Kobe to Phoenix article

[slinslin]

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/0223boivin0223.html

Fans, coach could lure Bryant to town
Paola Boivin
The Arizona Republic

It is 90 minutes before tip-off, and the media is putting full-court pressure on Kobe Bryant in the locker room.

Do you like Phoenix?

Would you come here?

Will you leave Los Angeles?

"I like Phoenix," Bryant said Sunday before scoring 40 points to beat the Suns 104-92 at America West Arena. "It's peaceful. Relaxing. Whenever I've come here, everybody's been great."

Fans here like you, want you out here, a reporter says.

"Really?" Bryant said. "Really? That means a lot to me."

No statement Sunday was more telling than that one. The Lakers guard is a man who craves both loyalty and appreciation, which is why talk of Bryant playing for the Suns next season is gaining some legs.

The Suns can't say there's interest, but there's interest. Bryant, 25, is a player you build a franchise around, and he would be a mind-boggling complement to Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion. The team has been dumping salary, and after trading Stephon Marbury and Penny Hardaway, Suns Chairman Jerry Colangelo acknowledged it was to put the team in position to be a player in the free-agent market.

The fit would make sense for a variety of reasons. Bryant, who has had a strained relationship with Lakers coach Phil Jackson, would welcome playing for Suns coach Mike D'Antoni, whom Bryant once referred to as "my man, one of my first basketball heroes."

When Bryant lived in Italy as a youth - his father, Joe, played there - D'Antoni was a popular standout guard for Philips Milan.

Joe Bryant has told some in the Suns' organization that he would like his son to play in Phoenix.

Kobe Bryant, meanwhile, continues to send mixed messages. Within minutes of saying he wants to be a Laker for life, he says he wants to explore free agency.

Lakers owner Jerry Buss said on ESPN Sunday that he believes 100 percent that Bryant will be on the team next season. When told of Buss' comments after the game, Bryant's response was appropriate but sounded forced.

"That's great," he said, a smile glued on his face. "He's the boss."

If Bryant does leave, only a few teams will be able to afford him.

If the salary cap hits $46 million as projected, the Suns should be about $11 million under. Keep in mind the team will have a first-round draft pick to sign, which will take up some of that space. To sign Bryant, the team would need to maneuver some more.

If that sounds complicated, that's nothing compared to the problems Bryant's trial could pose.

Even if he's found not guilty, that answer may not come until the summer. July 1 is the first day teams can begin negotiating with free agents, and July 14 is the first day they can sign them. Do you frame your off-season strategy around a player whose availability is still up in the air? And if you're Bryant, do you go with the team that shows the earliest loyalty?

It's a mess. But if Bryant is found not guilty, it's a mess worth pursuing.

Did you see him Sunday? The pump fakes? The fadeaways? The driving layups? The genius of his game?

"Kobe is unbelievable," D'Antoni said afterward.

Yes, he is.

Of course the salary numbers are wrong. Phoenix will have 13M$ capspace if the cap is at 46. Although rumored to be up to 47M$.

 

[Chaplin]

Very interesting.

phxsuns.net is still full of guys that are adamant AGAINST signing Kobe Bryant, some threatening to stop being fans of the team if he is signed.

One look at today's game, though... Man, how can anybody not want that kind of player on their team? It was like an audition!

 

[slinslin]

How could anyone not like our chances after tonight?

Even more with the comments graham made earlier about Kobe joking with D'Antoni for some minutes etc.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

I still maintain that he is most likely to remain in LA. However, I do think that Phoenix (assuming they clear white or eisley) is the hands down decond option for Kobe.

I keep telling myself that the halfitme thing was nothing, but it was just a weird setting. I mean the entire laker team and coaches are in a huddle right before the start of the half, and Kobe is chatting it up with Mike and Tim. It wasn't like they were off to the side, they were in the middle of the bench, surrounded by suns players. It was like he forgot what team he was on for a minute.

I was telling my friend that went to the game with me that Kobe was auditioning, I found it funny so many other people used the exact same phrase.



