Should the Blazers go after Kobe?

by ggassen85 on Nov 1, 2007 4:29 PM PDT

Should the blazers go after Kobe Bryant? This is a questions I've been asking my self since the middle of the summer when he first made it known that he would like to be traded. I have thought about many diffrent trade senarios and after hearing last night that the trade involving the Bulls and Kings gave me an idea for a trade that I think would work.
The trade involves the Blazers, Lakers, and Kings(since they have already shown interest). Know I did this on ESPN Trade Machine(which is pretty cool by the way), so i know the numbers work.
Blazers recieve: Kobe Bryant
Lakers receieve: Brandon Roy, Ron Artest, Brad Miller
Kings receieve: Martell Webster, Jarret Jack, and Raef LaFrentz

Now why this would be beneficial to all the teams involved:
Lakers: Lakers get 2007 ROY Brandon Roy, who has the talent to be an All Star player and a great leader. In Ron Artest they get an All Star calliber player who is still relativly young. In Brad Miller they get an ageing center but one who still produces and could fill the gap between now and the time that Bynum is ready to start. Also Miller style of play fits perfectly into the triangle offense. With this trade the Lakers stay competative in the west and could have a starting lineup of Roy, Artest at Guards, Walton and Odom at forwards, and Miller at center. This team would still compete for a playoff spot and would better off then any other trade they could make. Also they would have good young pieces to build around, so its a trade that i think they would go for.

Blazers: Blazers get the best player since MJ, and automaticly become a playoff team. Starting lineup would be Blake, Bryant at guards, Outlaw, LMA at forwards, and Prizy at center. Becasue of the trades blazers would be a little thin at some positions but they would open up two roster spots so they could add some players. With Bryant and LMA blazers would have a great inside outside game, and with Oden waiting on the side Kobe would have his shaq back, but this time Kobe would be the perenial all star and the man, so he would be cool with it. I feel Kobe's got about five years left as a top 5 player in the league, and when he starts decline in talent LMA and GO will be ready to pick up the slack. Kobe is easily the type of player that could play into his late 30's. I think overall this trade would make the blazers better in the short and long run. Blazers would be championship contenders within 3 years, and would stay championship contenders for 8 to 10 more years. Why would Kobe come here? Becasue he would realize that he could play the last 10 years of his career playing for a championship every year. To everyone who thinks that the Bulls would be champioship contender if they trade for Kobe and keep Deng, you dont know anything about basketball. You dont win without big men, and the bulls dont have any inside game what so ever. The only team that has ever won without big men was the MJ Bulls, and thats becasue MJ was the best player ever, and as good as Kobe is, he still aint close to MJ.

Kings: This is proably the biggest stretch since the Kings lose a ton of talent in this trade. The Kings are gonna suck so they should just start to rebuild. They get Webster who is showing why he was the 6th pick. You could pair him up with Kevin Martin, one play SG and the other SF, and you have a great outside shooting punch to go along with their rookie center Hawes from washington. They get a decent point gaurd in Jack who can play for Bibby while he is hurt and maybe be their future starter. LaFrentz is here just to make the numbers work, I believe he can still play and could possibly make up for the loss of Miller. Also his contract and Bibbys end in the same year (two summers from now) which means they would get 25 MILLION in cap space which they could use to get a couple of free agents. So this trade works well for the Kings.

This is my idea for a trade, I think its fair for all teams, or as fair as it's gonna get for the Lakers, and I think the Blazers would win a ton of rings with the trio of bryant, LMA and GO. Let me know what you guys think, especially you Dave since you seem to be the Blazer guru!

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Comments

No.

We have too much of a foundation built to go after a locker room cancer like Kobe. We would just be switching places with the L*k*rs, and I don't think anyone envies them right now.

by rockingharder on Nov 1, 2007 4:31 PM PDT reply actions

not so fast on that thought!

Yeah that would be the only problem with this deal. But i believe Kobe has matured and realized he cant win it all on his own. If he came here i think he could suck it up for a couple of years knowing that there is light at the end of the tunnel, becasue lets face it, he could play another ten years in LA and he aint gonna see no light becasue that team is gonna suck for a long time. I also dont belive we would be like the Lakers becasue we have more talent then they do, and our managment knows what they are doing, unlike LA who is run by a bunch of idiots.

by ggassen85 on Nov 1, 2007 4:44 PM PDT up reply actions

He is leaving LA

because he doesnt want to wait a couple years for guys to develop. that isnt going to change by coming here, not to mention the fact that Kobe is public enemy #1 around here...

