Buss still listening to offers for Kobe

by bullshooter on Oct 11, 2007 7:54 PM CDT

As reported on ESPN today, LA Lakers owner Jerry Buss said that Kobe is not untouchable and could be traded in the right deal. On sportscenter, Chad Ford, or whichever reporter is playing the role of Kobe confidant/insider/publicist mentioned Dallas and Chicago as Kobe's first choices for possible destinations. He also mentioned that Dallas might offer Jason Terry and Josh Howard, and clarified that he was pulling those names out of his arse.

The most natural trade offered by the Bulls centered on BG might look like this, and pretty much guts the team. The Bulls are really handcuffed until Noc is unlocked in Dec. But then he becomes a pretty big salary cap chip, and the Lakers can worry about him taking minutes from Luke Walton and Lamar Odom. This deal probably doesn't get done if the Bulls are involved until the trade deadline, unless the Bulls include Hinrich or Wallace, which doesn't make as much sense for the Bulls.

My personal opinion is that this becomes a much bigger story next week after Sportscenter finishes their "Where will A-Rod Go" bit and Joe Torre's situation is clarified.

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After tonight

I might just do that.

Noah for President

by joejoeEnglish94bulls4ever on Oct 11, 2007 8:06 PM CDT reply actions

Trade isn't ridiculous

Starting lineup is:

Hinrich
Kobe
Deng
Noah/Smith
Wallace.

That's not so bad, really. Our bench is hurt by losing Tyrus and Thabo, though.

I'm not so sure that if I could swing that, that I wouldn't seriously consider it. It puts a window on a championship, though, with Wallace and Kobe's deals/knees respectively.

Get that out of Tyrus' House!!!!

by cubbybear on Oct 11, 2007 8:22 PM CDT reply actions

If nothing else

that proposed trade underscores how ridiculously deep this Bulls team is. Add a center, and you have a not-entirely-hopeless NBA team.

Riding the Noah bus since March 2006

by preverbal on Oct 11, 2007 10:40 PM CDT reply actions

Most logical trade would be based

around Gordon, Noc, Wallace and some draft picks and cap fillers.

by Option27 on Oct 11, 2007 10:44 PM CDT reply actions

No way

that Buss will settle for just 1 of the "big three"...I have a feeling that if ANYTHING is even talked about, Lu's gonna be in the conversation too

by ScottieCartwright on Oct 12, 2007 7:38 AM CDT reply actions

NO!

That is an awful lot even for Kobe, even if it allows us to keep a lineup of Kirk-Bryant-Luol-Noah-Wallace with Noc and Duh on our bench....

I might be willing to substitute Thomas with Duhon, but I wouldn't give Gordon and Tyrus and Thabo and others for Bryant.

Kobe's a great player, but I think that is too much young talent to get him, even if that starting 5 would be awesomely good.

Throw Noc in the trade in the offseason and give them Noc-Thomas-Khryapa-and 2 years of 1st round draft picks (no protection) and there you go. That would be a fair trade. Tyrus Thomas's athleticism would be quite a coup for the Lakers to sell tickets, and he has ridiculous upside. Nocioni's hustle would work great. Khryapa will get the chance he deserves, and the draft picks are icing on the cake.

If we have to give up Gordon, I'd substitute Thomas with a newly signed Gordon and take back with Kobe, a 3pt guy like Vlad Radmonovic (who will basically ride our bench but will make salaries match with Noc and presumably Gordon's high salaries).

by majoyenrac on Oct 12, 2007 9:31 AM CDT reply actions

Mariotti things Bulls should go after Kobe too

From Mariotti's blog:

Well, in a town that deserves marquee athletes on every team, I reiterate today that John Paxson must fall out of love with his nice, Eastern Conference-semifinals creation and make Bryant his obsession. The Lakers will want major value to make a trade before Bryant can opt out in two years, but unlike most NBA franchises, Paxson has a ready-made package that probably would include Ty Thomas and Ben Gordon.

I'm tired of looking at the Jordan statue. I want to watch the closest facsimile. And the amazing thing is, it's do-able, as long as Paxson can reconcile abandoning his old-school construction project and embrace the NBA's biggest-ticket megastar.

by paxson43 on Oct 12, 2007 9:38 AM CDT reply actions

Mariotti jerks off on the Jordan statue

(that's all I'll contribute to this thread)

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Oct 12, 2007 9:39 AM CDT up reply actions

That's just one more reason to be against it.