BTW, a Kobe/JJ backcourt would be ridiculous. Especially with Shawn on the baseline and Amare in the post.

 

[PhxGametime]

I have yet to see Suns/Lakers game but being brother is Lakers fan and the constant trash talk and not being a Laker fan...

I'm starting to agree with board members in favor of Kobe Bryant. McGrady is favorite player in league (along with Duncan) but not sure IF both is realistic BUT

According to 1 of Slinslin's posts regarding cap space - another option is....?

1. Trading Howard Eisley and 2004 Lottery Pick to Charlotte
2. Keeping Vujanic in Europe
3. Sign Kobe Bryant (again according to Slinslin #'s - $6 million remaining)
4. Let Jahidi White's contract up after season (w/o researching contracts increasing exactly - sign Tracy McGrady


So Suns could keep Shawn Marion

 

[Joe Mama]

One has to believe that the Phoenix Suns will have a very good idea of their ACTUAL chances at landing Kobe Bryant before free agency starts. It may be illegal to talk about him, but you know it is being done. You know it happens all the time. And with Mike D'Antoni's relationship with Kobe Bryant and his father it should be easy enough for the Phoenix Suns to find out.

If the Phoenix Suns...

1. Do not get the top draft pick, and perhaps even if they do...

2. Have a very good feeling about Kobe Bryant signing here...

I would probably be willing to dump the draft pick just to get rid of Howard Eiseley's contract. Of course they were almost have to know for a fact that really Bryant intended to sign here. That would put them in position to max out Kobe Bryant and have a few million dollars left to either bring Vujanic here or sign a veteran big man.

The Phoenix Suns have only been blown out of a few games this entire season. I believe that a player of Kobe Bryant's caliber could quite easily take this team back into the playoffs next year.

I did not like this last trade with Utah, and I'll be just as upset again if the Phoenix Suns dump Jahidi White and another first-round pick and don't land Kobe Bryant.

Joe Mama

 

[George O'Brien]

I'm repeating this from another thread:

The "2005 Strategy" has a lot going for it. In 2005 White comes off contract, Eisley will have only one year left on his contract, Jacobsen would be a "team option player", the Suns will know if Lampe is a real center, and the young Suns will be much closer to being a serious playoff team. Even if the Suns extend JJ's contract, it would only put the team at no more than $28 to $30 million before moving Eisley.

The ideal for the Suns would be to convince Kobe to stay one more year in LA and then come to the Suns in 2005. Almost all of my objections to the plan of seeking Kobe involves the need to make moves before knowing if there is a real chance of actually signing him.

Unlike some critics of Kobe, I think he could help the Suns a lot. But I don't see much likelyhood (almost zero) of it happening this summer. Giving up draft picks to clear space and their only physical center is very expensive for something that has such a small likelyhood of success.

In 2005, the Suns would be in great shape for making a run and be a very attractive team for Kobe to join. Considering that the Suns would not be a serious contender next year with or without Kobe, the ideal for the Suns would be for the court case to drag on until fall before Kobe is acquitted, the Lakers blow up, and Kobe is ready to move.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Originally posted by Joe Mama
I did not like this last trade with Utah, and I'll be just as upset again if the Phoenix Suns dump Jahidi White and another first-round pick and don't land Kobe Bryant.

Joe Mama

True, but the exciting thing about this, is all of these moves are culminating in absolute feast or horrendous famine. Either we make all these puzzling moves, and BC looks like a genius when Kobe signs here, or it all goes to hell, with all of our picks gone, and no attractive targets in FA. Should be exciting, although the chance of disappointment is alarmingly high....

 

[slinslin]

I think Kobe leaving the Lakers will depend on winning the finals this year. If they don't, Kobe is gone.

When Kobe realizes what is best for him he will leave LA.

Shaq isn't even in shape or truly dominant even when he promised before the season.

Malone, Shaq and Payton are getting closer and closer to retirement. Shaq's contract alone would keep the Lakers from retooling and the chance of signing a Payton/Malone for so little is not even there more than once in a decade I would say.

Payton could even leave if they don't win.

