The only was the Lakers will get LeBron is if the Cavs are CERTAIN he wont resign with them, and trade for Kobe. That's the only way this will happen or work. Also, Kobe has a no trade claus so don't count on this.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ilive4ball:</div><div class="quote_post">The only was the Lakers will get LeBron is if the Cavs are CERTAIN he wont resign with them, and trade for Kobe. That's the only way this will happen or work. Also, Kobe has a no trade claus so don't count on this.</div> I believe Kobe's trade clause expires in 2 years, but I agree, the Cavs are not going to just allow LeBron James to leave without ample compensation. He will be a RESTRICTED free agent in 2007.
lebron will only leave the cavs if hes so dissatisfied that he demands a trade 2 stupidest moves in nba that had a big affect are: 1)orlando trading shaq to lakers led to 3 champion ships for the lakers 2)lakers trading shaq to miami led to lakers out of playoffs and miami being top team in east and possible championship next year cavs arent gonna plan on making it 3 because lebron is an instant impact player. Which ever team he is on it can isntantly take over games. proof: cav's last 10 reg. season games he was avg pts in 35's
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TmacGarnett:</div><div class="quote_post">lebron will only leave the cavs if hes so dissatisfied that he demands a trade 2 stupidest moves in nba that had a big affect are: 1)orlando trading shaq to lakers led to 3 champion ships for the lakers 2)lakers trading shaq to miami led to lakers out of playoffs and miami being top team in east and possible championship next year</div> Wait one second professor, Orlando to LA was stupid but trading shaq was a risky but better move in the end. Lakers needed to get rid of one person that took up too much cap space and they wisely chose shaq. He was too old, too overweight, wasn't hungry enough for victory, and his stats were declining. On the other hand Kobe was the exact opposite. So it was smart to get rid of shaq.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting YourNewChef:</div><div class="quote_post">Wait one second professor, Orlando to LA was stupid but trading shaq was a risky but better move in the end. Lakers needed to get rid of one person that took up too much cap space and they wisely chose shaq. He was too old, too overweight, wasn't hungry enough for victory, and his stats were declining. On the other hand Kobe was the exact opposite. So it was smart to get rid of shaq.</div> Maybe if you got off Kobe's nuts for a second you'd realize that the reason tha lakers are looking for all these free agents is not to complement him but to possibly replace him. the lakers found out the great job Kobe did all on his own last season. if the lakers are going after lebron its not because they want a new partner for kobe. its so they might have a new direction for the team. They know kobe wouldn't play well with lebron. For all purposes the lakers may be looking to rebuild and Kobe may end up being trade himself. He obviuosly doesn't know how to help out developing players.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Maybe if you got off Kobe's nuts for a second you'd realize that the reason tha lakers are looking for all these free agents is not to complement him but to possibly replace him. the lakers found out the great job Kobe did all on his own last season. if the lakers are going after lebron its not because they want a new partner for kobe. its so they might have a new direction for the team. They know kobe wouldn't play well with lebron. For all purposes the lakers may be looking to rebuild and Kobe may end up being trade himself. He obviuosly doesn't know how to help out developing players.</div> i totally disagree. Why would the Lakers trade Kobe after they chose him over the most dominant player in the league? Mitch isn't that stupid. The Lakers right now are basically in rebuilding mode with Kobe as their centerpiece and after one bad season they trade him? that's just bad managing on their (Lakers management) part. The Lakers won't trade Kobe, he's young, determined and the argueably most talented player in the league, the only thing he needs to improve on is his leadership and trust in his teammates and that should come within time as this is basically like Kobe's sophomore year without hiding behind Shaq. Give Kobe a break. As i see it, Lebron will probably use the Lakers as a way to lure the Cavs into his side of the court. I'm fairly certain he won't sign with the Lakers, the Cavs won't let him go just like that and since they can basically match any offer, there needs to be something "else" that will attract Lebron to come to L.A. (I've been hearing him and Kobe have developed a close friendship; or it could be the clause in Lebron's nike contract that does).
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting authentiq:</div><div class="quote_post">i totally disagree. Why would the Lakers trade Kobe after they chose him over the most dominant player in the league? Mitch isn't that stupid. The Lakers right now are basically in rebuilding mode with Kobe as their centerpiece and after one bad season they trade him? that's just bad managing on their (Lakers management) part. The Lakers won't trade Kobe, he's young, determined and the argueably most talented player in the league, the only thing he needs to improve on is his leadership and trust in his teammates and that should come within time as this is basically like Kobe's sophomore year without hiding behind Shaq. Give Kobe a break.</div> I'm not saying they will, but they might if The lakers continue with how their going. Kobe is probably one of the worst players to have as a centerpiece to rebuildong as i said he doesn't want to help develop players, he 's not a great team player see: shaq, eddie jones, lamar odom. the only upside he has is he is young. If the lakers dont make the playoffs this year, trust me Dr. Buss is going to start taking offers for Kobe.
