As a die-hard Bulls fan, I wouldn’t mind giving up Gordon + Deng + salaries for Bryant. If the Bulls could still hold onto the #9 pick I would be ecstatic.

Any scenario where the Bulls nab Bryant, of course, would be a killing…for DA BULLS. Thank you Buss and Kupcakes for screwing up! Hopefully, Lakers front office egos get ruffled enough to foolishly unload Bryant, and Pax isn’t too attached to Deng– Deng is good but plays one of the most easily replaceable positions. Kobe’s position: “best player on the planet”, is not replaceable. Come on Pax– go for it!

look at 08-09 lineup

baron d
gilbert a
odom
deng
kg

bench
thomas
duhon
turiaf
evens
farmar
mo will
mihm
cook
shammond

very championship contender team

Great for us. They’ll get their turn.

The Lakers FO owes a contending team to Kobe.

On the surface it looks like the Lakers are trying to handle this the right way. Step 2 is to get a deal or two done. Step 3 is to talk Kobe off the ledge. Step 4, come back in October and get ready to compete for a championship.

First of all, it seems like 90% of the commenters do not want kobe on their team. I heard things from his age, to his crazy ego, to his inability to get teammates to play better as reasons. They all seem to really have a lot of confidence in their core of youth (Deng, Gordon, Hinrich) that they hate the thought of blowing it all up for Kobe. Especially with his ability to opt out on them in 2 years.

And because of their lack of respect for #24, the best they are willing to offer us is Hinrich, Ty Thomas, Ben Wallace and the #9. They got to be joking! Who’s gonna score the basketball? And their team would be left with Kobe, Gordon, Deng, Nocioni, Duhon, and whatever other dudes they got on their bench and they think this would be one of the worst teams in the NBA! Those dudes are crazy.

I’m really happy that those people in Chicago only get to see him 2 times a season. If they had watched him play every night for the last 11 seasons like we have, they would know how good he is and how hard he brings it every single night and how any ordinary sunday night game could turn into one of the greatest games in the NBA since Wilt’s 100.

As much as I like the prospect of the Bulls offer, it simply is not enough to compel Buss to do it. I think he’d rather have an unhappy Kobe that sells seats up to 2 years from now than have a “good, young team” that is really disinteresting.

Should the Lakers decide to trade Kobe, do it in fashion. Blow up the whole thing and move on. Vlade and Cook should go with him wherever he goes. If other teams can “demand” that baggage be taken out, why can’t we w/ Kobe? Arguably the best player up to Pluto.

Lamar Odom is a keeper in that sense but if his trade nets us, say, #5 from Boston, Gerald Green and Theo Ratliff.
Knowing Kobe’s situation, Chicago will likely be the best pick destination after all. They have the #9 to offer.

And finally, Kurt or Reed is right. No Ben Wallace. If we are about cap positioning and young talent, Ben Wallace is so oddly out.