Say no to Kobe.

[dvdbumpus]

From the Charlotte Observer:

I would argue the Bobcats have a unique advantage in making a viable offer to the Lakers because they could assemble tens of millions in room under the salary cap to absorb Bryant's salary.

That's important, because it means the Lakers wouldn't have to accept a bunch of garbage off Charlotte's roster to balance the deal under the salary cap. The Lakers would get the things they want (cap relief, draft picks and young talent) and might even persuade the Bobcats to accept some junk in return (like Kwame Brown's contract?).

The key is how much the Lakers would demand. I take it for granted the Bobcats would hand over their two first-round picks (Nos. 8 and 22), plus a future first-rounder. I also assume the Lakers would expect either Emeka Okafor or Gerald Wallace (who would have to be a sign-and-trade).

Ok, so let's get this straight. THREE first rounders in the 2 deepest draft classes in years, to go along with a stud of either Okafor or Wallace.

Please, stop that madness now MJ by saying no. No to Kobe, no to that crap, and no to unexcusable contracts that will NOT help this team.

[Wallace15]

No way in hell I would do that. I don't even want Kobe on our team.

[Mustachio]

i dont know dude,,, thats not that crazy if you ask me.


Ray, Kobe, Ammo, Okafor, Brown...


thats an outstanding line up if you ask me

[Mustachio]

who needs 3 first rounders when you have an excellent and fairly young team.

you give kobe two very qualified big men... and a point guard who can handle his own.

im telling you right now, you guys are selling the team short.... you add either Kobe, or Garnett to this squad and we are INSTANT Eastern Conf. contenders.

now would you rather have 3 draft picks and the possibility of improving over time... or crazy packed arena and a chance to play in the NBA Finals in our 4th or 5th year.

i mean the eastern conference champions this year was Lebron and his ragtag bunch of merry men.
Put Kobe in the East, and give him a better surrounding team than what the Cavs had and we are in the finals.

[Mustachio]

i feel good about this. (which means nothing really)

Brown < Ilgauskus
Okafor >>>>>>> Varajoa
Ammo > Sasha
Kobe >> Bron-Bron
Ray = gibson/hughes

you put that lineup on the floor and were in the NBA finals apparently. on paper, if that lineup is better than what the Cavs put out there then we would be the best team in the East.

Plus how cool would it be to start having Kobe vs Bron battles for the next few years in the East playoffs.
or do you guys honestly think that an Primoz, Emeka, Crash, Ammo, Ray lineup is better.

and yet another positive for getting kobe... wed get rid of the 8th pick and therefore wouldnt have to inevitably draft Jo Noah. you get Kobe and you keep Noah off the team, can it get any better.

[timang]

any guy not named okafor would be a sound trade idea for us.

but i'm getting that feeling that it's nowhere near for it to actually happen.
i'm betting on a wizards/lakers and/or bulls trade as it it looks like arenas would look fit in a lakers uni if ever kobe packs his bags out of LA.

[Dead_Real]

who needs 3 first rounders when you have an excellent and fairly young team.

you give kobe two very qualified big men... and a point guard who can handle his own.

im telling you right now, you guys are selling the team short.... you add either Kobe, or Garnett to this squad and we are INSTANT Eastern Conf. contenders.

now would you rather have 3 draft picks and the possibility of improving over time... or crazy packed arena and a chance to play in the NBA Finals in our 4th or 5th year.

i mean the eastern conference champions this year was Lebron and his ragtag bunch of merry men.
Put Kobe in the East, and give him a better surrounding team than what the Cavs had and we are in the finals.

Rep added my friend.

[dvdbumpus]

Kobe embodies everything this team was NOT built on.

The cavs, should NOT have made the finals. They had a weak schedule to get the the divsion finals, and Cleveland outhustled and outhearted Detroit.

I still think these teams are better than Cleveland:

Toronto (if they have good free agent pickup especially)
New Jersey(if they keep Kidd/Vince and use their #17 well)
Detroit (always contenders and have 2 1st rounders)
Chicago: Already a talented team with a #9


I also think we're better than Cleveland in the coming year if we keep on course with the draft picks and maintain our health.

Cleveland is a mess; they have NO draft picks, have bad contracts(Larry Hughes who is also an injury risk), an aging center(Ilgauskas), and will potentially lose their starting SG and Varajao. I just don't see them being nearly as successful as they were this year, unless they pull something out of their ass.

Personally I think Chicago is the best team in the East coming into the year, and has by far the best shot to get Kobe, Kg, or someone else along their caliber. Having said this, I think that since we're smaller market and with Kobe's no trade clause...we have little to no shot at him.

[TheBeagle]

Yeah, I have the feeling the Lakers would sign-off on the scenario given by the Observer via Bumpus: sending him to Charlotte would be the equivalent (in their minds at least) of sending him to Siberia, the cap-room would be nice, the draft picks, and either GW or Mek. I like our core way too much to want this to happen, but it has potential. If Raymond develops into the PG I and the rest of us envisioned him being when we drafted him, along with an improved Morrison, and GW or Mek, well, it has potential, and the Bobcats would be THE talk of the sports community nationally. That said, there's no way Kobe wants to be traded that badly; being unhappy in LA is better than being King of Charlotte (his belief, that is).

Also, did anyone else laugh at the irony of MJ acquiring Kwame Brown for the 2nd time? The guy who is his albatross as a basketball executive, and you think he's going to want to have him on his team again?!?!?!

Anyway, I like GW and Mek too much to see either of them go, so let Kobe fester in LA, or go somewhere else, just not here.

[WarioVsMooChicken]

Trading for Kobe would hurt the team more then if we drafted Noah.