Kobe's gone....

[Divide Et Impera]

http://www.latimes.com/sports/baske...eadlines-sports-nba-lakers&ctrack=1&cset=true

Another Buss steers into drama
By Mike Bresnahan and Robyn Norwood, Times Staff Writers
June 12, 2007


With Jerry, Jim and Jeanie Buss all speaking out about Kobe Bryant in recent weeks, it leaves Janie and Johnny as the only Buss family members not to voice an opinion on the matter. Oh, wait. Make that just Janie.

Johnny Buss, the oldest son of Lakers owner Jerry Buss, sent a bulletin to friends on his MySpace.com page that contained a peculiar reference to the team's nine-time All-Star.

"If you've been following the Kobe drama, I want to let you know it's not really drama … sometimes we all need to make a change in our lives and that's all it is," Buss wrote. "Popular or unpopular, when it's time, it's time. Good luck Kobe wherever you go!"

A freelance photographer, Johnny Buss is not part of the Lakers' front office and holds no decision-making authority in the day-to-day operations of the franchise. The Lakers have no plans to trade Bryant, who two weeks ago said publicly he would like to be traded.

 

[Divide Et Impera]

Uh, why was this moved from the trade forum? The only way Kobe is going anywhere is if he is TRADED....

 

[Black Jesus]

I really think we have the parts to land him even though they are in our division and have been our biggest rivals... So we trade a large part of our future (6 years down the line), for 2 straight championships.

Kobe Bryant
Vladimir Radmanovic
Jordan Farmar

Shawn Marion
Leandro Barbosa
James Jones
Marcus Banks
First Round Pick

 

[asudevil83]

with all the talk about trading Marion to keep from paying the LT talk going on, Kobe is probably one of the few players that Sarver would GLADLY eat the tax for.

and that above package might be something close to what it takes to get the job done.

 

[Steel Sun]

with all the talk about trading Marion to keep from paying the LT talk going on, Kobe is probably one of the few players that Sarver would GLADLY eat the tax for.

and that above package might be something close to what it takes to get the job done.

well git er done then!

 

[Drop D]

No thanks.

I don't want to have to hold my nose while rooting for the Suns.

Can you imagine practices with Kobe and Raja on the same team? Talk about spirited.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

he's going to chicago. this is tenuous at best, but it's what i heard. take it for what it's worth.

an LA radio show (think it was on 710 at 5ish) was saying some dude's cousin's doctor is also kobe's wife's doctor and he let slip that chicago was the destination.

apparently another caller's friend ran into kobe somewhere and kobe said, "better get your bull's jersey"

i realize these are awful chains of hearsay, but thought i'd let everyone know the buzz from LA.

i think LA has finally started to accept that kobe's gone.

 

[arwillan]

havent we gone over this a million times? kobe cant go to chicago because of the cap. they would have to give up gordon and wallace to make it work. That puts kobe in the same team he was in in LA, except with a decent point guard.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

So we are treating myspace blogs like the front page of a newspaper?

 

[asudevil83]

havent we gone over this a million times? kobe cant go to chicago because of the cap. they would have to give up gordon and wallace to make it work. That puts kobe in the same team he was in in LA, except with a decent point guard.

a S&T of PJ Brown thrown into the mix would get it done.

1 year at $8mil, with years 2 and 3 not guaranteed works.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

a S&T of PJ Brown thrown into the mix would get it done.

1 year at $8mil, with years 2 and 3 not guaranteed works.

Brown, Gordon, Duhon for Kobe? I cant see many other possibilities that would interest either team. LA would prob want Deng as well.


I would think without wallace staying on the bulls there would be no point to bringing Kobe there.
Kirk Hirich
Kobe Bryant
Ben Wallace
Tyrus Thomas
Andres Nocioni


Christ thats an arsenal.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Brown, Gordon, Duhon is no where enough for Kobe. Deng/Heinrich would definitely have to be thrown in.

 

[D-Dogg]

Johnny Buss is NOT a voice of credibility. LOL. He's a glorified "photographer."

Actually though, go look at his myspace page as it is freaking HIGH-larious.

"Passion, with a capital P"


Hell, even Lakersground, the bastion of overreaction and gentle mentals (thanks jenna) laughs this off.

 

[D-Dogg]

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=5633649

Ah man, you guys missed out. I guess his myspace got hammered. It was freaking insanely funny. Wow. That sucks...

 

[D-Dogg]

Cached!!

http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache...9+"johnny+buss"+wife&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us

Check it out...the video is great.

 

[Diawsome]

As good a place as any I guess

Source: Bryant tells Buss that he wants out
In a meeting in Spain, the Lakers star voices concerns to owner about team's direction.
By Mike Bresnahan, Times Staff Writer
June 16, 2007

Jerry Buss met with his unhappy $88.6-million employee, Kobe Bryant, for a get-together Friday between owner and superstar in the somewhat surprising setting of Spain.

They had spoken by phone two weeks ago, a few days after Bryant asked to be traded, but this was a longer, more emotional conversation.

Buss wanted to appeal to the nine-time All-Star, reminding him that trades take time to develop and that winning remains the focus of the organization, but Bryant voiced concerns about the direction of the franchise and reiterated his demand to be traded, said a source with knowledge of the situation.

"That's the message that came out of it," the source said.

