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Dallas would also need to depart with Devin Harris to make that happen. Kobe is a lot better than Dirk, especially in clutch situations.
Dallas Morning News: Dirk for Kobe
Dump Dirk? For Kobe, Mavs should
10:02 PM CDT on Monday, May 28, 2007
It doesn't matter whether Mark Cuban or Donnie Nelson makes the phone call, but one of them needs to contact Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak today and find out what it takes to get Kobe Bryant.
If the answer is Dirk Nowitzki, then so be it.
Straight up. No frills. A simple blockbuster.
One first-team All-NBA star in his prime for another.
Bryant has been dropping subtle hints for a week that he wants out of Los Angeles. Superstars have been dealt before.
Wilt Chamberlain was traded. So was Oscar Robertson. And Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Don't forget to add Shaquille O'Neal to the list.
So don't act like it's blasphemous to consider trading Nowitzki, the league's MVP. Or have you forgotten Philadelphia dealt former MVP Allen Iverson this season.
If you think it's laughable to move Dirk Nowitzki (foreground) for Kobe Bryant, think again.
VERNON BRYANT / DMN
If you think it's laughable to move Dirk Nowitzki (foreground) for Kobe Bryant, think again.
No one said it would be an easy decision. Or a popular decision. Or that Cuban even has the courage to trade his favorite player.
But it must be considered.
This is not a knee-jerk reaction to Nowitzki's performance in the Mavericks' shocking first-round playoff loss. This is about positioning the Mavericks to win a championship by acquiring a player who embraces pressure and plays best in big games.
Besides, I've already made the trade on a Web site that analyzes the feasibility of trades to make sure there wasn't any problem with the salaries.
There isn't.
Kobe is scheduled to earn a little more than $17 million this season, while Nowitzki is supposed to get about $15 million. According to this Web site, the deal is fine. Just to make sure, I proposed a deal of DeSagana Diop, Greg Buckner and Jason Terry for Bryant and the computer GM promptly rejected it.
Over the holiday weekend, an ESPN report quoted Bryant as saying he would consider waiving his no-trade clause unless the Lakers re-hired Jerry West and gave him full control of the organization.
As you would expect, he's denying the story.
Too late.
Bryant is mad at the only franchise he's ever played for because they haven't gotten him enough help to make the Lakers a legitimate contender.
And nothing is going to change this off-season because Lamar Odom's shoulder injury means he has little trade value. Neither does Kwame Brown, the only other player on the roster worth more than a Wal-Mart gift card, though his contract expires at the end of next season.
It's Bryant's fault he's in this predicament because he's the one who chased off O'Neal, so he could be the focal point of the team. Now that it's not working out, he wants to wear a new uniform next season if he doesn't get what he wants.
We all know Cuban has a soft spot for Nowitzki because of the 7-footer's work ethic, talent and ability to lead the Mavericks from the abyss of the '90s. Nowitzki is the most decorated player in franchise history, with a low-maintenance personality to match.
Those are just some of the reasons Cuban was so emotional at the news conference to announce that Nowitzki had been named MVP. But he also loves the Mavericks and he'll be doing his club a disservice if he doesn't explore every avenue to make it a better basketball team.
You can't convince me adding Bryant doesn't improve the Mavericks. I'll worry about who's playing power forward later.
It's not that Nowitzki isn't a great player. Winning the MVP proves that just in case you weren't impressed that he averaged 24.6 points and 8.9 rebounds for a team that won 67 games.
But we all know he doesn't always embrace the moment and deliver in the Mavericks' most important games. We all know he has a reputation for being soft, perhaps because he didn't learn the game on inner-city black tops, where you call your own fouls, or spend a summer playing at Rucker Park in New York.
He's had huge games in the playoffs before – 37 in Game 7 against San Antonio in 2006 comes to mind as does a 50-point performance against Phoenix – but pro sports is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately business.
Miami's Dwyane Wade outplayed him in the final four games of the 2006 NBA Finals as the Heat rallied from a 2-0 deficit to win the championship. And Nowitzki was tentative and ineffective against Golden State as Dallas became the first No.1 seed to lose a best-of-7 series against a No.8 seed.
Bryant has never won an MVP trophy, but he understands how to impose his will on a game. He demands the ball in clutch situations and consistently attacks the bucket.
He is the NBA's best player.
Others like Nowitzki and Wade are part of the discussion, but we all know Bryant is the NBA's most feared player.
He wouldn't go 2-for-13, score eight points and passively hang around the perimeter in the most important game of the season. Bryant's confidence never wanes.
