How Good Is Kobe?

[elindholm]

The issue of getting a center is defined by the nature of the contract. Currently, Kobe is scheduled to make $14,6 next season. That is the minimum he is likely to go for.

This is starting to become tiring. I've already explained that the Suns can't offer Bryant anything more than a regular max contract, no matter how far under the cap they get. There is simply no scenario in which Bryant comes to the Suns starting at $15 million per year. (Okay, there's a sign-and-trade, but that's not going to happen.)

If Bryant leaves the Lakers, it will be for a pay cut. Same as with Kidd and the Nets last summer, Webber and the Kings three (?) summers ago, or Marbury in either 2004 or 2005 had he stayed with the Suns. Only the player's original team can sign him to a new contract worth more than the regular max.

And please, that list of centers was off the top of my head with about 15 seconds' thought. There are others out there.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Originally posted by George O'Brien
Voskuhl is a valuable member of the team, but a starter on a championship team? I can't visulaze it.

Luc Longley was a starter on multiple championship teams...

Visualize that.

 

[George O'Brien]

Originally posted by Krangthebrain
Luc Longley was a starter on multiple championship teams...

Visualize that.

Longley himself admitted that the refs let him get away with stuff on defense that called as fouls when he with the Suns. He was allowed to grab onto Shaq like velcro without being called. People refer to this as the "Jordan Effect".

By contrast, I always felt that Cartwright was a better center than most people gave him credit for. He adjusted his game to meet the style of play that Jordan wanted, but he could play defense and was a decent low post player.

 

[boisesuns]

i'm not sure about mcgrady. he is an awesome player for sure, but he's used to being the man on orlando. he gets the ball all the time and the other players stand around watching him. if mcgrady could become a go to guy, AND a team player, it would be worth it, but i'm not sure that could happen. he's definatly a go to guy, but it seems like amare is going to be the man here along with shawn. now that the team is building around those guys(who knows anymore) we need someone who will compliment their skills, not take away from them.

there's still the contact of amare to deal with to. i know it's a few years away, but we need to get in position to lock him up.

 

[George O'Brien]

Originally posted by boisesuns
i'm not sure about mcgrady. he is an awesome player for sure, but he's used to being the man on orlando. he gets the ball all the time and the other players stand around watching him. if mcgrady could become a go to guy, AND a team player, it would be worth it, but i'm not sure that could happen. he's definatly a go to guy, but it seems like amare is going to be the man here along with shawn. now that the team is building around those guys(who knows anymore) we need someone who will compliment their skills, not take away from them.

there's still the contact of amare to deal with to. i know it's a few years away, but we need to get in position to lock him up.

McGrady presents slightly different issues than Kobe due to his history of back problems, but this is a concern in both cases.