Current rookie contract highly favors teams to resign their own FAs, especially when it comes to superstarts, because teams can resign their superstars after 3rd year, while players have to wait till his 5th year to gain unrestricted FAs. No right minded agent will refuse to take max contract, when anything can happen to the player for next two years, such as career ending injury, change of situation or reduced production. We can easily say "Er, Lebron will get max even after his 5th year", but really, who knows what will happen in his career? That's why we saw none of superstar after new rookie contract moved the team so far as long as the team is willing to pay max dollar, and I expect the same from Lebron...
really? <div class="quote_poster">Quoting YourNewChef:</div><div class="quote_post">Stats don't matter if you can't win. Yeah he averages 27-7-7, but he is the only one on the team who is good.</div> He was the only good player on his team last year? Zydrunus Ilgauskaus, who was an all-star last year making him on of the 12 best in the east, doesnt count as a "good" player? Thats interesting. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">From 2004-present, he was said to be the "next Jordon and blah blah blah" and he gets all these promotions with Sprite, Nike and all that stuff. Well ok, if he is getting 80+ million dollars to do all this stuff, he must be pretty damn good. What happens? He misses the playoffs twice. He is a underperformer and the rest of the world will forget about him in 5 years IF he doesn't win a ring by then.</div> First off this directly contradicts your top quote when you say he gets good stats because he had no one "on the team who is good" because if he has no one on the team who is good how is it his fault that the team didnt make the playoffs? So you are stating (incorectly) that he gets no support from his teammates but should nonetheless as a 20-year-old second year player be able to rise above that and lead his team to the playoffs? Maybe it isnt the media putting the unrealistic expectations on him, it the people who hate on LeBron such as yourself. And by the way as shape pointed out no straight from high-school phenoms lead there teams to the playoffs, none. Not KG, Kobe, Amare and not Jermaine O'Neal. no one. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">He is a underperformer and the rest of the world will forget about him in 5 years IF he doesn't win a ring by then.</div> That is ludacris!! To say the world will forget about a budding superstar in 5 years just because he doesnt win a ring is rediculous. Has the world forgotten about KG yet? KG has now played 10 years without a ring. It took MJ, the greatest of all time, 7 years to win a title. After five years did all of the people give up on him and forget him? That simply befuddles me.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting JWohl:</div><div class="quote_post">That is ludacris!! </div> No, this is Ludacris.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting YourNewChef:</div><div class="quote_post">Stay away from Lebron. He is an overrated player and he wouldn't create a good chemistry with kobe overtime. Plus, we don't need Lebron, that's why we have Kobe. We need a big guy except for Yao Ming cuz he flat out sucks. I say go for Amare or someone with equal worth and youth.</div> oh ya? well your whole team sucks... atleast we made it to the playoffs and even won games without our star player...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting igotask8board:</div><div class="quote_post">oh ya? well your whole team sucks... atleast we made it to the playoffs and even won games without our star player... </div> Whatchu talkin about willis?!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Lamont:</div><div class="quote_post">Maybe if you got off Kobe's nuts for a second you'd realize that the reason tha lakers are looking for all these free agents is not to complement him but to possibly replace him. the lakers found out the great job Kobe did all on his own last season. if the lakers are going after lebron its not because they want a new partner for kobe. its so they might have a new direction for the team. They know kobe wouldn't play well with lebron. For all purposes the lakers may be looking to rebuild and Kobe may end up being trade himself. He obviuosly doesn't know how to help out developing players.</div> Lamont as quick as you are to call out people who support Kobe, I would like to point out how quick you are to make comments that lack any substance. It's quite possible the Lakers would consider trading Kobe for LeBron, not because LeBron is better, but because he has a chance to be better and is much younger. The Lakers had a bad season for many reasons not named Kobe Bryant. They had a slew of injuries to their key players, and transitioned a new coach and system halfway through the season. You don't think that had any effect on the Lakers failure? Most of the players who were actually healthy never played in the Triangle offense including, Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Chucky Atkins, Chris Mihm, Tierre Brown, Vlade Divac, Brian Grant, Jumaine Jones, and Tony Bobbitt. A total of 9 players on 15 man roster NEVER played in the Triangle offense, let alone have an off-season to practice it. You don't think that had any effect on the Lakers failure? Why don't you take a look at the Lakers record before Rudy T quit, and the Lakers went through several key injuries? Why don't you also take a look at how many times the trio of Kobe-Butler-Odom actually played together? These comments you made I have a problem with... 1) <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Kobe doesn't want to develop players. </div> Absolutely ridiculous, Kobe Bryant has taken several players under his wing, Devean George, Caron Butler, Kwame Brown, Slava Medvedenko, Luke Walton, and Tony Bobbitt. He has been a coach on the floor for the team to teach the players how to respond and react within the Triangle offense. Kobe Bryant is the hardest working player in the league. He relates to other players who are willing to match his intesity in the off-season and regular seaon. Lamar Odom doesn't fit that personality last season. Kobe has to learn not everyone is as driven as him and how to relate to players without his passion to win. He's already spent time working out with Odom this summer to build the bond and get on the same page. 2) <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">He's not a great team player.