<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> <p class="News">The ball firmly in his court, Bulls GM John Paxson fired it back at Kobe Bryant and the Lakers on Thursday afternoon.</p> <p class="News">In classic Bullspeak that would have made even Jerry Krause proud, Paxson issued a nondenial denial that served several purposes along the way.</p> <p class="News">Paxson admitted that he's interested in Bryant and has been talking to the Lakers, but also said he couldn't find the parameters for a deal -- today.</p> <p class="News">Paxson didn't say he couldn't or wouldn't trade for Kobe Bryant tonight, tomorrow or next week. He merely said he couldn't do it at the moment.</p> <p class="News">By saying, "It's just such a complicated thing and we kind of put it to rest now,'' Paxson left the door wide open but shouted to Bryant and the Lakers that the Bulls can't find a way to meet their demands as constituted.</p> <p class="News">It was a superb tactical move by Paxson, who knows Bryant will do anything to get out of L.A., but some of Bryant's demands will have to ease up to make it work.</p> <p class="News">Same goes for the Lakers, who'll have to back down on some of their requests or they'll wind up with what the Sixers got for Allen Iverson and the Timberwolves for Kevin Garnett: nearly nothing.</p> <p class="News">Paxson also admitted that reports of the Bulls protecting untouchable players were untrue, meaning he will move anyone he has to in order to get Bryant -- including Luol Deng or Kirk Hinrich -- as long as he doesn't gut the team in the process.</p> <p class="News">As much as anything, Paxson wanted to settle down his roster, which has been hearing the talk for weeks and didn't bother to show up for the first half Wednesday night in New Jersey.</p> <p class="News">By addressing it Thursday, Paxson also is hoping his players arrive on time tonight for the home opener against Philadelphia and play at least three quarters of NBA basketball.</p> <p class="News">Other than that, nothing has changed from 24 or 48 hours ago, and don't believe for a second that this deal is dead.</p> <p class="News">The Bulls still want Kobe Bryant and he still wants them, but John Paxson has made it clear that he will let this deal die a slow and painful death if reason isn't brought to the table.</p> <p class="News">The next move is theirs.</div></p> <p class="News">Source: Daily Herald</p>
Those of us who follow the bulls know that this is bunk. The only deals Paxson has made have brought us the bad end of the deal every time. The big thing Paxson said in his press conference that resonates with us fans is this:</p> <span class="main"><span class="spacing"> "We're not going to do [the luxury tax] this year or any other year," Paxson said. "That's a component again that people don't understand. It's not about not being interested. It's about that there's not a deal to be done."</span></span></p> The bulls make $50M/year in profit and won't go over the luxury tax threshold to add Kobe. The worst part is, with Hinrich, Deng, Gordon, Thomas, and Noah, you have 5 guys who should make around $10M/year and that's not going to happen without going over the threshold.</p>
I don't believe Paxson has the stones to pull off a trade for a top player.</p> Kobe is just like KG and Gasol, a pipe dream of the fan base</p>
Almost everybody here I've spoken to about landing Kobe in a deal are really turned off by it; and when I write turned off I mean they basically answer with "F*** Kobe Bryant," or "I'm not ready to ruin this team for that type of player." I can't disagree there.</p>
Yeah, no one really wants Kobe Bryant around here either. (the Bulls fans). The Bucks fans think it would be good for Kobe Bryant to be on the Bulls though...</p> Jay Marriotti was saying that the Bulls don't want to give up either Gordon or Deng in a Bryant deal. With the no one is untouchable quote, I think the only scenario in which one of them goes, it would basically be them, a resigned PJ Brown, and whatever other fillers needed to balance out the salaries. No other assets.</p> I think Paxson is just rearing up for December 15th...with his "No deal is going to get done now". Thats when Nocioni and Smith will be able to be traded.</p> I think the deal that has a chance at getting done is:</p> Bulls Trade: Kirk Hinrich Andres Nocioni Viktar Khryapa Joe Smith Joakim Noah Lakers Trade:</p> Kobe Bryant Brian Cook Coby Karl</p> Kobe had to waive his trade kicker. Its fiscally respnsible under the Bulls salary structure, as Kobe's 19.5 million and Hinrich and Nocioni's 20 millions cancel out (of course Bryant's goes up, and their's go down....but still).</p> Paxson is just waiting it out until he has more stuff to trade, and is going to let the situation blow up in LA to make a trade without giving up Deng or Gordon very easy.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BG7 Lavigne)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> Yeah, no one really wants Kobe Bryant around here either. (the Bulls fans). The Bucks fans think it would be good for Kobe Bryant to be on the Bulls though...</p> Jay Marriotti was saying that the Bulls don't want to give up either Gordon or Deng in a Bryant deal. With the no one is untouchable quote, I think the only scenario in which one of them goes, it would basically be them, a resigned PJ Brown, and whatever other fillers needed to balance out the salaries. No other assets.</p> I think Paxson is just rearing up for December 15th...with his "No deal is going to get done now". Thats when Nocioni and Smith will be able to be traded.</p> I think the deal that has a chance at getting done is:</p> Bulls Trade: Kirk Hinrich Andres Nocioni Viktar Khryapa Joe Smith Joakim Noah Lakers Trade:</p> Kobe Bryant Brian Cook Coby Karl</p> Kobe had to waive his trade kicker. Its fiscally respnsible under the Bulls salary structure, as Kobe's 19.5 million and Hinrich and Nocioni's 20 millions cancel out (of course Bryant's goes up, and their's go down....but still).</p> Paxson is just waiting it out until he has more stuff to trade, and is going to let the situation blow up in LA to make a trade without giving up Deng or Gordon very easy.</p> </div></p> Why would they do that trade when the original offer was Deng, Gordon, Thomas and Noah? Thats a pathetic offer. Lakers don't have to trade Kobe. They can just let him opt out in 2 years.</p> </p>
