So ESPN.com's Chris Sheridan reports the Bulls and Lakers talked every day last week about a deal, and Kobe doesn't want to come here if the Bulls give up too much. And Kobe has a voice in that since he has an no-trade clause. But I think a deal can be made, and I think it will be made.
I get the impression Ben Gordon is expecting a max or close-to-max deal, and that's not going to happen with Luol Deng up for a new deal as well.
So I can see the Bulls dealing Gordon, Ben Wallace and Tyrus Thomas for Kobe. Maybe throw in Nocioni, but that still leaves the Bulls with a pretty good lineup.
I wouldn't miss any of those players, but I would miss the 'fro. BTW Roman, thanks for the instant-art-project in the paper today. My kids look fabulous as Big Ben! So, do you think this would be a good trade or a bad trade? Kobe in Chicago - it's just the kind of distraction the Bears need right now.
If they can land Kobe without giving up the store then fine but if they have to deal half the team then they end up just like the Lakers are now... Kobe and a bunch of stiffs with no playoffs.
chicago bulls dont need a whinny ball hog. he scores alot but the lakers dont win so why should he come here. without players around him its still a lose.
Don't like to give up Tyrus, would rather part with Nocioni and Smith, but I do think Kobe will engineer this thing, and I like it.
The Bulls need to go to the next level. They can remain as they are and be 4th or 5th in the East, or they can take it up a notch and try to win it all. Go get Kobe and give it a shot!!
even though I don't think Chicago needs the whiny prima donna, I coud see giving Gordon,Noche,Smith, Duhon or Griffin and a draft pick or 2. I wouldn't give up Big Ben and TT, that is too much interior defense to lose. Thomas is begining to show some low post play and has been hitting the mid-range jumper with some consistancy. Combinations of Ben and TT, Ben and Gray or Gray and TT should produce record numbers of blocked shots and give the Bulls inside scoring they have been missing. Besides that I'm guessing a big part of why Kobe wants to come to Chicago is Ben Wallace and TT.
Kobe is going to find out that he is on the same team with less of a coach and higher expectations. Will be a bad trade for BOTH teams. At least the Lakers will make it out of the first round.
Bulls: C-Gray, PF-Smith, SF Deng, 2G Kobe, 1G Hinrich, Bench: Noah, Sefaloosha, Krapy, Griff, Curry, Gardener Coach - Skiles
Lakers: C-Wallace, PF-Turiaf, SF Odom, 2G Gordon, 1G Fisher Bench: Bynum, Thomas, Nocioni, Brown, Walton, Karl, Vujacic Coach - Jackson.
Both out in the second round.
Warm up that camera Keith.....do you still use Polaroids on the SouthSide, or have you upgraded to digital finally? Also....email Roman your mailing adddress, so I know where to ship the hat Pink Cubs hat to?!?!
FYI...for those who say kobe would have no players around him...I say this...
The last 4 players on the Bulls Bench....are still better than the other 4 current starters on the Lakers.
Id take Seflosha/Curry/Griffith and Gray over Smoosh/Walton/Odom and ...Farmer??...Bynum? Turiaf??...
Even if we give up Wallace/TT/Gordon
we would still have
Kobe +
Deng/Hinrich/Noc/Smith
and then...Noah/Gray/Seflosha/Curry/Duhon
off bench.....
Thats not a bunch a nobodys.....in my opinion
AROD AND KOBE COMING TO CHICAGO
LET IT BE WRITTEN...LET IT BE DONE!
Including Wallace would make the $ work in a trade but I can't imagine the Lakers going for that. I'm fine giving up Wallace as long we we keep Noah - I think he'll be really good by the end of the year and other than Shaq and probably Howard, he can hold his own in the middle.
If this happens, I bet it won't happen till December when we see the following:
- Bulls sputter again with the early road trip (could happen)
- Kobe continues to be a pain in the butt (will happen)
- Lakers play under .500 (will happen)
So put it down for a Dec trade which would give the Bulls enough time to work out the kinks with Kobe.
Whiny Ball Hog....
hmmmm...
the last ball hog we had....was....umm......MJ?
When the chips are on the line...I want a guy who WANTS to take the last shot.....not a guy who defers to point gaurd.
