Why Trade Kobe Whe Other Options Aren't Exhausted?

By: Nate Gordon
Since the NBA Finals the only story in the Association bigger then the referee betting scandal are the trade rumors surrounding one Kobe Bean Bryant aka Black Mamba. Pundits have flip flopped non stop for nearly 5 months telling the world first that Kobe is untradable, then he is the only player every team in the league has to make a move for, and again he isn't worth trading for. This week Chad Ford of ESPN.com explored the idea that Kobe isn't the most desirable or talented player in the league. In the article, Ford uses John Hollinger's PER system, as well as another websites plus/minus stats breakdown to support his point. While I appreciate and respect Chad Ford's opinion, I must purpose a caveat, Kobe Bryant is not only the most desirable player in the league, trading him is both impossible and preposterous and the Lakers are not only at fault, but should of been focusing on getting Kobe help all along.
Kobe Bryant posses the Associations only no-trade clause, the most powerful contract weapon a player can have in their business arsenal. If the pieces aren't in place with another team, Kobe would rather stay in Los Angeles where his family is happy. Would it make any sense for him to uproot his whole life to move into the same situation he is currently in while playing for the Lakers? The Lakers brain trust (if you can all these incompetent men that) led by the Owners son, Jim Buss require any other teams major pieces in a trade for Kobe Bryant. Obviously they don't want to repeat the nightmare that was the Shaq trade (Lamar Odom, Curon Butler and Briant Grant for Shaq, the literal .75 cents on the dollar.) However any trade in which that much talent leaves a team that Kobe goes to in return will be vetoed by the Black Mamba. So what should the Lakers do? What they have done all along, make a public announcement that Kobe is going no where until '09 when he can opt out of his contract, and do everything they can to help Kobe win.
Some people will argue that Kobe is too much of a distraction to keep around, I would strongly disagree. When Kobe re-signed before the '04 season Jerry Buss promised him that he would surround Kobe with enough talent to win another championship. In 2004 the Lakers started Chucky Atkins, Bryant, Butler, Odom and Chris Mhim. You would believe that Atkins and Mhim don't play defense because it is against their faith, Butler needed another year to develop and the bench depth was as frail as the starting depth on the court. In 05 and 06 the Lakers rolled out Smush Parker (the first downgrade a team has suffered after starting Atkins) Bryant, Luke Walton, Odom and Kwame Brown (who they traded Butler for in the off season.) Kwame's hands are smaller then mine, and I'm a foot smaller then him, making him next to useless offensively, the young Andrew Bynum and Ronny Turiaf are young, under developed big men and the questions remained at the Point. Bryant is looking around through 3 seasons and realizing that management have actually regressed, not progressed the squad around him. Frustrated by feelings of losing and betrayal Kobe made his move, he spoke out and demanded that if the team wasn't going to hold up their end of the bargain, then maybe it was time for the relationship to end.
Naturally everyone ignored the feelings of betrayal and lies that the Buss family had fed Bryant 3 years before, focusing on the endgame trade demand. Kobe didn't turn around and start complaining after 1 season, he gave them 3, 3 full seasons to show him that they were committed to the promise they made him and they should no good will in that effort. Kobe spoke up and finally the management began to respond. Instead of letting Derek Fisher go to New York or the Clippers, the Lakers took advantage of Fish's family situation (one we hope is resolved and Tatum Fisher returns to full health) to bring Fisher back home to Staples Center. With the point guard depth and leadership solved you would expect the team to try and fix the issues in the front court; instead they focused on trading Kobe.
The rumors and talking radio shows finally got to Jerry Buss, he was sick of being painted as the bad guy in Los Angeles. He's Dr. Jerry Buss, he's brought countless championships to Los Angeles and he is going to have his ego and ability challenge by 1 player? Hardly. Dr. Buss let his ego get the best of him and decided that the situation was all about Kobe leaving, naturally Dr. Buss again missed the point. So what is the point, and what should the Lakers do instead of this dance of death with the leagues most feared talent? Use what they have to get Kobe the on-court help he desires.
Kwame Brown is in a contract year in which his salary is about 8.8 million dollars. As the trade deadline nears, and with the Lakers crowded in the front court, it would make sense to use Brown's expiring contract and Luke Walton's deal to get Josh Smith from Atlanta, a highly talented defender and team player. Atlanta doesn't want to pay Smith what he will be worth when his contract is up and getting the cap space from Browns contract can be appealing. Smith could seriously upgrade the Lakers at the 3 spot and give Bryant the "Scottie Pippen" he desires. With Odom and Turriaf at the 4 and Bynum's improved play backed up by Mhim at the 5, I see this as an improvement. It may not be an ideal option but it's the first step in the right direction, the direction the Lakers should of headed down in June.

e-mail: LASportsblog@gmail.com for more visit www.ArmchairGM.com search user: LASportsblog or www.RootZoo.com search LASportsblog