Kobe wants to play for SPURS

[se7en]

Radio sports show here in Los Angeles was reporting that a cameraman at Staples Center was told by Kobe that he wanted to play with Duncan.

I think that could be plausible. I'm sure Kobe chats with those guys when he warms up or practices before games in an empty arena.

And to me it's the only place that makes sense for Kobe. Kobe and Duncan is an automatic championship.

Now the radio guys said that the Spurs would have no problem dumping salary to go after Kobe. I wonder if it would really be that easy for the Spurs to do.

 

[Chaplin]

I wouldn't believe anything LA radio says. If this has any shred of truth to it, then the NBA could fine Kobe like crazy for talking about it. And to a CAMERAMAN? Are you kidding me?

 

[fordronken]

Originally posted by Chaplin
I wouldn't believe anything LA radio says. If this has any shred of truth to it, then the NBA could fine Kobe like crazy for talking about it. And to a CAMERAMAN? Are you kidding me?

Is it against the rules for players to talk about it? I don't think it is. I think the tampering rules just have to to with team staff members, coaches, executives and the like.

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by fordronken
Is it against the rules for players to talk about it? I don't think it is. I think the tampering rules just have to to with team staff members, coaches, executives and the like.

Then why hasn't he spoken about it before? And why to a cameraman of all people?

 

[scudney]

yeah i don't believe that at all. Besides, isn't one of the reasons why kobe might leave is because he wants his own team, and to prove he can win with out another superstar? playing alongside duncasn doesn't exactly accomplish that.

Of course, everything about Kobe is pure speculation at this point

 

[Chaplin]

Sure, the Spurs could probably free up enough money, but that would mean no Ginobili--the Spurs would still be worse than the Lakers if Kobe went there.

Besides, would Duncan like that? It's one thing to want a playmaker like Jason Kidd to distribute the ball, but it's another to get a player who more likely dominates the ball rather than passes it.

 

[George O'Brien]

Several weeks ago I looked at whether the Spurs could make a run at Kobe. My conclusion is that it is possible if they do not re-sign:

-- Emanuel Ginobili
-- Robert Horry
-- Hidayet Turkoglu
-- Kevin Willis
-- Ron Mercer

There are some other minor players with minimum contracts that also come off cap.

However, that only brings them down to a little less than $33. A lot depends on where the cap level is, but their optons to clear more space is to move:

Bruce Bowen - $4.1 million (one more year on his contract)
Malik Rose - $5.5 million (four more years on his contract)

Rose is not having a particularly good year, 7 ppg 38.4% shooting, 4.5 rpg in 16.8 minutes. At only 6'7" 255, he is a bit undersized to be a starting PF and quite expensive for a backup. Unless the Bobcats think he would be worth the price, I don't see him getting moved all that easily.

I'm guessing the Spurs could move Bowen without trouble, but it would leave the Spurs very thin: Duncan, Nesterovic, Rose, Parker, Ward, and Kobe would put them right at the cap. The rest of the roster would be guys playing for the minimum.

 

[Joe Mama]

If Kobe Bryant really wants to prove that he can lead a team to a championship signing with San Antonio is definitely not the way to do it. That would only increase the talk about him riding the coattails of superstar big men. Now if he wants to win championships without worrying about his legacy going to San Antonio would be his best move. I personally think Tim Duncan would love it.

Joe Mama

 

[capologist]

Originally posted by Chaplin
Then why hasn't he spoken about it before? And why to a cameraman of all people?

I don’t think he just went up to a cameraman, tapped him on the shoulder, and said, “Hey, guess what? I want to go play for San Antonio next year.”

I would guess that the cameraman asked him about the possibility, and Kobe gave some kind of meaningless diplomatic answer like, “Duncan’s one of the best players in the league. Of course it would be great to play with him.”