The genius of Jordan was, he knew when to be a hog, and when to give it up when he couldnt get the shot off.
Im sure if Kobe has guys around him he can TRUST....he would not be nearly as hoggish as he has been in LA.
i live in Cleveland and had to live through years of having a great team concepted hardworking , no superstar having team get crushed by Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen and a bunch of role players !And if you don't sign kobe thats exactly what i predict will happen to your bulls at the hands of Labron James! year after year of just missing and heartbreak !superstars win titles in the nba!micheal jordan,tim duncan,hakeem olajuwan,kobe and shaq,dwayne wade,larry bird,magic johnson,,isaih thomas,joe dumars,!with all due respect to the detroit pistons 2004 that was a dysfunctional laker team who still made the finals that they beat!But even they have not been able to sustain that over a long period of time,look how labron beat them this past season proving 1 man can make difference! out of Kansas playing the role of Craig Ehlo is Kirk Heinrich! lol beware!
Roman, if I was the Bulls I would make that trade you proposed in a heartbeat.
Culzie our wager was for the inquirer deal you had on the table a week ago.
m.triplett - I like your post. But Kobe doesn't have what all those other stars had. He's got everything but playoff wins. That Cleveland team that Michael Jordan took down featured Brad Daugherty, Hot Rod William, Craig Ehlo, Mark Price, with Ron Harper on the bench. That team was LOADED like San Antonio is now. So what Mike did would be equivalent to the Lakers right now drawing San Antonio in the first round and Kobe single -handedly sending them packing. Baron Davis's run last year was kinda close - but Mike didn't have as much help.
Kobe will get what he wants.... I keep looking for the 'breaking news story' on this site....It can't take much longer...for obvious reasons... so we'll all know what trade went down/or not in the next couple of days, IMO
Kobe is gonna be a Bull....I say 4 more rings come with it
keith i agree with you to an extent ,except i would venture to say the present day san antonio spurs are better than the 90's cavaliers!tim duncan is probably the best power forward ever!and athletically tony parker is superior than what mark price was!and let's not forget scottie pippen is a future hall of famer so mike did have some help!
I live near Lala land. The media out here is predicting a Kobe trade soon. Mavs & Bulls have best chance. I believe Bryant could carry Bulls to another ring. Kobe has little support on Lakers . As long as Bulls don't deal away too much for Kobe they should be team to be in east.
Kobe really is the total package: prima donna, whiny ball hog, AND - here's the one nobody's mentioned yet - accused rapist. Gee - I can hardly wait for his arrival!
I don't like Kobe as an individual but can't deny his talent on the court and just MAYBE he might defer when he can't get his own shot. But culzie how awesome do you think a starting five of Kirk, Kobe, Deng, Tyrus and Wallace would be with Gray, Noah, Sefalosha and Curry on the bench?
would love to see Kobe on the Bulls, provided they keep Deng, but I still would have preferred Kevin Garnett. How is it the Celtics got him for a song and the Bulls seemingly weren't playing for him?
If this deal happens the way you say Roman, it's going to eclipse the insanity of the Garnett deal.
Kobe's probably coming to Chicago and LeBron is going to opt out and go to the Knicks.
Roman responds: Garnett wasn't demanding a trade, at least not publicly.
m.triplett....JUST MAKES SENSE
Keith were you nippin on grandpa's old....whatever again?
Kobe won 3 Rings dude..you cant just pretend that doesnt count.
Shaq or whatever....still counts...just like Pippens count, even though he played with MJ. A RING IS A RING and KOBE HAS 3
coulda had more, if the Buss's didnt pull a Krause....
I say, lets get him here, and win another 3!!
Its finally going to happen. Timing is right for Boston and Chicago to return to the top. I just hope Kobe doesn't Rex us. Its going to take him a few years though. I wonder what the Bulls will do when his contract is up? Huge risk for Paxson. He's got to take the chance because it will be worse trying to explain why he didn't make the move. If Kobe bolts, the Bulls could end up back in the draft - looking for Gordon, Wallace, Tyrus and Noch. I would not want to be Pax right now because he is really in a no-win situation. It would be totally different if we were just adding Kobe. But we are trading our second round - almost guaranteed - for a surly top talent. We are all looking at it from the GMs point of view, but what about what KOBE really wants? See if the Bulls cannot deliver his dream - then what do you really think Kobe is going to do? Do you really expect him to just do what he has done in LA? He wants that Mike dream and doesn't intend on working for it by himself. Do you really think Skiles - who has problems with folks like Duhon-Tyson-Curry-Kidd, can handle Kobe???
