Actually I kind of hope it is the Lakers. All that horseshit about the lockout creating competitive balance and spreading talent around the league. Ha!
Why would you give up a league-champion 3pt shooter for a center with a potentially debilitating back injury he had surgery on like yesterday, and he's still recovering from?
Rather have an injury riddeled center who is very very childish and is only better then Howard at one thing and thats post moves.
If that is really the Lakers starting 5 and they were to play team ball the right way, Kobe should be third or fourth wheel. But is he gonna be okay with that? That lineup should be all about Nash setting up Pau and Dwight. Kobe couldn't stand playing second fiddle to Shaq, now what is he going to do? That is a mess of egos that could blow up in their face. Remember, there was once a Payton/Kobe/Shaq/Malone/George starting lineup and they didn't win the championship.
I think if you accept that Portland is never going to have the ball bounce it's way again, and that 77 was a fluke, you almost stop caring.
Kobe needs to understand that his days of being the man is long behind him. The whole point of bringing Howard in is to bring someone that can carry them when it's needed. Kobe can longer do that during a long playoff stretch. He is a lil old and his body has way too much wear and tear. But in the end, I think he understands this. If he doesn't, Phil will get him to understand it. I don't think it will be needed though.
When the 300% luxury tax kicks in next season will Buss consider amnestying Kobe's $30 million salary?
