'Neal? They showed them last night during the game. If I remember correctly with something like +8 with Shaq in the game and -24 without him.

Without Kobe Bryant is is still a very good Lakers team. Without Shaquille O'Neal they are average at best. Lakers need both of them to win a championship, but IMO Shaq is definitely the more important piece of the puzzle.

Joe Mama

 

[Freddie]

Joe, I agree with you.

However, this team is built around Shaq, not Kobe. Jordan's teams were built around him. He had centers that could hit the 15 footer, he had the best complementary player in the world, and he had two good defensive stoppers in Harper and Rodman.

Before I conclude as to whether or not Kobe can carry a team, I'd like to see players that complement him, rather than Shaq.

 

[Joe Mama]

Joe, I agree with you.

However, this team is built around Shaq, not Kobe. Jordan's teams were built around him. He had centers that could hit the 15 footer, he had the best complementary player in the world, and he had two good defensive stoppers in Harper and Rodman.

Before I conclude as to whether or not Kobe can carry a team, I'd like to see players that complement him, rather than Shaq.

that's a very good point Freddie. I really had not thought of it that way.

Joe Mama

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Anyone here who still thinks Kobe Brynat shouldn't be priority NUMBER 1 this off-season for fear he could screw up JJ needs to be LABOTIMIZED - otherwise - we're gonna have to watch six years of this crap - it was bad enough watching Jordan winning continually - now think about Jordan if he was actually wearing our most hated rival's gear - A LAKER JERSEY.

I may stop watching the NBA if the Suns don't get him this offseason because all will be futile - that kid is freaking unbelievable - I mean did anyone REALLY think he was gonna miss that shot? I hate the ****ing Lakers.

Well said. I can't believe anyone who has ever watched basketball wouldn't want Kobe on their team. Is he selfish? Yes, so was Jordan. Is he stubborn? Yes, so was Jordan. Did he fool around on his wife? Yes, so did Jordan. Kobe is the best player in the league. Period. Anyone who wouldn't want to add that to their team just because of a marital infidelity or occasional ball hogging needs to re-examine the way they look at things. Last time I checked, Mother Teresa and Gandhi didn't have jump shots.

 

[elindholm]

Last time I checked, Mother Teresa and Gandhi didn't have jump shots.

That's true, but nbdraft.net has a quote from some Indian guy saying that Gandhi has a wicked crossover and "great potential," as long as he "can bulk up a bit."

 

[Chaplin]

Even if we don't end up signing him (God forbid), we must try whatever we can to get him. If we don't even bother trying to sign him, then I'll be upset.

 

[George O'Brien]

Even if we don't end up signing him (God forbid), we must try whatever we can to get him. If we don't even bother trying to sign him, then I'll be upset.

Assuming they have the cap space, I am sure they will try. That is not the "tough" decision. The tough decision would be if the Bobcats insisted on the Suns lottery pick to take White. If the Bobcats don't take White or Eisley, the Suns are not in the ballpark in terms of money.

The lottery pick is the real issue when talking about "whatever it takes". It would be worth it if the Suns knew for sure that Kobe would come, but I think they have serious doubts of how likely he would be to sign.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Assuming they have the cap space, I am sure they will try. That is not the "tough" decision. The tough decision would be if the Bobcats insisted on the Suns lottery pick to take White. If the Bobcats don't take White or Eisley, the Suns are not in the ballpark in terms of money.

The deal with Charlotte will be a real game of chicken. If we don't want to get robbed in this, we need to have a back up plan. It can be one of several options.

1. Find another way to move White. There is the possibility of moving White for an expiring contract or one that can be bought out.

2. Get creative in a deal to offer Kobe. There are all kinds of things we can do. White's contract gets us more than enough to work with. All we really need is another 2-4 million.

If Charlotte knows that there are other ways for us to clear space, they will be much more reasonable in their demands.

Who is going to blink first? Will Charlotte walk away from a deal that helps them and is to their advantage just because they think they can gouge us? In the end, I believe cooler heads will prevail and something will be worked out that will get us our cap space without giving up our pick.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

The deal with Charlotte will be a real game of chicken. If we don't want to get robbed in this, we need to have a back up plan. It can be one of several options.

1. Find another way to move White. There is the possibility of moving White for an expiring contract or one that can be bought out.

Expiring contracts will not work. Contracts will be expired by the time we are able to trade White, so we would actually be trading for a deal expiring next summer (same time as Whites).