Nowitzki, the best European player ever, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame one day. But he lacks the arrogance to lead the Mavericks to a championship.
Bryant does not.
Dallas would also need to depart with Devin Harris to make that happen. Kobe is a lot better than Dirk, especially in clutch situations.
Great!
A choker for a chucker!
There is no way that deal would happen.
Do the trade!!!
Manu for Kobe would be better
Dallas gets - Kobe Bryant, 1st round pick
Lakers get - Dampier, Terry, and Ager
real gm trade scenario - 3846474
What a stupid trade offer. The Lakers have no reason whatsoever to make a trade like this. How did this make a nationally respected newspaper? This is something that idiots on message boards are supposed to propose, not "respected" journalists.
That being said, if the Lakers are stupid enough to do it, I'd go for this in a heartbeat.
Let's trade Devean George for Lebron while we're at it.
At least someone gets the joke.
'
hahahah
L.A. would be smoking crack if they made that trade.
Dirk is good, but if they talent on the Mavericks wasn't enough to win with, then the talent on the Lakers sure isn't. It would be a great trade for Dallas, but it would be a disaster for the Lakers. They already lack talent and depth, why would they trade their best player, offensively and defensively?
Besides, I'm not sure Dirk would be a good fit under Jackson and the triangle offense. Although, if anyone could bring out some fire in Dirk, it might be Phil.
No way in this trade happens.
Lakers are not stupid enough to make that trade
It's funny, but before the playoffs all Dallas fans would cry and cry saying there's no way we'd trade Kobe for Dirk....Dirk's better, blah,blah,blah.....
This piece of "sportswriting" has Dallas quality all over it. Let's review:
When he wrote this part, Vernon Bryant smiled while doing that dramatic movie music thing, "DUH DUH DUUUUUUUUUUUH!!"It doesn't matter whether Mark Cuban or Donnie Nelson makes the phone call, but one of them needs to contact Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak today and find out what it takes to get Kobe Bryant.
If the answer is Dirk Nowitzki, then so be it.
Great, Vernon. Now let's get to the piece.Straight up. No frills. A simple blockbuster.
Yes, Vernon, we get it.One first-team All-NBA star in his prime for another.
Vernon, you're a professional writer - and I use the term loosely - how does someone in your business forget to use a question mark at the end of a question?Bryant has been dropping subtle hints for a week that he wants out of Los Angeles. Superstars have been dealt before.
Wilt Chamberlain was traded. So was Oscar Robertson. And Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Don't forget to add Shaquille O'Neal to the list.
So don't act like it's blasphemous to consider trading Nowitzki, the league's MVP. Or have you forgotten Philadelphia dealt former MVP Allen Iverson this season.
Watch:
Ah, much better. Going forward now:Or have you forgotten Philadelphia dealt former MVP Allen Iverson this season?
Who ever thought it was laughable?If you think it's laughable to move Dirk Nowitzki for Kobe Bryant, think again.
First, Vernon says to do the deal. Then he says to "consider" the deal. What's next, a retraction?No one said it would be an easy decision. Or a popular decision. Or that Cuban even has the courage to trade his favorite player.
But it must be considered.
Some Dallas writer still thinks it's 2001.This is not a knee-jerk reaction to Nowitzki's performance in the Mavericks' shocking first-round playoff loss. This is about positioning the Mavericks to win a championship by acquiring a player who embraces pressure and plays best in big games.
Honestly, my whole problem with this trade hinged upon whether or not Vernon Bryant could go to RealGM.com and work the trade. Thankfully, my fears have been assuaged.Besides, I've already made the trade on a Web site that analyzes the feasibility of trades to make sure there wasn't any problem with the salaries.
There isn't.
He tested it twice!!! This guy goes the extra mile for his readers!Kobe is scheduled to earn a little more than $17 million this season, while Nowitzki is supposed to get about $15 million. According to this Web site, the deal is fine. Just to make sure, I proposed a deal of DeSagana Diop, Greg Buckner and Jason Terry for Bryant and the computer GM promptly rejected it.
"Too late"? Too late what? Sentence fragments only work occasionally, Vernon. Most of the time, you'll want complete sentences to convey your thoughts.Over the holiday weekend, an ESPN report quoted Bryant as saying he would consider waiving his no-trade clause unless the Lakers re-hired Jerry West and gave him full control of the organization.
As you would expect, he's denying the story.
Too late.