</div> Nothing could be further than the truth. Kobe Bryant is a team player, he has improved every season. He works extremely hard in the off-season conditioning himself and expanding on his game. He has the guts to take the clutch shots and accept the pressure that comes along with missing them. He did this since his rookie year when he shot two airballs against the Jazz in the playoffs. Shaq and Kobe got along just fine on the court, it was the off-season after the Lakers won 3 titles when the rift began. Shaq refused to stay in shape and lost his hunger to continue performing at a championship level. Shaq refused to get in shape because the Lakers would not extend his contract. Everyone is quick to praise Shaq because of his attitude with the Heat last season. Unfortunately, it was a 180 from Shaq with the Lakers when they lost to the Pistons. The Shaq on the Heat got in shape in the off-season, shut his mouth about his extension, deferred to Dwayne Wade, and even took a huge paycut to help the team out. If Shaq had this attitude he would still be a Laker playing with Kobe, and would have been extended for more money. The other rift was when Kobe allegedly snitched to the cops about Shaq paying people off to hide his affairs. This of course is 100% on Kobe and I don't blame Shaq for being pissed about this. However, a lot of players don't get along on teams, but they set their off-court differences aside when they step on the court. I think Kobe is a questionable leader, but I'm confident he will correct that flaw the next couple of seasons as a Laker.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kwan1031:</div><div class="quote_post">Current rookie contract highly favors teams to resign their own FAs, especially when it comes to superstarts, because teams can resign their superstars after 3rd year, while players have to wait till his 5th year to gain unrestricted FAs. No right minded agent will refuse to take max contract, when anything can happen to the player for next two years, such as career ending injury, change of situation or reduced production. We can easily say "Er, Lebron will get max even after his 5th year", but really, who knows what will happen in his career? That's why we saw none of superstar after new rookie contract moved the team so far as long as the team is willing to pay max dollar, and I expect the same from Lebron...</div> Agreed. It's close to impossible to lure any player, especially a franchise player, because of the new CBA. However, the Lakers goal is to leave the door open for the slight possibility of one of these players being available. It's a risk, but if they don't get their man in 2007, there are a lot of impact players in the 2008 free agent group. They also have a few insurances in place, namely Kwame Brown and Andrew Bynum. If either or both, of these two emerge by 2007 or 2008, then the Lakers won't need another superstar, they'll use their cap space to acquire role players instead. The Lakers are going to be a bubble team for the next two years, and possibly won't make the playoffs if neither Kwame or Bynum come through. However, the Lakers have always taken calculated risks in order to build a championship team, instead of mediocre team that makes it to the playoffs every year, but never wins the big one.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Why would the Lakers trade Kobe after they chose him over the most dominant player in the league? Mitch isn't that stupid.</div> Sorry,but I had to comment on this. You see, most people would disagree with you. Mitch Kupchak really is that stupid. Thats why so many Laker fans call for his firing. Even the title of this thread shows how stupid he is. Why in the world would you target Yao Ming over Lebron James? Lebron>Stoudamire>lots of players>Ming.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Why in the world would you target Yao Ming over Lebron James</div> partly because the Lakers have a much better chance of landing Yao than they do Lebron. Just for the record, I do think Mitch is stupid, just not as dumb as people believe him to be.
I doubt they would get him, and even if they did it would be hard to have good chemistry with two perimeter players that demand a lot of shots.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TmacGarnett:</div><div class="quote_post">lebron will only leave the cavs if hes so dissatisfied that he demands a trade 2 stupidest moves in nba that had a big affect are: 1)orlando trading shaq to lakers led to 3 champion ships for the lakers 2)lakers trading shaq to miami led to lakers out of playoffs and miami being top team in east and possible championship next year </div> Shaq walked out of Orlando. It wasnt a trade. They didnt get squat. Shaq had to be traded. Lakers won 3. tried for the 4 and failed. It was time to let him go. At 32, he is still Dominant, but the Lakers lineup was getting old and needed the shakeup. Shaq and Wade are awesome, but Miami was already a playoff team without Shaq. Shaq simply took them to the next level. But I think the Lakers made a good move. They had to let the big fellow go.
So anyone expect this to actually happen? I don't really see him going anywhere, but it's cool anyways...
