The signs are all there: Bryant skipped his third straight practice on Tuesday and was uncharacteristically vague with reporters when asked if he had played his last game as a Laker.
The usually verbose Phil Jackson offered a handful of variations on "no comment," which stoked the trade flames even further.
For what it's worth, the scouts, coaches and league executives I have talked to about Bryant believe that a trade is inevitable. The Lakers are going nowhere -- they are capped out, have limited assets other than the 29-year-old Bryant available to trade (read: Andrew Bynum) and are light years away from championship contention.
Think about it: What is the best-case scenario for the Lakers this season? They manage to squeeze into the seventh or eighth spot again, only to be summarily dismissed in the first round by Dallas, Phoenix or San Antonio? Is that really worth the headache of dealing with the constant rumors about Bryant's future? If you think it is, look north to San Francisco and ask Giants executives if they think having the spotlight constantly shining on one player is good for team chemistry.
OK, so you deal Kobe; but to where? Well ...
DALLAS: Certainly the Mavericks would be high on Bryant's list, but I have to believe they would be at the bottom of the Lakers'. The notion of having Bryant batter them around three or four times a season for the next decade is a dizzying proposition for Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak. And if you're the Mavericks, acquiring Bryant is an awfully risky move. I mean, you're talking about a team that was a couple of terrible calls away from winning the NBA championship two years ago. Any deal with Bryant would have to include Josh Howard (who looked spectacular when I saw him play in Chicago last week) and Devin Harris (who in the next two years will be among the top-five point guards in the NBA). Do you really want to explode that nucleus?
CHICAGO: Probably the most likely destination. Dealing Bryant to the Bulls banishes Kobe to the Eastern Conference, a tremendously appealing proposition for Kupchak. For Bryant, who nearly signed with Chicago as a free agent in 2004, it would mean going to a young team in a major city in a conference ripe for the poaching. The only question is whether or not Bulls GM John Paxson thinks his nucleus of Luol Deng, Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon and Tyrus Thomas can develop into perennial contenders. Mavericks head coach Avery Johnson told me last week that watching Deng and Howard go at it was "watching two of the next great forwards" in the NBA. Expect Paxson to wait until the February trading deadline to make any decisions.
NEW YORK: Four words: Not going to happen.
What do you think? What team needs to make a big move for Kobe? Chime in with your thoughts below.
Shanon Lersh
Brooklyn Decker
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Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers
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Chicago
Thomas 12
Richmond, CA
Total Comments (442)
The Milwaukee Bucks
if we can get yi we can get he
RonPaulMyHero
Brooklyn , NY
Total Comments (5)
kobe to the bradley center, asap
RonPaulMyHero
Brooklyn , NY
Total Comments (5)
I have to agree with Chicago
ArthurU
Silver Spring , MD
Total Comments (63)
c'mon Mannix boy... zzzzzz you have to come up with a better column than rehashed stuff.
wzupdude
Los Angeles , CA
Total Comments (162)
Why not New York? Cmon Mannix, if you're gonna throw something like that out there, at least give us New Yorkers a reason why. I mean, I know why, I just want to hear it.
Cantstop33
Jackson Heights, NY
Total Comments (1)
You heard it here first: He's going to Philly....
E-A-G-L-E-S!
Lincoln University , PA
Total Comments (11)
Detroit: They have a couple quality players that they should could trade that could help the Lakers improve as a team and give the Pistons the go to guy that could get them back over the hump in the east.
ssnewton
Iowa City , IA
Total Comments (1)
Here's my input for this:
Cleveland: Five Words - Not Going to Happen Either
Now can I get a job at CNNSI, too?
DylanFan96818
San Antonio , TX
Total Comments (287)
If a trade with Chicago would require two of their three core players (Deng, Heinrich, Gordon) I just don't see it happening. My father has had season tickets for the past 25 years, so I've been watching them my whole life and I can see what Paxson sees. Having been able to study them closely for the past few years I can say with confidence that they're currently poised to be a force in the East for many years to come.
With that said, if Paxson pulls the trigger I'll have to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Juddly
Boulder, CO
Total Comments (1)
NY should trade and teach him a lesson for being the BIGGEST BABY IN THE NBA!!!!! HA how does it feel to have the Laker as your team now KOBE! SHAQ must be LHAO in Fla....
MaxViceS
Brooklyn, NY
Total Comments (2)
Your comment
jman174
Total Comments (2)
We need size in Chicago, not another guard. As great as Kobe is I don't see him taking what would remain of the Bulls past any of the Western powers. Depending on what they give up it might not even push them past the Celtics, Heat, or Pistons in the East. Garnett was what the Bulls really needed!
Humanreck
Chicago , IL
Total Comments (51)
If Kobe can learn to be a supporter instead of a one man show, he can get some where, but fat chance of that. So, the way I see it, Chicago is not the best fit, Dallas is not the best fit. Maybe he should just stay in LA and go on the other side of the wall with the Clippers. Will they become a contender for a championship? No! But that is life. Kobe should have appreciated having the man in Shaq..
jman174
Total Comments (2)
Detroit Pistons: This will make the most sense for both teams. The players that the Pistons have to offer are around the same age with Kobe. Kobe has always expressed his desire to play alongside Chauncey Billups. The Pistons would be happy to give up Rip Hamilton and Antonio McDyess plus a future draft pick for Kobe. The starting line up will be:- Rasheed Wallace, Chauncey Billups, Kobe Bryant, Tayshaun Prince, and Jason Maxiell. Great lineup. Joe D should pull the trigger on this one.
Tawanda
Detroit , MI
Total Comments (6)
Raptors for TJ Ford, Anthony Parker and Garbahosa
KOBERULEZ
Total Comments (9)
Why would anyone want this whiner. Sure on paper he makes your team better. And for that "honeymoon" period of a year or two he does.
Then his ego starts to get his mouth saying this and that. "You need a better supporting cast, you can't score 90 points every night."
And he starts questioning the GM and the owner. Personally if he was on the team that I owned. I would suspend him without pay for a good part of the year.
As an owner I have to do nothing a player asks me to do. He signed a contract. There are always unknowns as to who you are going to play with. You can sign the best players around and not win a championship, but you are under contract. So honor it and do your job.
His attitude undoes whatever his statline makes up for.
Punish him by sidelining him and thinning his wallet.
Kdawg
Total Comments (974)
To Houston for T-Mac, Rafer Alston, and Luther Head/Shane Battier
mustang98
Houston , TX
Total Comments (40)
Kdawg... u really sound like a hater! u brought up the issue about owner and player signing a contract and do his duty. u have to remember when kobe was a free agent, dr. buss promised him they're gonna make big changes to be back as contenders. that promise didn't happen, and it seems like they have no interest of making it happen. now if ur a superstar at ur prime, are you willing to waste ur talent playing alongside with average basketball players and getting kicked out of the playoffs in the first round? if u don't know anything about the whole situation, i only have two words for you: SHUT UP!
Contender
Total Comments (3)
Right now I believe there are only two viable destinations for Bryant: Dallas and Chicago. They have the assets; they are willing to take on his exorbitant salary; and they are on the cusp of a championship. Remember: Bryant can veto any trade that he doesn't like. If Memphis offers Pau Gasol and a package of young player, Bryant ain't going there.
Chris Mannix's…
New York , NY
Total Comments (1)
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