<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">ORLANDO ? Michael Jordan and Mitch Kupchak strolled into Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex side-by-side Wednesday afternoon, and both executives were fully prepared to fend off questions about Kobe Bryant. In fact, almost every executive at the NBA pre-draft camp issued a "no comment'' when it came to Bryant's antics of the past few days. But Hall of Fame guard Clyde Drexler, reached on his way to Wednesday's San Antonio-Utah Western Conference finals game, didn't mind voicing his opinion. "I think he owes that franchise some loyalty,'' Drexler said before it was reported that Bryant backed off his trade demand. "The franchise said, 'You're our guy; you're our franchise guy.' They stuck with him through the (alleged sexual assault) trial, through the Shaq ordeal - it looks like he's jumping ship on them.'' In an interview with ESPN radio on Wednesday, Bryant asked for a trade and insisted nothing could change his mind. But a few hours later, after a conversation with coach Phil Jackson, Bryant told KLAC, the Lakers' flagship station, he had changed his mind. Drexler, who basically forced a trade from Portland to Houston that allowed him to win his only championship in 1995, said Bryant should demand help. <font size=""4"">"If Kobe was smart he'd be trying to get (Minnesota's Kevin) Garnett to come play with him,'' Drexler said.</font></div> Source: PalmBeachPost
Clyde Drexler has got to be the smartest man alive. He said exactly what we all think. It called Kobe out, and he called out KG, telling him that he thinks KG and Kobe should play together. Good job Clyde. I think the Lakers should push for KG, because, IMO, he is much better then JO, but JO will come at a lesser cost the KG.
Yes... Someone imporant finally called Kobe out for this. Make my Sig true Kobe! ^ But ya i agree with Brian.
Have to agree with Brian there we have a better chance of getting Jermaine than KG. I if KG won't ask for a trade he won't go nowhere.I guess his loyal to a fault...
How about a three way deal, with the Lakers getting KG, the Wolves getting JO, and the Pacers getting Bynum and others?
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">How about a three way deal, with the Lakers getting KG, the Wolves getting JO, and the Pacers getting Bynum and others?</div> That's probably the closet thing I've ever heard to a trade that could possibly work. As for what Clyde said the, "if Kobe were smart" comment was kind of ridiculous. And by kind of, I mean Clyde's an idiot. Does he think he's the only one to ever pitch that idea? Does he really think that hasn't crossed Kobe's mind? Seriously. It's like thanks captain obvious. Anyways back to that trade, the wolves and or Lakers would have to also give the wolves a little more just because J.O is a poor mans KG. The wolves wouldn't be any better off with merely J.O so they'd have to get a little more as well. But yeah dude. That's a good idea that works out for all teams involved, Indiana gets potential (they'd also get Lamar Odom or Kwame for cap reasons). And we'd get KG. Also, Minnesota wouldn't be as f****d as the sixers were when they lost their star. Here's where I get ridiculous and greedy: Somehow the Lakers pull of this trade for KG, then they say screw the cap and just sign Billups, and then trade Kwame brown and a draft pick for Ron Artest. Billups Kobe Artest Garnett Stu Jackson's mom
Drexler, thanks for using common sense! Like Kobe hasn't thought that it would be smart to ask for KG! It's pathetic this pipe dream is still floating. I'm glad Drexler's picked up the pipe.
So does anyone else think that Kobe might be doing this just to get the franchise to do something? This whole "I want to be traded" thing could simply be a ploy to get the front office people to actually make a trade that improves the team, something they've failed to do in a very long time.
No. It's real. Have you heard the radio interviews? The emotion is there. He's 100% pure authentic with this. He wants to win...now. If the Lakers aren't going to give him that chance, he wants out.
I've only heard bits and pieces of the interviews, essentially the parts they put on Sportscenter. I was just throwing the thought out there. I was relatively sure he was being sincere, but hey, it's a business. Sometimes to get what you really want, you have to do things that you might not regularly do.
As a Laker fan, I hope it's a ploy. As a Kobe fan, I hope it's sincere and he wants out of this crap. There's never going to be trust in the organization on Kobe's part, they've been lying to him since 2004. If it is a ploy, then he may have made it harder for the Lakers to make moves. Teams now know that Kobe's going to be available if the Lakers aren't successful.
I think it's actually more helpful that harmful if it is a ploy. It FORCES the organization to do something. If they don't, it could turn into more than a ploy. Plus, at the moment, Kobe is still a Laker and there haven't been any actual trade talks yet. As long as he still resides as a Laker, the thought of him getting traded isn't hurting us. When he actually gets traded is when we'll have issues bringing someone in, and if he does get traded, I'd fully expect this franchise to go in complete rebuild mode, so bringing in a superstar might not even be a top priority of that's the case.
It's not a ploy. What I'm getting is Kobe would rather stay with the Lakers, but if he's not going to win there, he'll go where he can to win. If it is a ploy, well we as fans should thank him because he's certainly got their attention now.
<div class="quote_poster">Moo2K4 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I think it's actually more helpful that harmful if it is a ploy. It FORCES the organization to do something. If they don't, it could turn into more than a ploy. Plus, at the moment, Kobe is still a Laker and there haven't been any actual trade talks yet. As long as he still resides as a Laker, the thought of him getting traded isn't hurting us. When he actually gets traded is when we'll have issues bringing someone in, and if he does get traded, I'd fully expect this franchise to go in complete rebuild mode, so bringing in a superstar might not even be a top priority of that's the case.</div> If the Lakers don't do anything, they might Lose Kobe for nothing when he opts out in a couple of years. If let's say, they wait a year and then trade him, that might be a risky move if something happens to Bryant and he loses some value (Olympic qualifying wear-and-tear perhaps?). That is why I believe LA will either go down swinging with Bryant on the roster (and possibly JO and some other MLE scrub), or he'll just get flat-out traded over the summer. At least Kobe has unlimited options two years from now.
Drexler said if Kobe were smart, he'd be trying to get KG on the Lakers... I think in a certain respect, that is what he's trying to do, trying to stir things up and force management to make a move. Unfortunately, he may have underestimated who he's dealing with. Jerry Buss isn't a man who likes to be jerked around, and if he felt like banishing Kobe to eastern purgatory, maybe he would. With Kobe's luck, maybe they'll trade him to Miami in a sign and trade with Vince Carter. Wade, Kobe and Shaq would probably haul in a trophy. But once again, it wouldn't really be Kobe's. That reminds me... do basketball players get no-trade clauses? Does Kobe have to approve his destination?
<div class="quote_poster">Montaman Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Drexler said if Kobe were smart, he'd be trying to get KG on the Lakers... I think in a certain respect, that is what he's trying to do, trying to stir things up and force management to make a move. Unfortunately, he may have underestimated who he's dealing with. Jerry Buss isn't a man who likes to be jerked around, and if he felt like banishing Kobe to eastern purgatory, maybe he would. With Kobe's luck, maybe they'll trade him to Miami in a sign and trade with Vince Carter. Wade, Kobe and Shaq would probably haul in a trophy. But once again, it wouldn't really be Kobe's. That reminds me... do basketball players get no-trade clauses? Does Kobe have to approve his destination?</div> It is funny you mentioned that, because Kobe is the only player in the NBA with a trade clause. He won't be banished anywhere and he's not worried about Jimbo's feelings.
<div class="quote_poster">Bahir Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">How about a three way deal, with the Lakers getting KG, the Wolves getting JO, and the Pacers getting Bynum and others?</div> Problem is JO might as well stay in Indiana rather than go to Minny.