Malone might never come back from his injury, he never had such a severe injury and is very old already even if he does it will probably limit him a lot.

When you realize that where would you rather play?
Lakers or Phoenix with Amare 21, Marion 25, Johnson 22, Barbosa 21, Vujanic 22, Lampe 19, Cabarkapa 22 and a top5 pick at least and the chance of pulling off a deal for someone like TMac?

It is not only that Phoenix has the brighter future with Kobe. It also presents the opportunity to make a historical turnaround which Kobe would love to try.

 

[F-Dog]

Is this the same Joe Bryant who's not on speaking terms with his son, or was there a reconciliation?

phxsuns.net is still full of guys that are adamant AGAINST signing Kobe Bryant, some threatening to stop being fans of the team if he is signed.

Nice to know there are others who feel the same way I do.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

the reconcilled about a month before the rape charges i believe

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by F-Dog

Nice to know there are others who feel the same way I do.

Then what the heck are you doing here?

 

[F-Dog]

Originally posted by Chaplin
Then what the heck are you doing here?

Since there's no chance in hell that Kobe is coming to the Suns, I'm assuming that the question of whether I'll support the team with Kobe on it is academic.


If Kobe decides to sign with the Suns just to screw me over, I'll burn my 20 years worth of Suns stuff and start cruising the Bobcats chat boards in my spare time. Until then, you're stuck with me.

 

[Joe Mama]

Originally posted by F-Dog
Since there's no chance in hell that Kobe is coming to the Suns, I'm assuming that the question of whether I'll support the team with Kobe on it is academic.


If Kobe decides to sign with the Suns just to screw me over, I'll burn my 20 years worth of Suns stuff and start cruising the Bobcats chat boards in my spare time. Until then, you're stuck with me.

I have forgotten. Is your hatred for Kobe Bryant stem from the rape charges or is it his style of play? I know you think he is a selfish player, but is that it?

Joe Mama

 

[slinslin]

I take all that with a smile.

If someone told you 4 years ago that we would trade Kidd for Marbury you would get even more responses like that.

Heck even after Kidd couldn't get it done AND hit his wife we had responses like that concerning Marbury.

However I can't recall anyone actually leaving except KJJK who didn't seem to be appreciated anyway.

 

[F-Dog]

Originally posted by Joe Mama
I have forgotten. Is your hatred for Kobe Bryant stem from the rape charges or is it his style of play? I know you think he is a selfish player, but is that it?

Joe Mama

Not the rape charges, but more than just thinking of him as selfish.

Someday I'll write down the whole rant and post it, I promise.

 

[F-Dog]

Originally posted by slinslin
If someone told you 4 years ago that we would trade Kidd for Marbury you would get even more responses like that.

I had reservations about Marbury, too, but I was willing to give him a chance. Part of that is that I wasn't intimately familiar with him, which is not the case here (all of us have seen more of Kobe than any other non-Suns player, I imagine).


I was definitely ready to be done with Kidd at that point, though, and again, the wife-beating didn't have anything to do with it.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

As bad as this sounds, even if Kobe doesn't make the team any better on the court, it is still a brilliant move.

Kobe Bryant would sell out AWA every game. National TV would pick up as many of our games as possible. People might actually buy Phoenix suns gear on a national basis. The C's would make a lot of money, and the team would mean something to the city again.

If Phoenix actually went basketball crazy again, it would make my day, no matter how much we sucked on the court. Personally, I think Kobe Bryant is the best way to do that.

 

[slinslin]

AWA rocking again would be something.

I even think Stern would like to see Kobe move. Because LA will always be a big market but Kobe has enough star power to wake up a sleeping giant again.

 

[Yuma]

If Phoenix actually went basketball crazy again, it would make my day, no matter how much we sucked on the court. Personally, I think Kobe Bryant is the best way to do that.

I agree Kobe would sell seats, but in my mind the best way would be to get Shaq, Duncan, or Garnett, but Kobe isn't bad!

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

I disagree Yuma (go figure). While Duncan/Shaq/Garnett are all huge stars, and you could make a case that each one is better on the court than Kobe, they are not better for advertisements.

