spurscenter
06-20-2007, 01:25 AM
So where be Kobe?
Despite Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson's declarations, it does not look like Tinseltown is going to be part of Kobe Bryant's future.
The manifesto delivered by Lakers owner Jerry Buss over the weekend regarding the direction of the team was significant in its exclusion of Bryant, who is the only asset that gives the team any direction.
And although Bryant backtracked on his initial desire to get outta town, his silence following a reported meeting with Buss and a statement posted on his website speaks volumes.
Bryant has four years and $88 million remaining on his current contract. He can opt out after the 2008-09 season and also has a no-trade clause, which means he can be very specific about his next destination.
That makes matters difficult for the Lakers, who must be feeling a bit of deja vu, having gone through this with Shaquille O'Neal three summers ago? By the way, how did that work out?
There is an old NBA axiom that says the team that gets the best player in a trade gets the better of the trade. In dealing Bryant, Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak will be working from a position of weakness but can take some steps to maximize what he gets in return.
Kupchak will be in much better bargaining position before the draft June 28. Teams will still have their first-round picks rather than the rights to a rookie. Veterans with expiring contracts will have much more value.
Although other cities have been mentioned, Bryant reportedly is interested in only three destinations. Here are some prospective deals that could be done with those teams:
1. PHOENIX. This destination would require the least number of aspirin, because the Suns are over the luxury tax threshold and are looking for ways to get out from under some of their long-term contracts while continuing to contend for a championship.
It is no secret that the Suns are listening to offers for All-Star forward Shawn Marion, who is on the books for two more years and $33.5 million. Phoenix also has the 24th and 29th picks in the draft.
A package of Marion and an extra piece such as Marcus Banks or James Jones with the draft picks would work. The Suns also could put together Boris Diaw ($9 million) and Leandro Barbosa ($5.6 million) for Bryant and entertain a separate offer for Marion, one with an expiring contract and a young player with a high ceiling.
However, it is unrealistic that the Lakers would trade Bryant within the Western Conference, let alone the Pacific Division. Remember, this was the team that moved Shaquille O'Neal to the other side of the country.
"Are you kidding? That isn't going to happen, even if we offered them the Grand Canyon as part of the deal," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni told the East Valley Tribune.
2. ORLANDO. There was a report that said Rob Pelinka, Bryant's agent, had contacted the Magic to determine their interest in his client.
It is hard to imagine the Lakers taking back any assortment that does not include All-Star center Dwight Howard, whom the Magic certainly would be looking to pair with Bryant as their long-term 1-2 punch. However, there are other options.
If they deal before July 1, the Magic could move Grant Hill's expiring $16.9 million salary, point guard Jameer Nelson ($1.2 million) and combo guard J.J. Redick ($1.86 million). That would give the Lakers some youth in the backcourt and the cap room to be a player in free agency this summer, perhaps for Vince Carter.
Orlando does not have a first-round pick and probably would have to throw in its 2008 pick to make it more realistic. And all of that also assumes Bryant actually wants to play in Mickey Mouse's backyard. (He loves it.)
3. NEW YORK. This is not as unrealistic as it initially sounds, because (a) Bryant loves playing in Madison Square Garden and (b) the Knicks have the pieces that can make it work.
Isiah Thomas could build a package around Jamal Crawford ($7.2 million) that also includes budding big men David Lee ($926,000) and Channing Frye ($2.325 million) and a combination of spare parts Nate Robinson ($1.185 million), Mardy Collins ($867,000) and Randolph Morris ($810,000).
Or, the Lakers could toss in a spare part such as Maurice Evans or Brian Cook and take back Crawford, Lee or Frye and Steve Francis ($16.44 million), whose salary comes off the cap after the 2008-09 season. Two years is a long time for Lakers fans to wait, but if the prize is James or Wade, it will be worth it.
Either deal would have to include New York's first-round pick.
4. CHICAGO. This is the most realistic destination for Bryant, because it satisfies a number of fronts. The Bulls play in a large market, have enough depth that a deal for Bryant would not ransack the roster and could contend right away, especially in the Eastern Conference.
Any discussion would have to start with the inclusion of both Luol Deng ($2.6 million) and Ben Gordon ($3.8 million) along with Chicago's first-round pick. That leaves a gap of nearly $10 million to bridged, but there are a number of ways that can be resolved.
One would be to swing the deal before the draft and include the expiring $8 million contract of P.J. Brown. Another would be to engage the sign-and-trade mechanism with Andres Nocioni, who is a restricted free agent this summer and will be looking for more than the $3 million he made last season.
The Bulls also have plenty of spare parts, including Tyrus Thomas (not likely), Thabo Sefolosha (certainly), Chris Duhon (possibly) and Mike Sweetney (maybe), all of whom make between $1.7 million and $3.3 million.
A roster of Gordon, Deng, Nocioni, Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum, Kwame Brown, Vladimir Radmanovic, Ronny Turiaf, Sasha Vujacic, Jordan Farmar, two top-20 picks and about $8 million in cap room isn't exactly a bare cupboard.
In fact, all that team needs is a veteran star to lead the way.