until this morning I've been aginst the idea of trading for Kobe; and still am if it means giving up Wallace,Deng and Tyrus or any combination that includes any one of those 3 players; but after reading that Ben Gordon believes he's the best palyer on The Bulls and turned down a $50 mil/5 years extension I'd be inclined to trade BG and 3 or 4 other role players and draft picks for Kobe. BG is a perenial 20 point per game player but his game is no different today then it was his rookie year. He still lacks defense he has missed more game ending shots then he has made because rather than pass he has forced shots up he had no chance of making and he has not shown the ability to create his own shot. Kobe basically has the control over who gets traded for him with his no trade clause. I believe it would be foolish of him to ok any trade with the Bulls that included Wallace, Deng, Tyrus or Noah.
tick tock tick tock
Opening day approaches.
Here is a quote from the LA times: It will take a major turnaround for the Lakers to keep Bryant, and Jackson is unlikely to stay without him.
Looking good for Chicago maybe the Bulls can get both. Haha.
I think Kobe is going to decide what happens. It looks like he is not going anywhere that trades the team away for him. Kind of a catch 22 considering his value. I bet Dr Buss is kicking himself for letting that clause get in there; Buss wants him gone that much is clear.
Assuming that Kobe will someday this year become a Bull player, it is unlikely that the Bulls team will win a championship flag. In modern sports, a lone mega star in an average team is only a good drawing card for the team owners.
For many years the Bulls were a one-man team, even with awesome Jordan at his peak. It was not until they added Pippen, et. al., to their lineup that they could easily dispose of other teams and win several flags. The Bulls may ONLY gain field leverage with Bryant IF this player puts aside his individualism and starts playing like a team man, AND if the Bulls do not have to give up its support cast (Ben Gordon, Luol Deng, Nocioni, which is unlikely).
Moreover, bringing in Alex Rodriguez will not pan out. It is evident that the first thing the Cubs need before they can get somewhere, rather than hiring some big name, is to plug the holes they have in their bullpen and in the outfields, and hire a reliable pitcher with a good track record during the winter. The Boston Red Sox can win pennants because their team is well-balanced and can outplay opponents in playoffs. To go all the way, it is necessary for a professional baseball or basketball club to have players who can run, throw, hit, pitch, steal bases, score from all angles, shoot for three points, steal,defend, slam-dunk, and be willing to sweat it out fron can't to can't. And in modern sports, what counts is going all the way, rather than winning a division. But, with the kind of personnel in the Bulls and Cubs factories, regretfully, these two teams will most likely be eliminated again in the 2008 playoffs. Neither the Rod, nor Kobe, will make much of a difference in Chicago in 2008.
Hey Roman - did you ban me again........and not tell me?
hmmmmm culzie if memory serves me correctly Dr Buss didn't pull a Krause, Kobe ran Shaq outta town.
"If this deal happens the way you say Roman, it's going to eclipse the insanity of the Garnett deal"
hardly...based on Romo's deal, the Bulls are giving up 4 of their top 6 players (if Noch included). The T-wolves took 50 cents on the dollar for KG - getting Al Jefferson (really good young player) and the gun-toting Sebastian Telfair and a bunch of other garbage from the Celtics, who obviously got a bargain from their former player McHale.
culzie, Magic Johnson says no Deng, NO deal and Pax ain't givin up his best player! now that I consider a reliable source. he also said Kobe isn't going anywhere soon. now I wonder if Ben Gordon heard Magic call Deng the Bulls best player?
Id give up Deng in a heartbeat for Kobe...
Kobe wasnt found guilty julie...this isnt Nazi Germany...is it?
A david Copperfield maybe...but the case was dropped.
Im sure everyone is right...the Lakers will just let Kobe test free agency....and get 0 for him and 0 for Shaq....Im so sure!?!?
What I am sure of, is, if we dont give up mr.20footer....it may be Kobe to NY or Detroit...or his dads home town.....PHILLY!!!