RUDY > MJ

by myemic23 on Nov 1, 2007 4:55 PM PDT up reply actions

our management

knows what they are doing and that is why Kobe will never wear the black and red. We don't need a black hole, with an ego of that size ruining the good young talent we have remaining after trading half of it away.

by trail time on Nov 1, 2007 5:07 PM PDT up reply actions

Your trade proposal showed a lot of thought

and you made some good points.

But then you spoil it all with this comment. Kobe matured? Not hardly. His rants against management and demands to be traded are not an indication of maturity. Just selfishness.

And as myemic points out, believing Kobe is willing to wait for anything is delusional.

As regards the trade proposal - I personally do not want to see Kobe Byrant on any team I root for (but then I'll admit to a bias here) and I would be greatly surprised if Pritchard had any great interest in adding him to his team.

by timg56 on Nov 2, 2007 7:27 AM PDT up reply actions

Hmm

This trade would be a huge FU to Brandon Roy. I am not in KP's head but I imagine Roy is the last person on the team he would trade.

I also do not think the Lizakers will trade Kobe for anyone but a franchise player with 10 years left in the tank. The only guy on the Blazers they would take is Oden.

Also, Kobe can veto any trade and he will not go anywhere unless they are a title contender. Kobe said he will not go to Chicago if they include Luol Deng in the trade. He wants to win now and trading away Deng diminishes his chances of getting another ring.

Fatty, Big Daddy on the BE, Man o' international renown, Postin' from his own thrown, Tellin' us what we couldn't see

by tominhawaii on Nov 1, 2007 5:01 PM PDT reply actions

NNOOOOOO!!

I hope you detect the vociferousness of my No. Martell and Brandon are too high a price to pay for the kobe-ster. Who's to say that Martell doesn't achieve Kobe-like scoring firepower within the next few years. He's 8 or 9 years younger than Kobe. And then add Roy...

Are you freakin' kidding??!! Shame for even thinking the thought.

And what's this Brad Miller crap. That guys about as useful as a used tire. Why would the L*kers want a used tire?

And by the way. This is a Blazers site. Please blot out one of the letters in the name of our hated enemy whenever you write it.

When church and state marry, the devil pays for the reception.

by fisheyes on Nov 1, 2007 5:01 PM PDT reply actions

whatever it takes to win

The deal that was talked about last night had Artest and Ben Wallace going to LA, the deal i proposed gives the lakers a lot more talent. And shame on me? I'll i want is to win championships and with a trio of kobe, LMA and GO, theres no doubt that would happen!

by ggassen85 on Nov 1, 2007 5:14 PM PDT up reply actions

I am a Portland Trail Blazers fan

I would never root for Kobe. Ever. Period.

I want to take a shower just thinking of the thought.

Addicted to Quack SBN's Oregon Ducks Blog

by David Piper on Nov 1, 2007 5:05 PM PDT reply actions

a big f'n NO

not trying to be a jerk, but that is completely ridiculous! Why would we take 2 out of our 4 budding young stars and give them away for a couple productive years from a guy that will be a shell of his current self by the time Oden reaches his prime??? The whole thing that's great about our team right now is that they are all around the same age and the 4 future stars (BR, LA, MW, and GO) are all going to start peaking around the same time. Sorry but there is no way that's worth giving up for Kobe

by mark twain on Nov 1, 2007 5:08 PM PDT reply actions

a big f'n NO

by mark twain on Nov 1, 2007 5:09 PM PDT reply actions

kobe has more

than a few years. He just turned twenty nine and there is no reason to believe he couldn't be an all-star until he is 35. He has gotten better every year in the league.(still wouldn't want him as a player representing the Blazers)

by trail time on Nov 1, 2007 5:22 PM PDT up reply actions

only one trade inlcudes ROY

a trade for Lebron.

by trail time on Nov 1, 2007 5:10 PM PDT reply actions

Joke, right?