Someone like Bryant.
Despite Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson's declarations, it does not look like Tinseltown is going to be part of Kobe Bryant's future.
The manifesto delivered by Lakers owner Jerry Buss over the weekend regarding the direction of the team was significant in its exclusion of Bryant, who is the only asset that gives the team any direction.
And although Bryant backtracked on his initial desire to get outta town, his silence following a reported meeting with Buss and a statement posted on his website speaks volumes.
Bryant has four years and $88 million remaining on his current contract. He can opt out after the 2008-09 season and also has a no-trade clause, which means he can be very specific about his next destination.
That makes matters difficult for the Lakers, who must be feeling a bit of deja vu, having gone through this with Shaquille O'Neal three summers ago? By the way, how did that work out?
There is an old NBA axiom that says the team that gets the best player in a trade gets the better of the trade. In dealing Bryant, Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak will be working from a position of weakness but can take some steps to maximize what he gets in return.
Kupchak will be in much better bargaining position before the draft June 28. Teams will still have their first-round picks rather than the rights to a rookie. Veterans with expiring contracts will have much more value.
Although other cities have been mentioned, Bryant reportedly is interested in only three destinations. Here are some prospective deals that could be done with those teams:
1. PHOENIX. This destination would require the least number of aspirin, because the Suns are over the luxury tax threshold and are looking for ways to get out from under some of their long-term contracts while continuing to contend for a championship.
It is no secret that the Suns are listening to offers for All-Star forward Shawn Marion, who is on the books for two more years and $33.5 million. Phoenix also has the 24th and 29th picks in the draft.
A package of Marion and an extra piece such as Marcus Banks or James Jones with the draft picks would work. The Suns also could put together Boris Diaw ($9 million) and Leandro Barbosa ($5.6 million) for Bryant and entertain a separate offer for Marion, one with an expiring contract and a young player with a high ceiling.
However, it is unrealistic that the Lakers would trade Bryant within the Western Conference, let alone the Pacific Division. Remember, this was the team that moved Shaquille O'Neal to the other side of the country.
"Are you kidding? That isn't going to happen, even if we offered them the Grand Canyon as part of the deal," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni told the East Valley Tribune.
2. ORLANDO. There was a report that said Rob Pelinka, Bryant's agent, had contacted the Magic to determine their interest in his client.
It is hard to imagine the Lakers taking back any assortment that does not include All-Star center Dwight Howard, whom the Magic certainly would be looking to pair with Bryant as their long-term 1-2 punch. However, there are other options.
If they deal before July 1, the Magic could move Grant Hill's expiring $16.9 million salary, point guard Jameer Nelson ($1.2 million) and combo guard J.J. Redick ($1.86 million). That would give the Lakers some youth in the backcourt and the cap room to be a player in free agency this summer, perhaps for Vince Carter.
Orlando does not have a first-round pick and probably would have to throw in its 2008 pick to make it more realistic. And all of that also assumes Bryant actually wants to play in Mickey Mouse's backyard. (He loves it.)
3. NEW YORK. This is not as unrealistic as it initially sounds, because (a) Bryant loves playing in Madison Square Garden and (b) the Knicks have the pieces that can make it work.
Isiah Thomas could build a package around Jamal Crawford ($7.2 million) that also includes budding big men David Lee ($926,000) and Channing Frye ($2.325 million) and a combination of spare parts Nate Robinson ($1.185 million), Mardy Collins ($867,000) and Randolph Morris ($810,000).
Or, the Lakers could toss in a spare part such as Maurice Evans or Brian Cook and take back Crawford, Lee or Frye and Steve Francis ($16.44 million), whose salary comes off the cap after the 2008-09 season. Two years is a long time for Lakers fans to wait, but if the prize is James or Wade, it will be worth it.
Either deal would have to include New York's first-round pick.
4. CHICAGO. This is the most realistic destination for Bryant, because it satisfies a number of fronts. The Bulls play in a large market, have enough depth that a deal for Bryant would not ransack the roster and could contend right away, especially in the Eastern Conference.
Any discussion would have to start with the inclusion of both Luol Deng ($2.6 million) and Ben Gordon ($3.8 million) along with Chicago's first-round pick. That leaves a gap of nearly $10 million to bridged, but there are a number of ways that can be resolved.
One would be to swing the deal before the draft and include the expiring $8 million contract of P.J. Brown. Another would be to engage the sign-and-trade mechanism with Andres Nocioni, who is a restricted free agent this summer and will be looking for more than the $3 million he made last season.
The Bulls also have plenty of spare parts, including Tyrus Thomas (not likely), Thabo Sefolosha (certainly), Chris Duhon (possibly) and Mike Sweetney (maybe), all of whom make between $1.7 million and $3.3 million.
A roster of Gordon, Deng, Nocioni, Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum, Kwame Brown, Vladimir Radmanovic, Ronny Turiaf, Sasha Vujacic, Jordan Farmar, two top-20 picks and about $8 million in cap room isn't exactly a bare cupboard.
In fact, all that team needs is a veteran star to lead the way.
Someone like Bryant.