If we dont make the trade....He will sign with someone else...and end up KICKING OURS AND THE REST OF THE LEAGUES ASSES!
PUT it in the Book....Our worst nightmares will come true.....Rex will go to GreenBay and catch fire....and Kobe will go to Philly...
lets not be fools!
I would not trade Deng!!! The midrange game is what will make Deng a killer, you'll see.
BC, I said accused, not convicted. He bought the poor girl and his wife off, and somehow everyone else has forgotten about it. And if this were Nazi Germany, I'd be......well, I don't know, but I probably wouldn't be posting my comments on sports blogs. Unless I brought my laptop into hiding with me.
Culzie you are right. Kobe is going to kill - just like Dominique did all those years, but he aint never gonna win a championship again without HELP and a TEAM. He makes it almost impossible. Why would you go play with him when you have at least 10 other great players out here? Especially if he teams up with boot-camp Skiles. These stars are too rich to put up with him and his Mike-DREAM. Shaq simply left and ran with Dwade and showed the world - it wasn't him. I'd bet almost all of those players would rather run with someone else. Probably wouldn't admit it publicly, but you can imagine. I could rattle off the names, but do I really need to? Maybe id better - Duncan, Nash, Labron, KG, Dwade, Dirk, Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, McGrady, Baron. If I am a player with my own promising career, I choose to run with a team star. The only thing intriguing about LA is...its LA. It show aint Kobe where careers go to die.
Kobe is smart to desire the Bulls, because they need eachother.
at what cost to Kobe's wallet was the rape case dropped?
Roman responds: Hey guys, it's very possible she wanted to have sex with him. In fact, that's what money is on.
Interesting phrase, Roman - "that's what money is on." Says who? His attorney that leaked his accuser's name and other details to the public? Yes, Kobe spent a lot of money to get himself off the hook - that's not really in dispute. His legal team made sure they found a way to get the rape charges dropped. After the case was dismissed, because the accuser suddenly wouldn't testify, Kobe said himself (and I got this from courtv.com):
"After months of reviewing discovery, listening to her attorney, and even her testimony in person, I now understand how she feels that she did not consent to this encounter."
So, what do you mean exactly?
Roman responds: It's a sad situation. I'm just saying there's a very real possibility it was consensual. Only two people know for sure, and neither one of is in that group.
Accused Rapist Julie, not CONVICTED Rapist, he would bring this City what they need: A TITLE!!!
Michael Jordan had Scottie Pippen. At that time, Pippen was considered one of the top 10 players in the league. By my definition of a Superstar, he was one. Didn't the Bulls make the Eastern Finals the year without Jordan?
Superstars win titles in the NBA, not young teams. Usually you need 2 to win a title, which Kobe wouldn't have in LA or Chicago. Nobody on the Bulls current roster is really even an All-Star. Maybe Ben Wallace.
Regardless, you've got young talent, good NBA players, potential All-Stars. If you land Kobe and still have Deng or Gordon with Hinrich and 2 of the bigs (Wallace, Thomas, Noah) with say Thefelosha, Nocioni, etc...you've got something. Something that can win the East and contend with the West.
As it stands right now, Chicago can't beat Boston, New Jersey, Detroit or seemingly, Cleveland.
Yes, the East is weaker, but it's not that weak. Don't be fooled by the Spurs sweep of Cleveland. They should have never gotten that far. Note to Detroit: Double Lebron, Hello! I'm a Spurs fan and I know we wouldn't have swept Detroit. And I know the Celtics, if healthy, could beat us in the Finals.
The Bulls? Without Kobe, you don't even have a chance to get there.
Watched the Bulls-N.J. game yesterday. Same ol' same ol'. Kirk in foul trouble, Gordon THROWING stuff up at times, Luol not getting enough shots, Noc off, Tyrus not finishing, and NO TRUE CLOSER.
If we can do this without giving up Deng and being able to keep either Thomas or Noah, DO IT. Would not, I repeat would not package Thomas and Noah together, ever.
They are booing him here.
I agree Roman, i just think it didnt exactly go down how she had hoped!!!