Buy outs are the same thing. We wont be able to buy out White, or any other player for a positive cap affect for this summer.


The ONLY 2 ways we can move White for cap space are:

The Bobcats expansion draft.

Moving him to a team under the cap like Atlanta or Denver for a 2nd round pick (or future pick).

 

[Joe Mama]

The deal with Charlotte will be a real game of chicken. If we don't want to get robbed in this, we need to have a back up plan. It can be one of several options.

Absolutely. I don't think there's any way they're going to give up the #7 draft pick to unload Jahidi White unless they are virtually certain that Kobe Bryant is coming here. People will be pissed off if they do a trade like this, but we should actually see it as a good thing. I mean I know I want Kobe Bryant here.

Realistically, I don't see them giving the #7 pick to unload White. If Charlotte lost its mind and would take Howard Eiseley for that draft pick the Phoenix Suns should probably do it regardless of Kobe Bryant's intentions. That is unless they are absolutely in love with someone who will be available at #7. But again, I'm almost certain Charlotte would not make that deal.

2. Get creative in a deal to offer Kobe. There are all kinds of things we can do. White's contract gets us more than enough to work with. All we really need is another 2-4 million.

If Charlotte knows that there are other ways for us to clear space, they will be much more reasonable in their demands.

Who is going to blink first? Will Charlotte walk away from a deal that helps them and is to their advantage just because they think they can gouge us? In the end, I believe cooler heads will prevail and something will be worked out that will get us our cap space without giving up our pick.

The salary cap is now projected at $43 million. If you include a $2 million salary cap hold for the #7 draft pick the Suns will have a team salary of $35.9 million for next season. That leaves just $7.1 million for free agency. That won't even be enough to give them Steve Nash much less Kobe Bryant. Even if they were able to unload Jahidi White's contract they are still probably a couple million dollars short on what they need to offer Kobe Bryant and maximum contract. They would have $13 million. If they really want and they'll need a couple more million dollars.

If the Phoenix Suns could get the rights to Josh Smith in the draft perhaps Atlanta would take him and Howard Eiseley for a future second-round draft pick. They might be as good a candidate as Charlotte to take White and that future Cleveland pick in a trade. I'm not saying any of this is actually likely to happen, but there are other possibilities.

Joe Mama

 

[elindholm]

I don't think there's any way they're going to give up the #7 draft pick to unload Jahidi White unless they are virtually certain that Kobe Bryant is coming here.

Or if there's no one they really like at #7. Making a trade like you suggested (#7 and White to someone with cap space) would give the Suns $8 million more of free-agent money to play with. It's not too hard to imagine a scenario in which that's worth more than whatever player they'd get at #7 -- even if Bryant is out of the running.

 

[George O'Brien]

I would use the #7 to move Eisley or would use the Cleveland pick to move White. But White and the #7 is too much if there is no clear sign that Kobe would be available.

My concern is that while cap space can be expensive to obtain, it can also just sit there. The sad truth is that other than Kobe, most of the other FA prospects are likely to end up grossly overpaid with long term contracts. It is great to have the ability to make deals, but it is difficult to be in a situation where the team has to because it gave up a lottery pick for the space.

As I've said before, I am more inclined to do a deal to move Eisley. It would give the Suns the cap space and an expiring contract in White to use in a deal. If Joe is right and this would not be enough, then so be it.

 

[pokerface]

If we dont get Kobe I want him in jail...it's only fair!


Suns or Prison...Your choice Kobus

 

[Joe Mama]

If we dont get Kobe I want him in jail...it's only fair!


Suns or Prison...Your choice Kobus

sounds fair to me. It should be an easy choice. Now if the choice was between the LA Clippers and prison it might be more difficult.

Joe

 

[Cheesebeef]

If we dont get Kobe I want him in jail...it's only fair!


Suns or Prison...Your choice Kobus

I'm down with that - even though it's really a horrible thing to say considering Kobe Brynat is a real person and then were actually hoping that someone did get raped - or that someone didn't get raped, but the accused will go to jail anyway - either way -my hatred for the Lakers burns so deep that I don't care - am I bad person - yep - never said otherwise!

 

[George O'Brien]

I'm down with that - even though it's really a horrible thing to say considering Kobe Brynat is a real person and then were actually hoping that someone did get raped - or that someone didn't get raped, but the accused will go to jail anyway - either way -my hatred for the Lakers burns so deep that I don't care - am I bad person - yep - never said otherwise!

No Laker hater can be a TRULY bad person.