Dave, are we allowed to tar and feather ideas around here? Can you burn this diary in another voodoo ceremony?

by bfan on Nov 1, 2007 5:19 PM PDT reply actions

Lets see:

Giving up Brandon and Martell for the best basketball player in the universe is too much? Well, I wouldn't do it either because I think Roy has too much to offer to the team and I don't mean just his physical basketball skills (which I'm realistic enough to know will never approach Kobe's.)

I've proposed this one before, and I was fearful of being tarred and feathered for it then, and still am; but here it is again:

Trade a current damaged goods player who does not have a history of robust physical soundness (G.O.) along with LaFrentz for Kobe. If Roy stays healthy this year, we would vie for the NBA championship with that line-up ... Joel, LMA and Kobe on the front line, with Roy and Blake in the back-court.

I propose this beause I remain very concerned about the physical health of Oden which is why I promoted Durant during the heated draft discussion days.

by TwoDeep on Nov 1, 2007 5:21 PM PDT reply actions

somebody get a rope...make that two ropes.

by Kampeska on Nov 1, 2007 5:40 PM PDT reply actions

Oh, HELLLL no...!

We've treaded this ground/subject before, but on KP's Team Culture thing alone, he doesn't fit.
Regardless that he was never convicted, I just can't see it.
Plus, talk about alienating a LOT of Blazer fans! He comes from The Enemy. 'Nuff said.

We're going to WIN...in RIP CITY! Well, the lights are bright! In the town tonight!

by patrickroy on Nov 1, 2007 5:42 PM PDT reply actions

thank you

Well put, he doesn't fit our culture.

by trail time on Nov 1, 2007 5:58 PM PDT up reply actions

NO

end discussion

by BlazerBandit on Nov 1, 2007 5:54 PM PDT reply actions

This is

the dumbest thing I have ever read on Blazers Edge.

by BigCelPhone on Nov 1, 2007 5:55 PM PDT reply actions

enough of this enemy crap!

I am die hard as it comes, so dont ever question that. Look I hate kobe as much as anyone, i dont think there is a person who caused me more emotional distress as a child as he did. But i want to win, and badly. I dont care were they come from, as long as they can bring us the ship, thats all I care about. Look at New York, did you ever think that yankee fans would ever like wade boggs or roger clemens after they played for the red sox? well they came to new york and won, and they are now loved by all yankee fans. I think if kobe came here and played hard, and helped us toward a ring every blazer fan would eventualy warm up to him. Even you would, so dont lie!

by ggassen85 on Nov 1, 2007 5:57 PM PDT reply actions

We'd have to give up too much....

We'd have to give up too much to get him. We have solid parts to build a team around. No need for Kobe. Also I see no need to star out a letter in Lakers. They're just a mediocre basketball team. Why add to their, apparently, mythical status. I think everyone who does it is giving that club far too much credit.

by nlj on Nov 1, 2007 6:09 PM PDT reply actions

Patience

Let the East coast teams try and trade for Mr. Bryant. That seems to be how it works anyways. Someone will want a quick fix. Ainge has done it. Thomas has done it. Right now, Chicago is one of the few teams in the East which have long range plans. Certainly Kobe Bryant is a valuable player, but we would have to mortgage the future to have him now. I would not be willing to do that. Our future is too bright. But waiting for it will take patience.

by T Darkstar on Nov 1, 2007 6:43 PM PDT reply actions

Shudder....

While I applaud the Machiavellian approach to winning, there are some things worth losing for. LMA's development isn't the only reason Z-Bo was given away like puppies in a cardboard box outside Wal-Mart. Character is important. Trading for Kobe would be like peeing on the flag. I already threw up in my mouth a little when we traded for Stevie Franchise on draft day...
There is a wonderful fable about a goose that laid golden eggs...

~Nathan

Blazer's fan since '84, Currently exiled in Tennessee and North Carolina

by HurraKane212 on Nov 1, 2007 7:21 PM PDT reply actions

Kobe a Blazer?

No. NO. no. nonono no, no. No. NO No

((U(UIO^R#$ER^S%@EESERDER^CGF>O)PI()()&*((&(&ERED%^%^#@W65r8iu90@$%%$@#$ $%%^R^%P)+("PKO+
NO.

by ojala on Nov 1, 2007 8:11 PM PDT reply actions

the word is

rosterbation. too much fantasy sports fuels this stuff. nothing against the originator of this post, hes just fooling around, but i wish that rosterbation would cease once the actual real season has begun.

ignacio

by ignacio on Nov 1, 2007 8:23 PM PDT reply actions

Seems unanimous

Incidentally, ESPN had a poll question asking whether people would want their favorite team to trade for kobe: Oregon respondents were two to one against, one of the highest negative votes. Trading for Kobe gets us a low playoff seed the next couple years, and destroys our longterm championship aspirations. Put me down for "no."

by OregonDuckworth on Nov 1, 2007 10:12 PM PDT reply actions

Hmmm...