The three of them rarely appear in comercials, and their jersey sales are nothing compared to Iverson and Kobe. Certain players are just marketable. Lebron is the latest example. Even with Kobe's rape trial, I think his jersey sales are in the top 3.

When this court case gets thrown out, or he is found not guilty (and it will happen), I expect we will see Kobe commercials again. His Nike contract wasn't terminated I believe, they just aren't releasing anything till he is out of trial (a good move, especially since they got Lebron).

 

[slinslin]

Have you watched Cavs games this season?

That arena went from empty and calm to one of the loundest in the league.

When Lebron gets a steal and ready to take off the entire building is literally jumping, cheering and screaming even before he jams it home.

Amazing.

AWA crowds right now are about as loud as the crowds watching golfing tournaments.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I have my reservations about having Kobe on my team (because of the rape thing) but it seems that it is more likely than not than not that he will be a Sun. Here are my reasons.

1. Since he hasn't sign an extension, its clear that he has a preference to play somewhere other than with the Lakers. The point has already been made here. He is smart in that he is keeping the Laker option open in case something doesn't work out right elsewhere.

2. Kobe has good ties with Phoenix.

3. My biggest reason is that I've watched JC too long. As far as free agency, he ALWAYS gets what he wants. The lone exception is Dice. Really, can anyone remember the Suns NOT getting a FA they really went after, or not keeping a FA they really wanted to keep (Dice excepted). Also, when they have FA $ too spend, they usually go for the top prize available--Chambers, Manning, Penny were all the top prizes at the time.

4. The Suns are obviously targeting free agency big time this summer. The only player remotely worth all these changes is Kobe. I also guarantee you that they are not taking as big a gamble as others might think. JC must already know that he has a good shot at landing Kobe.

5. The Suns are setting themselves up for a huge turnaround next year. This, in itself, will be greatly appealing to Kobe.

Too many things just add up--and Jerry C. usually gets what he wants.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Some good points JC.

To add on to what you said....

I think that now some of the dust has settled since the trades, it is very clear that Kobe Bryant is the Colangelo's goal this summer. For a while people were debating whether that was actually what they were trying to achieve, but I think it is pretty obvious now.

If Kobe leaves the Lakers, he is going to the Suns. This is not being a homer, I am just living in reality. The only other option that might make sense is the Clippers, however the Clips have to loose key players in order to have enough space to sign Kobe. Also, their team is not as promising as ours, and the Clips are a bad organization.

You can also tie in the fact that JC loves Kobe. He has since he had him here to work out back in 96. When Amare was drafted, he said he hadn't felt so good about a person since he had Kobe Bryant in town.


However, if the Lakers win a ring, I think Kobe will stay. If Phil Jackson does not resign, he might consider staying as well. As more information is released, and more quotes are recorded, the chances of Kobe coming to the suns increases by the week it seems.

After the Marbury trade, I was guessing there was under a 5% chance Kobe came to the suns. Now I am willing to put it at 15%. Maybe I am just being optimistic, but I think more information is being made available that points to his departure as the season goes on.

 

[George O'Brien]

Originally posted by thegrahamcrackr

After the Marbury trade, I was guessing there was under a 5% chance Kobe came to the suns. Now I am willing to put it at 15%. Maybe I am just being optimistic, but I think more information is being made available that points to his departure as the season goes on.

15% seems really optimistic (or bad if you are F-Dog ). It may be the JC tends to get what he wants, but so doe Buss and the Lakers.

I would take Kobe's issues more seriously if they had more on court implicatins. When Barkely forced the Sixers to trade him, it was because Sir Charles was disgusted with his fellow teammates on the court. If T-Mac moves it would be for the same reason. I can even imagine a day when Paul Pierce will want out of the Nightmare in Bean Town. The only exception I can think of is when Shaq went to LA because of the improved endorsement opportunties.

I am not seeing that kind of bad floor chemistry in LA, at least not lately. What happens when Phil Jackson announces, "I was wrong, Kobe is THE MAN"?