Deng, Gordon, Thomas, and Noah were never offered for Kobe.</p> Agreed, Lakers don't have to trade Kobe. They can let him opt out in 2 years. See if he'll resign with the Lakers, or follow through and leave the team. That always is an option, but is it in the best option for the team? Will the fans accept that? The Lakers fans were already booing Kobe...showing that they are beginning to approve of a trade. The Lakers are not going to get way more value back (playing wise...not speaking trade value) back for Kobe, and Kobe won't let it happen either.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BG7 Lavigne)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> Deng, Gordon, Thomas, and Noah were never offered for Kobe.</p> Agreed, Lakers don't have to trade Kobe. They can let him opt out in 2 years. See if he'll resign with the Lakers, or follow through and leave the team. That always is an option, but is it in the best option for the team? Will the fans accept that? The Lakers fans were already booing Kobe...showing that they are beginning to approve of a trade. The Lakers are not going to get way more value back (playing wise...not speaking trade value) back for Kobe, and Kobe won't let it happen either.</p> </div></p> Oh sh!t, my bad. I meant the Lakers ASKED for those 4. But Kobe vetoed it because it involved Deng.</p> I am perfectly fine letting him walk after 2 years. Gives us a load of cap room.</p> </p>
And the Bulls fans don't want Kobe? They were chanting his name today at the Bulls game. I think its just you that doesn't want Kobe.</p> </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumpman)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BG7 Lavigne)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> Deng, Gordon, Thomas, and Noah were never offered for Kobe.</p> Agreed, Lakers don't have to trade Kobe. They can let him opt out in 2 years. See if he'll resign with the Lakers, or follow through and leave the team. That always is an option, but is it in the best option for the team? Will the fans accept that? The Lakers fans were already booing Kobe...showing that they are beginning to approve of a trade. The Lakers are not going to get way more value back (playing wise...not speaking trade value) back for Kobe, and Kobe won't let it happen either.</p> </div></p> Oh sh!t, my bad. I meant the Lakers ASKED for those 4. But Kobe vetoed it because it involved Deng.</p> I am perfectly fine letting him walk after 2 years. Gives us a load of cap room.</p> </div></p> </p> That deal was never on the table, so Kobe couldn't have vetoed it.</p> With Paxson's recent statement that the Bulls would never ever pay the luxury tax, he'd much more likely give up Gordon, Deng, and Wallace. The Bulls are quickly going to be paying 4 players $10M+, and the next season Thomas is due for a raise. Something's got to give. Gordon and Deng making $10M+ would basically wash with Kobe's contract in the long term.</p> For the same reason (not paying LT), Paxson is not going to trade away draft picks or young guys on rookie deals like Thomas and Noah.</p> Giving up the four players you mention would seriously gut the Bulls team. 6th man would be Aaron Gray or Thabo Sefalosha. They'd have no PF/C behind Wallace, Smith, and Gray.</p> </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumpman)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> And the Bulls fans don't want Kobe? They were chanting his name today at the Bulls game. I think its just you that doesn't want Kobe.</p> </p> </div></p> </p> </p> Selling out every game for the past few years means there are more then 21,000 Bulls fans in this city. The mass majority do not want Bryant here. How is this? Well aside from the dozens of fans voicing themselves on tv and in the paper, local news television had a poll a few nights ago with 83 percent voting against him coming here. Personally, I could care less. As long as we don't lose Kirk and too much else, then I'm ok with it. I believe Bryant has a similar mentality as I do over this as that he doesn't want to kill the team and their leading aspectto make his way over.</p>
With four minutes left in the third quarter, a handful of fans at the United Center tried to muster a ''We want Kobe!'' chant, but with little success.</p> Also, why would you make Kirk untouchable. have you watched him, he's been horrible. In addition, it was said that Kobe doesn't want to play with Kirk because Kirk dominates the ball and overdribbles.</p> As far as I'm concerned, Ben Gordon is my only untouchable tha the Lakers can't have, build a trade out of the other guys. Preferably Kirk instead of Deng so Kobe doesn't have to play SF, but either one, it doesn't really matter too much. As long as Gordon/Thomas stay, we'll be in a good position.</p>
^^ I don't get it. Why would you make Gordon untouchable. Don't get me wrong I like Gordon alot and feel he is a top SG in the league, but I'd take Deng anyday over him. Gordon and Deng are going to ask for the same contract come negotiation time, and Deng i feel is more deserving. Deng has nice rebounding game, a good mid range shot and can be made into a good defender. Gordon is just a undersized SG with a great shot. I feel both will be all-stars but this is sord of would you rather Lebron of Iverson type player.</p>