Team sources vehemently insisted there were no plans to trade Bryant, and they were still hopeful that a peaceful solution could be reached. Bryant and Buss are expected to resume their dialogue in the near future.

Bryant's displeasure has grown steadily since the Lakers were eliminated by Phoenix last month in the first round of the playoffs. The Lakers are 121-125 since reaching the NBA Finals in 2004, not including their first-round exits the last two seasons.

Last month, Bryant publicly requested that Jerry West return to the team's front office — an unlikely scenario — and urged General Manager Mitch Kupchak to make trades that would steer the team in a winning direction.

"I'm still frustrated," Bryant said at the time. "I'm waiting for them to make some changes."

The Lakers have contacted numerous teams, but there have not been any blockbuster deals yet — by them or by any other team in the league.

Talks with the Indiana Pacers for six-time All-Star forward-center Jermaine O'Neal have stalled because the Lakers do not want to give up both Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum to get O'Neal.

Trade talks around the league are expected to heat up as the June 28 draft approaches and could continue into the free-agent period that begins July 1.

Bryant was vacationing in Spain and stopped by to see a practice session of his favorite soccer team, FC Barcelona, on Thursday. Buss had been in China since leaving the U.S. more than two weeks ago. He planned to travel to London before returning to Los Angeles, although it was unclear whether he went to Spain specifically to talk to Bryant.

"What they talked about and what went on between Kobe and Dr. Buss is private and will remain between the two of them," Lakers spokesman John Black said.

Bryant's agent, Rob Pelinka, did not return calls seeking comment.

Bryant, who will be 29 in August, has four years left on his contract, but he can void it in two years.

The two-time scoring champion, widely acknowledged as the game's most dynamic player, has the NBA's top-selling jersey and is a significant draw at Staples Center. The Lakers are very cognizant of his importance in driving ticket sales, as well as his effect on corporate sponsors.

Buss, who signed off on Bryant's seven-year, $136.4-million contract in July 2004, released a statement two weeks ago in which he said, "We will continue to pursue every avenue possible to improve our team with him as the cornerstone."

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-lakers16jun16,0,4935832.story?coll=la-home-sports

So how long before there is another article with Kobe saying he wants to stay in LA?

 

[dodie53]

expect it after 3 days..
=)

but for me,
i would like for bryant to be traded to any team in the east..

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

The suspense is killing me!

 

[D-Dogg]

As good a place as any I guess



http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-lakers16jun16,0,4935832.story?coll=la-home-sports

So how long before there is another article with Kobe saying he wants to stay in LA?

Well at least that's a credible source reporting it.

At least the two are talking...that's a good sign. It sucks that Kobe has to put flesh to the frying pan to get the front office to try and make moves. Even if it does mean trading him.

And I give it two weeks on your timetable..

 

[fordronken]

So how long before there is another article with Kobe saying he wants to stay in LA?

People keep thinking he retracted his trade demand. He never did! Listen to the interview and you realize that the quote is completely different in context than it was when it was plastered all over America. At the end of the interview, he reiterates that he wants to be traded!

 

[Mainstreet]

I always remember JC asking Cotton why the Suns couldn't win back in the day. Cotton told JC the answer was simple. The Suns didn't have enough talent. So the Suns traded Larry Nance for KJ, Mark West and Ty Corbin and a future pick who turned out to be Dan Majerle. I think I'm missing some filler (perhaps Mike Sanders) but this was the essential trade.

This reminds me of what the Lakers should consider with Kobe and he should command more value than Nance.

 

[azirish]

The one for many trades sometimes work but often don't.

A key reason the Nance deal worked was that omeone in the Suns organization figured out that KJ was a special talent who was hidden behind a very good starting point guard (Price if memory serves).

There is little doubt that effective scounting, including scouting of other NBA personnel, is a key to success. Otherwise, you end up with a bunch of average, overpaid guys.

 

[Mainstreet]

A key reason the Nance deal worked was that omeone in the Suns organization figured out that KJ was a special talent who was hidden behind a very good starting point guard (Price if memory serves).

There is little doubt that effective scounting, including scouting of other NBA personnel, is a key to success. Otherwise, you end up with a bunch of average, overpaid guys.

This was a very sweet trade getting KJ plus a future star in Majerle. However, what is also impressive is that the Suns received some nice role players in West and Corbin. I really liked Ty Corbin's game.

 

[azirish]

This was a very sweet trade getting KJ plus a future star in Majerle. However, what is also impressive is that the Suns received some nice role players in West and Corbin. I really liked Ty Corbin's game.

Yes, but for every Nance deal there's probably at least four that ended up with guys who did nothing. T-Mac for Francis, Cato, etc. was a total fiasco.

NBA basketball is about stars. As a general rule, the team with the most great players wins. Now if you can trade one star for two stars, you look like a genius. But a pick in the mid teens is hardly a sure thing and no one else in the NBA thought KJ was ever going to be that good.

In any case, if Kobe gets traded I think the Knicks are the most likely destination. They have some guys worth having and getting a future Knick's first is a pretty good investment.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

This was a very sweet trade getting KJ plus a future star in Majerle. However, what is also impressive is that the Suns received some nice role players in West and Corbin. I really liked Ty Corbin's game.

the suns also took advantage of the new free agency rules and immediately signed tom chambers overnight to add to that crew.