<div class="quote_poster">Quoting scorbutic:</div><div class="quote_post">Well the article is about Kobe being in Phoenix... not sure why the title is he would be a Bobcat. The article was interesting and I did learn that teams can BRIBE the Bobcats to pick their players in the draft... and then the Bobcats can CUT players they draft and not have it count against their cap. I believe the Suns may end up taking this road... why not offer 1 of your 2 1st round picks to Charlotte for them to take Howard Eisley's $6.375 million next year (nearly $7 million the following year) giving the Suns just enough room to sign a free agent, like Kobe. Being an expansion team sounds like fun... start fresh, pick your entire roster, get bribed with draft picks and money, be able to cut players without taking cap hits, be in the same division as Atlanta, Miami, Orlando and Washington (Charlotte may win the division next year), have a mascot with a stupid name like Rufus, and wear ORANGE jerseys!! Where can I get an expansion team? Maybe NBA Live 2005 should give us the option of starting our own expansion team... that would own!</div> Hah! I agree, I read that article by Chad Ford a while back about bribin the Bobcats to take on some contracts. I think it's great for the league. There are so many guys who are WAAAY Overpaid right now. I think getting rid of those players might help out teams that are having cap problems... which, i think probably around 80% of the teams are in those types situations.
IMO the old kobe would leave because he wants his own team... the now kobe (if he ONLY wants to win like what he said in a SLAM issue, Kobe Bryant: Winning is Everything) wouldn't leave and accept his role but he could be given a scoring leading role too by Phil plus the Lakers will offer him better money than anywhere else (exception: clippers or suns or denver or teams in KB-sweepstakes might unload some of their players to create/ add cap room for KB)... it could be cool if he stays with the Lakes, signed a max out contract and makes the Lakes his team altogether. So far this season, his numbers have suggested he is willing to sacrifice the shine (30ppg last season to 22 ppg now) to win.
I hope Vin Baker violates his alcohol rule and the Celtics cancel his contract, that means we can try for Kobe as well
I believe that Kobe is going nowhere... he's going to resign with the Lakers cause that's his only chance to catch on Jordan championships wise
I dont think he is leaving Los Angeles either unless he really wants to and Dont care about money..but I wish he would..he really wants to prove he is better than iverson tmac and others..you just cant compare him in a team like the lakers...lol let the kid grow...maybe a 19 games losing streak will straight him up..
If Kobe isn't in prison next year then he'll be in L.A. I want him to come to the Celtics, but I don't think he really wants to leave the Lakers. I can't see him coming to Charlotte, even if he does leave LA. He'd be there with a bunch of old, washed up players, and young guys just looking for a shot in this league, and then maybe one or two good draft picks. Charlotte will eventually be a good franchise in this league, but Kobe won't be a part of it. Hopefully they can pick someone real good in the draft and build around him.
that larry bird graphic is priceless. anyways.. kobe can't go to a small market team. i can't see him going there. if he goes somewhere, he's going somewhere big. i seriously thought new york.. until marbury came along.. but now.. he doesn't have too many options.. i mean.. look at the teams in the league with the lowest payroll.. 10) Toronto Raptors - not happening, vinsanity show, and their new crew. 11) Indiana Pacers - not happening, artest and o'neal. 12) Boston Celtics - not happening, paul pierce isn't movable. 13) Memphis Grizzlies - possible because of jerry west.. but who knows how long he'll stick around for. they do have a fantastic coach now.. and a lot of players that could be on the block since they don't have that "1" superSTAR.. but it's memphis.. i don't know why kobe would want to go there other than the money. 14) Philadelphia 76ers - oh no.. ai. 15) Chicago Bulls - lol. this could be interesting.. if he were to ever follow in the footsteps of michael.. my god.. they do have room, and a terrible terrible team.. but i don't think he wants to go there just to seperate from mj. 16) Detroit Pistons - kobe, billups, big ben?.. sweet line up.. though that'd mean getting rid of hamilton who has years left on his contract.. and he's already a perfect fit for them. don't see it happening. 17) Seattle Sonics - he won't go up to the northwest.. plus ray allen / rashard lewis. 18) Milwaukee Bucks - won't go there. young, starting over.. already decent. 19) Golden State Warriors - possibility.. though i'd hate to see it happen. still in cali.. 20) Houston Rockets - yao, stevie, cuttino, no. 21) New Orleans Hornets - already good, baron, mash, and the cast. 22) Miami Heat - possibility.. have a lot of young people.. need leadership, have the $$.. big city.. 23) San Antonio Spurs - lol. no. 24) Cleveland Cavaliers - hi lebron. 25) Orlando Magic - if t-mac goes.. which i hope he doesn't cause i dont want kobe to go to orlando.. kobe might wind up here.. and see what he can do with the magic.. like shaq once did. 26) Washington Wizards - lost ass organization. forget about it. 27) Denver Nuggets - nah.. too fresh. 28) Los Angeles Clippers - *SIGH*, another possibility.. 29) Utah Jazz - not white enough. yeah that's it. ;0
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting BigMemo:</div><div class="quote_post">If Kobe isn't in prison next year then he'll be in L.A.</div> Haha, nice. I think Kobe will remain in LA as well. Either with the Lakers or the Clips. But probably the Lakers.