The trade suggestion doesn't take into account what the Blazers have been trying to do the last few years. Patterson and Nash didn't do a great job of it but they did get the ball rolling toward a team with talented players with good character. KP has kept this focus and done a much better job with the talent aspect of it.

Kobe, regardless of his talent, would be a step away from this goal. I don't think he is the devil, but I do think he falls short in the team player category.

And no offense to Roy, but this is a horrible trade for LA. It wouldn't make them better now, so Artest and Miller would kind of be a waste. They would need to retool completely and by then, those guys would be done.

by tssbro on Nov 1, 2007 11:49 PM PDT reply actions

I tend to go on & on when posting

But not this time. My response to the idea of bringing the LA Rapist here under ANY terms:

YUCK!!!

by hurryup09 on Nov 2, 2007 12:35 AM PDT reply actions

All of this said

if that trade actually went down within three weeks everybody would be cheering Kobe. That's just the way it is.

But Sacramento would never do that trade.

--Dave

by Dave on Nov 2, 2007 1:58 AM PDT reply actions

Not everybody

I wouldn't be watching Blazers basketball. Really.

by hurryup09 on Nov 2, 2007 2:54 AM PDT up reply actions

Not me

I'd go on sabbatical as a Blazer fan until he retired or went elsewhere.

And yes, I think if you put Blake, Kobe, James Jones, Aldridge, and Oden on the floor next year, you might win it all. Sergio, Rudy, Travis, Pryz, and Frye off the bench.

Sacramento might do it if they got our #1 pick this year, and maybe a chunk of Paul Allen's money. We could toss the Lakers a couple of second rounders if they wanted.

I don't think KP would touch Kobe with a 10 foot pole. It would give us a shot at a championship next year and the year after, maybe three years. With our current nucleus, we should be contenders for 8-10 years.

by jscot on Nov 2, 2007 3:06 AM PDT up reply actions

Exactly

Putting aside the "yuck factor"--which alone is a deal-breaker for me--trading for Kobe doesn't make basketball sense. KP has been putting together a potential dynasty. Every GM in the league is drooling over the Blazers' long-term outlook. Giving that away for a 3-year championship window that happens to begin right away would be foolish. Patience, Blazer fans!

by hurryup09 on Nov 2, 2007 3:33 AM PDT up reply actions

wrong.

by ojala on Nov 2, 2007 7:00 AM PDT up reply actions

This is

the first time I have to disagree with you Dave. A few people would like it, but this would be the most polarizing move in Blazers history, and in a time where it was the most positive movement in any sports franchise in the last decade(knowingly anyway, the Patriots didn't know what they had until after the championship). The Kings wouldn't do it, and KP hopefully wouldn't do it for the mere fact that he would be selling everything he preached for a shot at a short term reward. I personally wouldn't want Kobe at all. I am from the same district as him, a suburb of Philadelphia. His high school was 15 minutes away from my house, and he is the first real sports star in our area to come into his own, not to mention a superstar. No one in the town cheers for this guy because of how he treats people he knows. He leaves a trail of burnt bridges wherever he goes. KP would have to eat every word he has said to make Kobe a Blazer, and every one who just got off the whole jailblazers kick would either hang their heads and cry or start making a whole new batch of jokes depending on what side they are on. No way could this ever work in a beneficial way. This is an unquestionably terrible thought in my opinion.

"Yeah, well, you know, that's just like... your opinion. Man."

by einman77 on Nov 2, 2007 9:15 AM PDT up reply actions

I hear ya dave...

I am more of a blazer fan than a kobe hater. Not to mention the guy has skills on the court that no human being should have...

