<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The following words have never and will never be uttered by Kobe Bryant: "In a perfect world, I'd love to end up in Indiana. I hear they have daylight-saving time now.'' There's something that everybody is missing while concocting these dreamy trade scenarios that would send the Pacers' junk to Los Angeles for Bryant. He has a no-trade clause. In fact, he's the only player in the NBA who has a no-trade clause. So, even if Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak had a brain spasm and thought it would be a great idea to send Kobe here for, say, Jamaal Tinsley, Mike Dunleavy, Maceo Baston and seven future draft picks, it wouldn't happen. Because Bryant, a big-ticket, big-market kind of guy, would immediately slam on the brakes. Anyway, in his contract, it stipulates that if he is dealt, the new club would have to pay an additional $13 million roster bonus, which is approximately $13 million more than owners Herb and Mel Simon are willing to spend. Believe me, I'd love to see the Pacers do something big and brassy, blow up the current team and make themselves the talk of the NBA. As team president Larry Bird said the other day when Jim O'Brien was introduced as coach, "Well, I hear Kobe is available. We'll be willing to talk to him.'' Whenever a player of Bryant's ilk is available, I say go for it, whatever it takes, whether you're New York or Indiana. But this one has no traction. He won't want to come to Indiana because, well, it's Indiana. And he won't want to come here because Jermaine O'Neal would most likely be on the other end of that deal, meaning he would be coming to another team that is in rebuilding mode. Kobe wants to play with O'Neal, not against him. It's like this: If Bryant ends up in Indiana, playing for the Pacers, I will circumnavigate Monument Circle in a blue-and-yellow thong. And believe me, none of us wants to see that. Meanwhile, back in the real world, there are a lot of O'Neal-centric rumors percolating that make too much sense to completely ignore. They make sense because the Pacers know, or should know, that if they keep most of this roster intact, they're spinning their wheels. It's time for O'Neal to change addresses. They make sense because for all his bluster, Bryant isn't going anywhere. This was a hissy fit. He demanded a trade. Then he didn't. Then he sort-of did. Then he didn't. Haven't we seen all this before? Remember when we all said there was no way Lakers coach Phil Jackson and Kobe could work together again after the Zen Master took several shots at Bryant in his book? If anything, Bryant's semi-demand for immediate improvement will spur the Lakers to make a deal to obtain O'Neal. One of the many rumors surrounding the Bryant outburst was that the reason he settled down after talking to Jackson was that Jackson told him the team was poised to trade for O'Neal. I spent Thursday morning using ESPN's Trade Machine, a tool that figures up the salary cap numbers and lets you play fantasy GM, and I came up with several scenarios that worked for both sides. There's no reason the Pacers couldn't work a deal that brought them Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom and the No. 19 draft pick (plus some filler) for O'Neal and Jamaal Tinsley (and some filler). The Lakers desperately want to keep Bryant happy, and the best way they could do that is to trade for O'Neal. The Pacers desperately need to start rebuilding in earnest, and Bynum and the No. 19 pick give them two young pieces to start the process.</div> Source: IndyStar
<div class="quote_poster">Skiptomylue11 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">What is this "13 mill additional roster bonus" that is in Kobe's contract?</div> It's his trade kicker. However, I think Kobe has the option to waive it, if he really wanted to get a deal done. A lot of players have them, Lamar Odom also has one.
<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">It's his trade kicker. However, I think Kobe has the option to waive it, if he really wanted to get a deal done. A lot of players have them, Lamar Odom also has one.</div>So do they pay it all in the year of the trade, and does it also add luxury tax dollars?
<div class="quote_poster">Skiptomylue11 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">So do they pay it all in the year of the trade, and does it also add luxury tax dollars?</div> Right it's paid upfront to the player. It does not count against the salary cap.
I'm always bewildered when I hear that the Pacers might trade O'Neal to the Lakers for those three guys. They could get better from Chicago, Detroit, probably even Golden State.