you didnt name the hawks..but anyways all you people mentioned LA not lakers..he could go to clippers or warriors..itll be cool in the warriors..van exel and kobe again..plus robinson and richardson?
why would kobe leave in the first place- sure he wants to prove he can win by himself, but la has treated him good and will continue to do so. plus hes got shaq, gp and malone for possibly 2 more seasons. i dont know a person who wouldnt wanna be in his position (besides the legal stuff)
Kobe just isn't going to leave the Lakers. I've said this in probably a dozen threads, but another time never hurts. Whether or not Kobe wants to 'prove that he can win on his own', he's not leaving the Lakers. I mean, Kobe has had chances in LA to take over, with all the multitudes of games that Shaq has missed over the years. Yet he never capitalizes, and he's shown that the team is subpar with him as the only star. That will be the case wherever he goes, and with his high price tag, whatever team signs him won't be able to surround him with much, at least not for long. Even in Phoenix, how long will that low payroll last, especially with Kobe? As soon as those young cats mature(think Amare), many of them will demand big increases, and some might deserve the max. So some will have to be let go, and the team will be weak again. Kobe knows this well enough, that he can't win as the only super, and that wherever he goes there won't be much of a supporting cast, not in today's NBA. So he also realizes that his best bet will be in LA. Tell me this, all people who think Kobe will leave the Lakers? What will Kobe have on another team in four years that he won't have on the Lakers in four years? Exactly. Gary and Karl will both be gone in two years, Shaq maybe two years after that, and then its the Kobe show on the biggest NBA stage. That's his best possible scenario, that he becomes the man for a couple years, gets to put up the big numbers that he craves, and then maybe gets some talented young teammates in the draft or in trades that can be molded to fit his style, and hope that the Lakers make a nice playoff run. Either way, unless he settles for less than he thinks he's worth, or some other players make the same sacrifice that Gary and Karl did(which is unlikely, since they did what they did to play alongside Shaq, not Kobe) down the road, Kobe can forget about a title with him as 'the Man.' It just isn't gonna happen.
The thing people have to remember is....if Kobe wants to leave LA at the end of this season....there's not much LA is going to be able to do about it. I think Phoenix will aggresively pursue him. But the Suns are in a position where aquiring Kobe isnt a make or break situation. They are still in a place where they can start making long playoff runs in the next few seasons with all the young talent they have. I think the type of team PHX has right now might be a main reason for Kobe to WANT to come to phoenix. Even if Phoenix cant give him a max deal right away. Bobcats may be able to give Kobe a max deal...but thats about all they can give him. But if the planets align just right....and kobe DOES go to Phoenix....I'll guarentee the Suns a championship within 3 seasons.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TMac_OwNz:</div><div class="quote_post">you didnt name the hawks..but anyways all you people mentioned LA not lakers..he could go to clippers or warriors..itll be cool in the warriors..van exel and kobe again..plus robinson and richardson?</div> no ****. i named teams w/ the lowest payroll.. the hawks do not have one of the lowest payrolls in the league, despite their god awful team and record. where ever kobe goes they'll win a championship w/in three seasons. that wasn't that bold of a prediction.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting okaforever:</div><div class="quote_post">where ever kobe goes they'll win a championship w/in three seasons. that wasn't that bold of a prediction.</div> Not true. Kobe was with LA last season...they didnt seem to win a title then...and they had no worse of a team as the seasons prior to that. Kobe with the expansion team would just be another Tmac or Carter situation....a one-man-team. Hell Jordan played 6 season before the right team was put together in Chicago to win a title.
Kobe will go east... I dont know where but I believe he would like a change especially to the east, where he can easily drive a team to the finals. Maybe the Bulls...maybe Miami (if they trade Jones (to San Antonio maybe??))... I dont think he will stay a Laker...i am sure he wont choose the Clippers (leaving the Lakers for the Clippers? Good one..)...i dont believe he will go to Charlotte, Memphis, G.S.
Kobe will stay in L.A.... He's still sitting on the Laker bench with a rookie-enthousiasm... Saw the HEAT-Lakers game when Shaq stole the ball and ran down court for a dunk? He just jumped out of his seat... You don't see that one with T-Mac or Pierce for example...
lol he wont take a team to the Finals unless theres somebody else good in that team..or the perfect team around him..he'll be another T-Mac , Pierce , AI , Carter..even tho Carter has a better team now...even KG couldnt do it alone.