Right kman, accused - not convicted, like I said. Look, Tank Johnson was pulled over for driving 40 mph and 150 people weighed in on it. Greg Olsen's rap song was a huge deal for some people around here. For some reason, beating a rape charge isn't that big a deal to anyone here. I don't really get it. He was in the midst of a rape trial, whether it was consensual or not. There was enough evidence to bring him to trial, and the reason his accuser suddenly decided not to testify was pretty shady, in my opinion. Does that speak to his character just like Tank not being able to stay out of trouble speaks to his character? I think it does. But that's all. He got off, he's still an elite player in the NBA, he might be traded, he might not - blah blah blah. I just wanted to bring it up because no one else had.
BC, what do you think she was hoping for?
Kobe and her doing the lambada in the satin sheets...waking up to breakfast in bed....maybe some nice gifts....a ticket to LA in a few weeks....who knows...but she went to the room didnt she? I mean she knew who he was right? and probably that he was married right?
I dont know...what would a 21 year old girl want from going to the resport suite of one of the most popular current athletes on the planet @ 11pm after her shift?
Im not saying he was in the right...but....she wasnt really either...was she?
Most girls go cry to their girlfriends when the guy they like doesn't act how they had hoped, not bring the guy to trial for rape. Also, she was 19 at the time. FYI, did you know that your brain doesn't fully develop until you are 21?
The genius of Jordan was, he knew when to be a hog, and when to give it up when he couldnt get the shot off.
Im sure if Kobe has guys around him he can TRUST....he would not be nearly as hoggish as he has been in LA.
Posted by: bculz | October 29, 2007 11:34 AM
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Hey bculz, how long did it take Mike to trust those teammates to pass the ball to them? Remember, initially Mike's point was to prove a scoring champ could win the championship(which had never happen before) in the same year, which he did!
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Superstars win titles in the NBA, not young teams. Usually you need 2 to win a title.
Posted by: TheSportsAuthority | November 1, 2007 05:53 AM
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Kareem Abdul Jabar finally had a young buc named Magic to pass him the ball although James Worthy and host of other talented stars was on the team before he got there. Did they kick butt with two super-stars or ONE selfish talented player? This is how CHAMPIONSHIPS are WON DAMMIT!! Ask Kareem what he thinks?
Boston Celtics were pitiful before Byrd. They had the Chief(Robert Parrish, Kelvin McHale and Danny Ainge) and NOTHING! Here comes a selfish talented player named Larry Bird! and BAM! BAM! This is how CHAMPIONSHIPS are WON DAMMIT!! Ask Robert and Kelvin didn't it make playing the low-post easier?
I LOVE DOCTOR J, ONLY ONE DAMN championship! A Talented Super-star with a bunch of knuckleheads UNTIL Moses Malone, came to the team and BAM! He finally got his ring! What was the stumbling block? Needed a true talent of a center to COMPETE against a TEAM of stars to simply get to the BIG DANCE! Didn't the Celtics tell THE DOC "Now win it all" after finally getting by them?!
Kobe ain't won a damn thing by his-self and is NOT going to either! I love KOBE Byrant, but he is NOT GOING to WIN a championship alone!!
I like our presents players with a tweak here and there! That is all we need.
There are STARS and than there are stars(unselfish players).
Its too grey an area to be so cut and dried.
Tank was acting a fool.
Regarding Kobe...it was she said/he said.
No other way around it. Nobody but those two will EVER know what happened.
Whos to say she wasnt scamming him? Its not like it hasnt happened before.
Hence the difference....
Jewels it is absolutely fair to bring up. Culzie I agree, just my opinion, but I also think she was scamming. We cannot give her a pass. She may have been 19, but she went to a man's room at 11pm. I don't think you will find one parent that would dare teach that to their daughter (or endorse it). Its very difficult to believe that this guy - would have to, or choose to take anything from any woman. And for the record - I don't like him and thought he would go to jail! I was quite surprised. Not with her taking money and running (a sign of a scammer), but with our justice system not finding a way to pursue him regardless.
That said, I think Mr. Bryant was one of the dumbest victims I ever witnessed. He is simply not bright at all. The famous are always targets. Thats pure arrogance to think you are just going to have your way with a girl and roll out. Rich, Famous - and BLACK. If that doesn't spell trouble I don't know what does.
That alone is a good reason to not bring him to Chicago. Just not smart at all. Not the kind of guy you want leading anything.