RUDY > MJ

by myemic23 on Nov 2, 2007 12:46 PM PDT up reply actions

Phil Jackson is the devil

Look at the photo on this page and tell me he doesn't look like Satan. I don't think it can be done.

http://www.umkcsae.com/alumni.htm

Fatty, Big Daddy on the BE, Man o' international renown, Postin' from his own thrown, Tellin' us what we couldn't see

by tominhawaii on Nov 2, 2007 1:59 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't even like Kobe's game that much

I'm just realistic about the tendencies of fans. As soon as we ripped off a five game win streak 70% of the people who had complained about getting him would be clapping and saying, "I don't like him, but at least he can play." As soon as we made the playoffs again another 25% would be back. And the minute we went to the finals there would be no holdouts anymore. Even the vocal dissenters would be secretly tuning in to watch and would find themselves rooting for the team.

--Dave

by Dave on Nov 2, 2007 2:22 PM PDT up reply actions

Proud to be

in the 30% minority.

I was a L*ker fan before him.

James Worthy, Magic, Michael Cooper, and mostly Hrambis, those were my boys. Then life took me to Seattle from San Diego, and Nate was my guy. I padded along behind Nate when he headed south, so now I was a NOOF.

It was easy to add KP, Ime, LMa and Roy manlove to my picnic basket.

But my Kobe disdain would trump all my expanded NOOFness.

by ojala on Nov 2, 2007 3:04 PM PDT up reply actions

Speak for yourself, Dave

I don't question that a revoltingly high percentage of Blazer fans would cheer for a successful Blazer team led by Kobe Bryant. Maybe that group would include you--I don't know. But it would not include me. And I know I'm not alone. As I posted before: where DO you draw the line? I draw the line at someone who I know beyond a reasonable doubt to be a rapist (regardless of whether he was convicted of that crime).

Beyond that (as if that's not enough), Kobe Bryant is an awful teammate who makes the players around him worse rather than better. Can he play "the right way" in stretches (as he did for America's team recently)? Yes. But he would never sustain that because it's not in his nature. This guy, for all his gifts, is truly repugnant. And his acquistion would make a lie of everything the new Blazers are supposed to stand for. I would never support that.

by hurryup09 on Nov 3, 2007 2:18 AM PDT up reply actions

Where DO you draw the line

Granted, Kobe wasn't actually convicted of the rape. As I recall, he just paid a tremendous amount of money to avoid having it go to trial (and paid even more to buy his girlfriend's--or is it wife's?--forgiveness). But for the sake of argument, let's imagine Kobe HAD been convicted. Would that have been enough to keep even win-at-all-costs Blazer fans from wanting him?

Or is rape not a serious enough offense? How about an OJ scenario? Does someone have to actually commit murder to become "unrootable" in this society? I'm just wondering...

by hurryup09 on Nov 2, 2007 3:04 AM PDT reply actions

Even if Kobe agreed to the trade

No. At some point people are going to wake up and realize that one player doesn't win a title.

by leeroyjenkins on Nov 2, 2007 10:41 AM PDT reply actions

Tell that to all the

Blazers fans who really only root for Greg Oden and are looking for a championship in 2009.

Kobe- No.

But man I hated Scottie Pippen before he beacme a Blazer...

Ball Don't Lie

by bothteamsplayedhard on Nov 2, 2007 10:56 AM PDT up reply actions

I didn't like Jordan...

but I always respected Pippen. He seemed to be the classiest of the bulls.~Nathan

Blazer's fan since '84, Currently exiled in Tennessee and North Carolina

by HurraKane212 on Nov 2, 2007 11:49 AM PDT up reply actions

I can't speak for you

But there's a difference between 1) hating a player because he's caused you heartache by beating your team and 2) hating him because he's a lousy human being. The former type (e.g. Scottie Pippen) you know deep down that you'd love to have on your team. The latter type (e.g., Kobe Bryant) you don't want on the same continent with you.

by hurryup09 on Nov 2, 2007 11:50 AM PDT up reply actions

First of all

Whether it was rape or not, Kobe still cheated on his wife (girlfriend). That alone is enough! I'm not naive and know that a large % of pro jocks probably do cheat, but I want a team that has good moral fiber as well as the talent and drive to win. I don't think we will be seeing Brandon's name involved in any crap like that.
Personally, I wouldn't trade for any "hired guns".
I think we have an opportunity to be part of something that is very, very rare in sports today, to watch a group of quality young men work hard, bond together and become a model basketball team for the whole world to envy.

by blazinagain on Nov 2, 2007 11:58 AM PDT reply actions