Free Kobe

[Ninti the Mad]

Well, not exactly free it terms of how much he is going to cost.

Where do you think Kobe Bryant will be if he leaves LA next season?

I really hope it's SA because we have the defense - we just need the offense.

[Kid Robb]

Positives and negatives for every destination.

Being a Bulls fan a part of me would love him to be the ultimate Part II and come to the Bulls, but I doubt that will happen very much.

Memphis perhaps - Jerry West connection. Doubt they'd want to mess with what they are developing there with Gasol, Posey, Swift etc

None of the really good teams would want to fuck their chemistry that badly to fit him in, if they are reasonably close to being a contender.

[El Santo]

You know, the rumors that he might end up at the LA Clippers humor me to no end.

Leave the Lakers to go to the Clippers? Isn't that career suicide?

I think Seattle or Philadelphia (Kobe's home town) would be a good fit, as both teams are about one superstar away from being contenders.

[The Miz]

The teams I keep hearing about are Phoenix, New York, and LA Clippers

[Funky Fly]

It would be hilarious if he went to the Clippers, single handedly turned the team around and the Lakers turned into a jobber team.

[loopydate]

He should just sign with Denver. He's there half the time, anyway... :shifty:

[AlphaBean]

Hahahaha, I'd love to see him in New York.

Marbury would demand a trade cause he has to be the #1 option. :rofl:

[Ninti Ishkur]

When is the deadline to sign free agents?

[Crimson]

yEA i'VE heard Clippers, Suns, and even the Knicks. I have a feeling probably Phoenix, but I HOPE he goes to the Clips.

[BCWWF]

Lol, I thought this was about that website www.freekobe.com or whatever, about his rape charges.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

Yea hearing a lot about Clippers, Knicks and Suns

Should be intresting, I have a feeling he might stay in LA but I hope I am wrong..I can't stand LA so I would like to see him leave

[Innovator]

I would love to see Kobe in a New York uniform, but it won't happen. Isiah spent too much money rebuilding the team this season, it would have to be a couple years before New York can bring in a high salary guy like Kobe.

[CNM]

Yeah, to go to the Knicks Kobe would have to take the MLE or there would have to be a sign and trade.

[LoDownM]

Seattle + Kobe = :n:
Seattle + Payton = :y:

He'll probaly resign with the Lakers though. That, or he won't be able to leave Colorado, and just play home game's for the Nuggets.

[BCWWF]

Kobe on the Spurs would be just as/if not more sick than on the Lakers. I don't think there would be a team that could stop them, but I don't think that will happen. Personally, I think the Spurs are really close to having the unstoppable team, and might be better off without Kobe if Ginobili, Parker, and Turkulu grow together and they get a center whose not a Slavic pussy.

Personally I think that this is just a big ruse and he is staying with the Lakers, I mean thats where he is famous and won all those championships, why demote yourself? Its just a big publicity stunt.

[Kid Robb]

Given Shaq's now demanded a trade, the possibility of Kobe staying would have to be higher, even though he has opted out.

Would love to see Kobe go East, shift the balance of power a bit. Just a big a question now has to be where will Shaq be traded to, and who the hell can offer enough to please the Lakers to get him??

[DaveWadding]

Suns should trade Matrix and 'Mare for Shaq...then sign Kobe :D

[BCWWF]

I had a 9 hour drive home from Missouri today, so I was just listening to ESPN radio for a long time, and this is what I got.

Kobe should go back to the Lakers now, no other team can pay him as much as they can and he will be able to have his coach of choice.

Shaq will not be going to a team in the West, and the teams talked about the most were New Jersey and Orlando. New Jersey because they will be in the big New York market soon and don't want Kenyon Martin anymore, Orlando because Shaq was drafted there and has a house there. If Shaq goes to Orlando, T-Mac will likely stay (obviously), but they wouldn't have anyone next to them (remember Grant Hill's contract is still taking up place, and they don't have a lot of draft picks in the future).

Those were the two primary teams being discussed, with New Jersey being the more likely one (and they would be lethal might I add), but they also did mention both Dallas and Houston (Yao and Shaq :wow:). Dallas is actually a legit chance, because Cuban has the money, but it doesn't look like they are going to have a point guard, so then they would just be stuck with like 6 big men. There was also talk about if Shaq goes to Dallas, Don Nelson is close to being fired, so Phil could meet back up with him there.

Thats what I got, for discussing purposes

[AlphaBean]

Well Grant Hill is trying to tell T-Mac that his ankle is the healthiest it's been since he broke it four years ago... so that'd be nice for Orlando to have... to go with Shaq... plus being in the East is good for Minnesota.


But if he goes to Dallas, FUCK HIM. :rant:

We'd definitely need to get one of the elite players, like Kobe or T-Mac or K-Mart.

But of course that ain't happening.

