<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">He has been with us for so long, through the championship parades, the spiteful feuds, the streak of 40-point games and the draft lottery season, sometimes we can forget how old Kobe Bryant really is. Maybe that's why the most significant date in the Lakers' summer wasn't June 16, when Phil Jackson was welcomed back as coach after a year away. It might have been Aug. 23, the day Bryant celebrated his 27th birthday. Nearly a decade has come and gone since Bryant jumped to the NBA out of Lower Merion (Pa.) High - catching Jerry West's eye along the way - but one of the game's biggest stars now has entered what nearly everyone regards as the prime of his career. That is, if Bryant himself can believe how old he actually is. "I don't feel like an old dog, but I am an old dog," Bryant said. "I've got to kind of accept it." The story everyone will follow this season is Kobe and Phil, Phil and Kobe, waiting for a sequel to Jackson's best-selling diary, "The Last Season" that probably won't ever arrive. Meanwhile, Bryant's arrival at 27 is the big picture for a franchise hoping to reclaim its place among the NBA elite. How well Bryant will be able to play in his prime is anybody's guess, but the Lakers' biggest concern is to make something out of their superstar guard's best years, the ones for which they will pay him some $136 million. That he plays for a team still finding its way after the Shaquille O'Neal trade, with little salary-cap flexibility for another two years and first-round playoff aspirations this season, only complicates the situation. Every indication is that Bryant might never be better than this season, his 10th in the NBA. And for all the debate about when, exactly, a player should peak, the numbers seem to indicate that 27 is a golden age of sorts. Bryant had a full summer to train for the first time in years and put further distance from the sexual assault case in which he once stood accused. He will move to the wing in Jackson's triangle offense and he trimmed down to about 215 pounds. The impressions of Bryant during the exhibition season have all shared a similar theme. "He can be the MVP if we have enough wins," forward Lamar Odom said. With Jackson hoping to take advantage of the Lakers' youth with a trapping, pressure defense, Bryant dedicated his summer to running. He did an eight-week program of lung-searing sprints - starting with 800s, then 400s, and finally 200s. His words to Lakers strength and conditioning coach Joe Carbone, who has worked with Bryant since his high school years, were that he wanted to "run all day." The question, however, is whether Bryant will be doing anything but running in place during his prime years with the Lakers. </div> Source
The ironic thing is bryant has entered his prime at a time when the Lakers haven't been this worse off in years. Its more important that he doesn't waste his prime years, look at KG he's in his prime right now and is wasting it away on a team that doesn't have much prosepct for any sucess for the near future. jordan entered his prime right along the same time all the pieces to a championship team were put in place.
I hate to bring this up again, but the lakers should seriously trade Kwame Brown, 3 1st round picks, devean George and Cash for KG. It would be over. F.u.c.k.i.n.g. over. I know we'd be countless millions over the salary cap but KG and Kobe both want to win so bad that I think Jerry Buss would eventually agree to the staggering payroll. Kobe and KG might even take paycuts to play together since they are friends. Also, as for whose team it'd be- it'd be Kobes. And KG wouldn't care. He's been the man and it hasn't worked. He would love to be the second option, and would in fact probably see career numbers because we all know that Kobe knows how to deliver the ball into the post after playing eight years with shaq. But it's a mute point sadly...god it'd be fun to watch tho
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting amador08:</div><div class="quote_post">It would be so awsome watching those two guys play in the same team!!</div> But it's not going to happen..
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ilive4ball:</div><div class="quote_post">I hate to bring this up again, but the lakers should seriously trade Kwame Brown, 3 1st round picks, devean George and Cash for KG. It would be over. F.u.c.k.i.n.g. over. I know we'd be countless millions over the salary cap but KG and Kobe both want to win so bad that I think Jerry Buss would eventually agree to the staggering payroll. Kobe and KG might even take paycuts to play together since they are friends. Also, as for whose team it'd be- it'd be Kobes. And KG wouldn't care. He's been the man and it hasn't worked. He would love to be the second option, and would in fact probably see career numbers because we all know that Kobe knows how to deliver the ball into the post after playing eight years with shaq. But it's a mute point sadly...god it'd be fun to watch tho</div> I would like to keep Devean George. He is such a contributing factor for LA, plus him and Kobe have a good chemistry. They could lend Odom and Kwame for KG. You'd have Parker Kobe George KG Mihm That's not toooooooo shabby........
