Visions of Kobe? It would take miracle on 33rd St. for Isiah to get Bryant <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">By FRANK ISOLA DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER Wednesday, June 20th 2007, 9:06 AM Print Email Suggest a Story Kobe Bryant Kobe Bryant's three-week temper tantrum has created league-wide speculation regarding the future of one of the NBA's top players. Will Bryant land at Madison Square Garden? What about Chicago or Phoenix? It makes for interesting debate, and the rumors started flying after Bryant met with Dr. Jerry Buss last Friday in Barcelona and reportedly told the Lakers owner that he wanted out. Still, the feeling among Lakers insiders is that Buss has no intention of trading Bryant. In fact, Phil Jackson sent an e-mail to a Los Angeles Times reporter on Monday in which the Lakers coach said, "It's my unshakeable feeling that Kobe will be a Laker next October . . . when training camp opens." Despite an amateur video in which Bryant is said to viciously criticize Lakers management and center Andrew Bynum, the odds of Bryant being dealt are remote for several reasons. The Lakers have leverage because he is under contract for at least two more seasons. Bryant, who turns 29 in August, is arguably the league's best player and it would be difficult for the Lakers to get something close to equal value. Plus, the team still hasn't recovered from trading Shaquille O'Neal for Lamar Odom, Caron Butler and Brian Grant. Instead, the Lakers say they are committed to building around Bryant and adding players who can make them a contender again. The Knicks are one of several teams that would be in the market to acquire Bryant. But at least one team executive questions whether Isiah Thomas has the goods to make a trade happen. It has been speculated that Thomas would put together a package featuring Jamal Crawford, Channing Frye and David Lee. "If the reports are true that Eddy Curry is untouchable then that's your story," said one executive. "Are you kidding me? If you were allowed to trade the Knicks entire roster for Kobe, I bet they would still win 33 games next season with Kobe and a few rookies, young players and veterans. "The Lakers are not going to trade the best player in the league for three guys that were not even full-time starters last season." Since the Knicks lack a superstar they can deal, Thomas must find other means to acquire players. His three biggest moves as president have been acquiring Stephon Marbury, Crawford and Curry in trades. In all three deals, the Knicks traded away expiring contracts and draft picks to complete the transactions. In the Marbury deal, Phoenix used the expiring contracts to create salary cap space to sign Steve Nash. In the Curry move, the Bulls eventually received two lottery picks. Chicago has the ninth pick in next week's NBA draft, compliments of the Knicks. The contracts of Marbury and Steve Francis expire following the 2008-09 season, which is also when Bryant can opt out of his deal. The Lakers, according to sources, would trade Bryant if and when they become convinced that he would not re-sign with them. Even if all those scenarios play out, such a deal would not take place until next summer or right before the Feb. '09 trading deadline. The Knicks are also hindered by the fact that they have a young, unproven roster. Had they reached the playoffs last season with Curry and Crawford performing well, those two players would have increased their value. Instead, they continued their streak of playing for a losing team. Crawford is coming off ankle surgery, Lee missed the last two months of the season due to injury and Frye regressed in his second season in the league. According to reports, Bryant, who has a no-trade clause in his contract, would prefer to be traded to a major market. However, people close to Bryant say that his top priority is winning, and if he were acquired by the Knicks, Bryant would be leaving a 42-win team for a 33-win team. "This is about Phil being concerned about his legacy and Kobe wanting to win now," said the source. "They don't like how slowly things are moving along and they want (GM) Mitch Kupchak to do something. They are not concerned with the future of the Lakers. They want him to make moves that will help the team win today."</div> Vision!
<div class="quote_poster">LBJ2006MVP Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">LINE up 2 is the best IMO because Lee is atleast 10PPG,10rebs, Frey can put up the same numbers, Francis can probably pick up his game in Lakers world. Craw is 20PPG scorrer when he is healthy. All those points will make up for Kobe. Line up 3 is pathetic just because Duhon is crap, nothing he isn't better than Francis. Nocioni is 28 years old and ok player not better than Craw for sure when he is healthy. Gordon is the only though star you're getting there. But I feel like he is going to miss a lot of shots because he doesn't have Kirk,Deng, on his team to spread the floor up. So, this just really seems like bogus to me. Line up 1 is okay in the east but not the west. Line up 4 looks good. but again (In your Dreams.)</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Eddie (Hoboken, nj): Lots and lots of rumors about the Knicks and Kobe, JO, etc. You hear any truth to any of this? SportsNation Chad Ford: With all the respect to my guy Chris Sheridan, if the Knicks get Kobe for <font size=""5"">all the junk</font> Sheridan put out there ... it may go down as the worst trade in NBA history. David Lee's a very good role player ... the rest (Jamal Crawford, Channing Frye, Nate Robinson) ... Knicks can't give those guys away right now. Danny Ainge wouldn't give the Knicks the No. 5 pick for a combination of those players. </div> VISION THAT!
Please stop polluting the Lakers forum with Knicks articles. Kobe isn't going to the Knicks, get over it. Move on to Rashard Lewis.
^^ I think that Isiah is just wasting his time doesn't he have better things to do like focus on the draft lol he'll probably have a bad pick
<div class="quote_poster">Bacon Smeller Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">^^ I think that Isiah is just wasting his time doesn't he have better things to do like focus on the draft lol he'll probably have a bad pick </div> Knicks don't have that great of a pick to begin with. I think what he should be doing right now is hiring some rocket scientists to figure out how the Knicks can escape from this salary hell.
O maybe the Knicks should focus on hiring a better GM that can get them out of their salary hell. Isiah put them in that salary problem and he should figure something that will help them.
<div class="quote_poster">Bacon Smeller Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">^^ I think that Isiah is just wasting his time doesn't he have better things to do like focus on the draft lol he'll probably have a bad pick </div> This post makes about as much sense as your name. Isiah has an an excellent track record on draft day. Anyway, I think it's more or less inevitable that a lot of people on these forums are going to become Chicago fans.
<div class="quote_poster">rafy Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">This post makes about as much sense as your name. Isiah has an an excellent track record on draft day. Anyway, I think it's more or less inevitable that a lot of people on these forums are going to become Chicago fans.</div> lol exactly ... Isiah is a great drafter... picking up lee that late was a great move, Thats the only thing he does well, I admit.
<div class="quote_poster">THE DREAM Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it " a miracle on 34th street"?</div> The current Madison Square garden is located at Penn Station. (between 31st and 33rd streets, 7th and 8th avenues).