"They had me do a psychology test and I asked Coach Skiles if that affected his coaching. He laughed and said, `No way.'" (Joakim Noah)

by wjb1492 on Oct 12, 2007 9:56 AM CDT up reply actions

it's not a blog

Jay called it a "perpetual web column".

by hscs on Oct 12, 2007 10:11 AM CDT up reply actions

I would do this trade.

Noah for President

by joejoeEnglish94bulls4ever on Oct 12, 2007 11:24 AM CDT reply actions

My thoughts

are that this does not become a true story until a month or so before the trade deadline, thought it will be talked about throughout the season.
I also think that our best deal would be built around Noce (as it is probably most beneficial for our team) but that Buss isn't interested in that.
Clearly, Pax is willing to go after players as it we have a strong idea of offers on both Garnett and Gasol. The question is, what would he be willing to part with.
Personally, I'm fine watching this team stay how it is and just improve through experience. I've never been hellbent on the idea of superstar=only road to championship. Also, Kobe comes with baggage that a player like Garnett (and even Gasol) do not. There is a true question as to how he would fit into the team.
The price has to be right and I, for one, am not confident that Buss will take what Paxson will offer. I just don't think Paxson has an interest in giving up a lot, given his apparent track record.

"...Keeping 'SlowHand' alive since aught-five"

by CookDing on Oct 12, 2007 11:26 AM CDT reply actions

Ummm

I don't think anyone would make a deal built around Nocioni.

Clearly, it would be built around Gordon due to similarities and talent.

by Option27 on Oct 12, 2007 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions

yeah

shouldn't have said built around Nocioni, I just meant to say a deal in which Noce's large cap figure could play a part. I agree, it's not terribly realistic, just that it would be an ideal for the Bulls.

"...Keeping 'SlowHand' alive since aught-five"

by CookDing on Oct 12, 2007 12:08 PM CDT up reply actions

Here is a question.

Can you be too deep? How can you keep all these guys around? If they have a team like...

Wallace/Gray/
Smith/Noah
Deng/
Bryant
Hinrich....ehhhh I don't know.

I like the depth the team has now but its interesting. I think if it does happen it's mid season. I don't know I'd like to keep Tyrus and replace him with Nocioni in that trade. Then your future would be..

Noah
Thomas
Deng
Bryant
Hinrich

Noah for President

by joejoeEnglish94bulls4ever on Oct 12, 2007 11:56 AM CDT up reply actions

The grass is always always greener

Most of the trades won't work because of salary cap issues. The bulls would almost certainly have to give up wallace or kirk because of the poison pill provison. Even if lil ben or lu signs for 10 million there full value won't be counted for at least one more season possibly two. Keeping this in mind why would you trade for Kobe if you can make it to NBA Finals without him? Also who in there right mind thinks Scott "sarcasm" Skiles and Kobe would last even a half a season. When Wallaces deal runs out TT and Thabo will be up for extensions so the money is there to go to retain your top 8 players. That's when you can make a move if u feel like your team has peaked. Were talking about breaking up the core before any one of them has hit there prime. Ridiculous.

by Blacknight23 on Oct 12, 2007 11:57 AM CDT reply actions

scares me

I would welcome kobe, but at the same time I love our young team and would be very hesitant to bust it up. I feel so spoiled in having the depth that we currently have. The starting line-up posted above with kobe sounds great but somehow it makes me feel so naked...

by Hiryu on Oct 12, 2007 5:25 PM CDT reply actions

They were just saying on ESPN

that Lu's a sticking point again - something about the Lakers insisting he be included in any deal, but Kobe wanting Lu to stay on the Bulls if he were coming here. I didn't hear them say anything about the Bulls not being willing to trade Lu, but I wasn't really playing all that close of attention until I realized they were talking about our team. So basically, I have no idea if they were talking about actual discussions or were pulling hypotheticals out of their butts. Given ESPN's coverage of the Kobe saga, I'd guess it was more speculation than fact.

"They had me do a psychology test and I asked Coach Skiles if that affected his coaching. He laughed and said, `No way.'" (Joakim Noah)

by wjb1492 on Oct 12, 2007 5:34 PM CDT reply actions

They can make all the sticking points they want

But if/when Kobe gets traded, it won't be good for the Lakers. Their bargening position is pretty weak... I would think this will be similar to the Garnett deal, and that didn't work out so good for the T-Wolves. Deng's only 22 years old... he's not going anywhere. There's plenty of assets on the Bulls to trade for kobe w/out gutting the team.

by No bull on Oct 12, 2007 7:51 PM CDT reply actions