However, Kobe may make more money in Los Angeles... but he's on a team where two HOFers took pay cuts to be a part of a championship squad. There's always that chance that Kobe will go somewhere with more fan support (like Detroit, holy shit that was sweet in the Finals) or with a better "team" atmosphere, whether it be a coach to his liking, or just, a team that will fit his abilities.

And since San Antonio has cap space, they'll probably be the frontrunners. :foc:

And here the Wolves are stuck with old players since they haven't drafted anyone in years. :(

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

A lot of off season talk is going to end up to nothing I bet. I got a feeling Kobe and Shaq will both be in LA next season

[AlphaBean]

Buss better offer Shaq an assload of money, then. Because he told Shaq that if Shaq brought in Malone and Payton, then he (Buss) would see to it that Shaq got his extension.

Karl and Gary came to Los Angeles.

Buss broke off talks with Shaq.

Fucking prick. I hope Shaq ends up in the West and utterly destroys the Lakers.

[AlphaBean]

http://www.alphabean.net/kobesay.gif

Fuck that, put me at Center. I'm the MVP of the Lakers, not Shaq. I'll bend over and rape the other centers in the West.

[DaveWadding]

LOL Bean...sounds about right :D

[Loose Cannon]

god, if the Suns get him, I will be so fricken happy. Maybe then I can finally see the Suns win one

[DaveWadding]

god, if the Suns get him, I will be so fricken happy. Maybe then I can finally see the Suns win one

You and me both.

[BCWWF]

A lot of off season talk is going to end up to nothing I bet. I got a feeling Kobe and Shaq will both be in LA next season

I have a feeling this will happen too. Shaq has a contract in LA for like five more years doesn't he? Remember Ty Law and the Patriots a few months ago, now he can't imagine playing anywhere else.

For Shaq to get traded, the other team either has to have a modest payroll or be willing to ship off huge talent. Orlando would have to be willing to go way over the cap. If LA has to trade him, they aren't going to get enough back.

Personally, if the Lakers lose Shaq I don't think it will be the end of the world. I think he may be close to starting the decline, he sits out half the season with stubben toes, yeah he is still amazing but Kobe is much younger, and it would be better off to take a few years off from being dominant and then come back strong as ever with Kobe and another team, rather than letting Shaq fade out in LA and not getting new guys to fit Kobe in his prime.

Also, Alphabean, Kenyon Martin sucks, he would get eaten up anywhere in the Western Conference, and the Timberwolves would be more like the Celtics if they signed him.

[AlphaBean]

With the commitment to winning the rest of the NBA is showing, having Kobe alone will not be enough. Duncan, Francis/Yao, KG and co., Carmelo and co., Peja, Bibby, Miller, Jackson and co. Dallas and co. (:shifty: ), etc. etc. are all teams that are one-up on the Lakers.

The Lakers have not tried to develop any young guys, and by putting your entire payroll on TWO players, if you lose one of them you're half a team. So yeah, it will take a damn long time for the Lakers to compete again, but when they do, they will never have the "sure thing" they had with Shaq.

[The Outlaw]

Yeah I don't know about Orlando signing Shaq. He has a house down there and I'm pretty sure he'd love to play there alongside T-Mac, but T-Mac's salary is what, 7-93? That would put them at an outrageous amount.

Shaq is in his early 30's (31 or 32 I believe) so he still has years in the tank for all the doubters.

I dunno, I'm just eager to see how this all pans out.

I agree with Bean though, Buss is an absolute prick.

[BCWWF]

I'm assuming you are saying that because of the article on ESPN, and if so I agree.

[AlphaBean]

Yeah I don't know about Orlando signing Shaq. He has a house down there and I'm pretty sure he'd love to play there alongside T-Mac, but T-Mac's salary is what, 7-93? That would put them at an outrageous amount.

Shaq is in his early 30's (31 or 32 I believe) so he still has years in the tank for all the doubters.

I dunno, I'm just eager to see how this all pans out.

I agree with Bean though, Buss is an absolute prick.

Remember the Bulls did it too. It's like they want to dismantle the dynasty so people remember the Lakers that dominated for so many years... the team nobody wanted in the finals...

Rather than the team that used to be great, stumbling into the playoffs, and having their age taken advantage of.

It's as though the GMs are sacrificing their reputations to give their teams a place in the record books, so that they don't become the Knicks, or the Braves, or the Marino Dolphins...

[The Outlaw]

so that they don't become the or the Braves

:'( :rant:

[BCWWF]

Except the Atlanta Braves made the playoffs for 11 or something years only winning once, the Lakers actually won more than they lost

[The Outlaw]

:'(

[AlphaBean]

Except the Atlanta Braves made the playoffs for 11 or something years only winning once, the Lakers actually won more than they lost

You do the math then, smart guy.

What's a team that won it all then fell apart?

[MoRcHeEbA]

Florida Marlins in 97 :o

[BCWWF]

You do the math then, smart guy.

What's a team that won it all then fell apart?

What?