Yea I know its not gonna happen but it would be cool like I said! Spurs going to win this years finals!
While trading for KG seems like a good idea, that's almost too much to give up for an experiment. KG and Kobe are used to being the dominant man on the court, and it could wind up being Shaq/Kobe part deux. I don't want that. I think the Lakers will be perfectly fine with a nucleus of Kobe/Odom/Kwame. Odom and Kwame have really yet to reach their full potential, and with Phil around, I'll think they'll do it this year, and Kobe is the best perimeter player in the game. If you take away Odom and Kwame, along with throwing in George, you lose too much. You lose big man depth, you lose depth in general, and you throw away young talent that has yet to be realized. To me, it's not worth it. That's giving away way too much for one piece that could end up feuding with Bryant and Jackson, and then ending up wanting out. No way, not worth it.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Moo2K4:</div><div class="quote_post">While trading for KG seems like a good idea, that's almost too much to give up for an experiment. KG and Kobe are used to being the dominant man on the court, and it could wind up being Shaq/Kobe part deux. I don't want that. I think the Lakers will be perfectly fine with a nucleus of Kobe/Odom/Kwame. Odom and Kwame have really yet to reach their full potential, and with Phil around, I'll think they'll do it this year, and Kobe is the best perimeter player in the game. If you take away Odom and Kwame, along with throwing in George, you lose too much. You lose big man depth, you lose depth in general, and you throw away young talent that has yet to be realized. To me, it's not worth it. That's giving away way too much for one piece that could end up feuding with Bryant and Jackson, and then ending up wanting out. No way, not worth it.</div> Garnett wants a ring badly, if not desperatly. I think Kobe/KG partnership will work out just fine. Remember, Kobe can't act like a little baby no more. He is basically forced to get along with whomever he plays with. Kobe/KG will never turn into a Shaq/Kobe feud. Also, Kobe and KG are regular pals, they practice together in Malibu during the post season. KG is the most efficiant player in the game, I think Odom and Kwame are worth the trade. But keep George, please for heaven's sake keep George.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ilive4ball:</div><div class="quote_post">I hate to bring this up again, but the lakers should seriously trade Kwame Brown, 3 1st round picks, devean George and Cash for KG. It would be over. F.u.c.k.i.n.g. over. I know we'd be countless millions over the salary cap but KG and Kobe both want to win so bad that I think Jerry Buss would eventually agree to the staggering payroll. Kobe and KG might even take paycuts to play together since they are friends. Also, as for whose team it'd be- it'd be Kobes. And KG wouldn't care. He's been the man and it hasn't worked. He would love to be the second option, and would in fact probably see career numbers because we all know that Kobe knows how to deliver the ball into the post after playing eight years with shaq. But it's a mute point sadly...god it'd be fun to watch tho</div> Would you accept a trade if Minnesota offered you Wally Sczerbiak, Michael Olowokandi and 3 first round picks for Kobe? The thing about some people is that they fail to see things from an opposite perspective.
Kobe doesn't need Kevin Garnett, he needs Tony Parker and Tim Duncan and a bench. Oh wait the Spurs have all those elements!!! So Kobe and Manu should just switch teams.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Bahir:</div><div class="quote_post">If they do, it probably wont be KG's fault, so they will want to trade someone else instead.</div> right you are. Then KG has to have a bad season
I always thought yall were joking about trading garbage for KG...but you arent. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I would like to keep Devean George.</div> I mean i really dont know what to say. Cant part ways with George even if it means you'll get KG?
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Would you accept a trade if Minnesota offered you Wally Sczerbiak, Michael Olowokandi and 3 first round picks for Kobe?</div> First off- you forgot "cash" lol, but Kwame Brown offers much more potential then either Wally OR Candy man. We know Candy man is a bust, this late in his career he isn't changing, especially with that big ol' contract already in place. As for Wally, we already have George and Odom, we wouldn't have a place for him.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting GiantMidget:</div><div class="quote_post">I always thought yall were joking about trading garbage for KG...but you arent. I mean i really dont know what to say. Cant part ways with George even if it means you'll get KG?</div> Odom, Brown, and cash is enough. George needs to stay. He knows the triangle. He was there for Jackson's 5 year run and he's still there. George would be the right fit for Odom's departure. Walton would come off for him and KG will obviously play the 4. Simple.