This section was the high point of the piece, though the "Bryant is mad" phrase comes off badly. Nice touch with the "Wal-Mart gift card", Vern. We're all ROFL!Bryant is mad at the only franchise he's ever played for because they haven't gotten him enough help to make the Lakers a legitimate contender.
And nothing is going to change this off-season because Lamar Odom's shoulder injury means he has little trade value. Neither does Kwame Brown, the only other player on the roster worth more than a Wal-Mart gift card, though his contract expires at the end of next season.
Read the bolded part out loud. Yes, it sounds utterly stupid.It's Bryant's fault he's in this predicament because he's the one who chased off O'Neal, so he could be the focal point of the team. Now that it's not working out, he wants to wear a new uniform next season if he doesn't get what he wants.
Sportwriter thickness on display yet again. Adding Bryant definitely improves the Mavericks. Trading Nowitzki for Bryant doesn't necessarily improve that team.We all know Cuban has a soft spot for Nowitzki because of the 7-footer's work ethic, talent and ability to lead the Mavericks from the abyss of the '90s. Nowitzki is the most decorated player in franchise history, with a low-maintenance personality to match.
Those are just some of the reasons Cuban was so emotional at the news conference to announce that Nowitzki had been named MVP. But he also loves the Mavericks and he'll be doing his club a disservice if he doesn't explore every avenue to make it a better basketball team.
You can't convince me adding Bryant doesn't improve the Mavericks. I'll worry about who's playing power forward later.
BTW, do you know who the Mavericks biggest rival is? And do you know what position their MVP plays?
I don't know how he did that without having played at Rucker Park.It's not that Nowitzki isn't a great player. Winning the MVP proves that just in case you weren't impressed that he averaged 24.6 points and 8.9 rebounds for a team that won 67 games.
But we all know he doesn't always embrace the moment and deliver in the Mavericks' most important games. We all know he has a reputation for being soft, perhaps because he didn't learn the game on inner-city black tops, where you call your own fouls, or spend a summer playing at Rucker Park in New York.
He's had huge games in the playoffs before – 37 in Game 7 against San Antonio in 2006 comes to mind as does a 50-point performance against Phoenix – but pro sports is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately business.
Let's take that game seven in 2006 against the Phoenix Suns and sweep it under the rug. After all, it will only hurt our case.Miami's Dwyane Wade outplayed him in the final four games of the 2006 NBA Finals as the Heat rallied from a 2-0 deficit to win the championship. And Nowitzki was tentative and ineffective against Golden State as Dallas became the first No.1 seed to lose a best-of-7 series against a No.8 seed.
Bryant has never won an MVP trophy, but he understands how to impose his will on a game. He demands the ball in clutch situations and consistently attacks the bucket.
I'll agree with "least guardable".He is the NBA's best player.
Game seven, second half, two shots. Game seven, second half, two shots.Others like Nowitzki and Wade are part of the discussion, but we all know Bryant is the NBA's most feared player.
He wouldn't go 2-for-13, score eight points and passively hang around the perimeter in the most important game of the season. Bryant's confidence never wanes.
I'm substantially dumber for having read that.Nowitzki, the best European player ever, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame one day. But he lacks the arrogance to lead the Mavericks to a championship.
Bryant does not.
Not sure who Vernon Bryant is, but Jean-Jacques Taylor wrote that article.
I had to guess at the name, mono. There was no link and I found this floating in the middle of the original post. I could have gone to the Dallas Morning News site and tracked it all down, but I didn't want to do more research than the author of this piece did.VERNON BRYANT / DMN
I'm going to keep it as Vernon Bryant. I like to imagine that Vernon is some distant relative of Kobe's and he wants Kobe to be in the same city so he can cash in on KBB's fame.
Besides, that article was so bad, the author is embarrassing his family by putting his name on it. Therefore, Vernon Bryant it is.
oh okay i see where u got Vernon Bryant from. I think he was the photographer that took the picture on the DMN site. either way, he probably could have written a more intelligent and informed article than JJT did. I usually like Jean-Jacques but this is absolute garbage from him.
Gotta write something while the team is fishing. It would be difficult to write a 500 word column about your #60 pick.
You're right, Chump, and I don't even think the author's conclusions are necessarily wrong. But his arguments weren't persuasive at all.
DMN=POS Newspaper. them.
I think Beno would be a better value for Los Angeles.
theres 2 things you can count on when talking about the nba.....
1. dirk will never win a championship
2. kobe bryant will never ever get traded
Eh, if Buss retires and his son gets tired of Kobe, I can see it happening. After all, that's who Kobe is really taking a shot at here.
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