<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BG7 Lavigne)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> But when you can essentially do Luol Deng, PJ Brown, Viktar Khryapa, Thabo Sefolosha for Kobe, why would you pass on that? If Lakers want Deng, give them Deng. If the package is coming down to Deng and nothing (unless you consider Thabo something), and Gordon and something (Thomas/Noah), just ship Deng out of Chicago. Gordon is the better player anyhow.</p> </div></p> I'm almost certain Chicago and LA don't consider Gordon to be better than Deng. Deng is a couple years younger, and he's bigger and more versatile. The Lakers will insist on getting Deng. Probably Gordon as well, but definitely Deng.</p>
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant sat out practice for the third straight day Tuesday, <font color="#ff0000">then denied a report</font> that he had cleaned out his locker -- a story carried by several local news outlets.</p> Bryant spoke for less than two minutes in the parking lot of the team's practice facility. Previously, he had said very little to reporters since Jerry Buss stated last week in Honolulu that he "would certainly listen" to trade offers for the NBA's scoring leader.</p> "I don't know, talk to Mitch and Mr. Buss about that," Bryant replied when asked if he had played his final game for the Lakers, referring to general manager Mitch Kupchak and the team's owner. "I'm just getting ready. If I'm here, I'm ready to strap it up."</p> sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story</p> </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (durvasa)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BG7 Lavigne)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> But when you can essentially do Luol Deng, PJ Brown, Viktar Khryapa, Thabo Sefolosha for Kobe, why would you pass on that? If Lakers want Deng, give them Deng. If the package is coming down to Deng and nothing (unless you consider Thabo something), and Gordon and something (Thomas/Noah), just ship Deng out of Chicago. Gordon is the better player anyhow.</p> </div></p> I'm almost certain Chicago and LA don't consider Gordon to be better than Deng. Deng is a couple years younger, and he's bigger and more versatile. The Lakers will insist on getting Deng. Probably Gordon as well, but definitely Deng.</p> </div></p> I'm pretty sure that Chicago pretty much considers Gordon/Deng even. I'm sure they'd rather dish out Hinrich, switch Gordon to point (which Skiles said they're going to do a bit thi syear), and go with that. Lakers, seem to value Deng. Gordon, in all reality, thus far, in their first three seasons, has been better than Deng all three years...some people have skewed views, but thats the truth. There are definitely teams that value Gordon over Deng (Indiana, Charlotte, Boston, Milwaukee, Phoenix come to mind), and then those that clearly favor Deng over Gordon (Toronto, Memphis, Minnesota).</p> I don't know how the Lakers can insist on getting Gordon and Deng....Gordon + Deng > Kobe. The Bulls would just tell Kupcake to go talk to a rock. You don't get the two best players on a better team, for the best player on an inferior team. It just doesn't work that way. Kobe would veto the trade anyhow, since the Bulls team he would be going to wouldn't be very good.</p> I'm sure Lakers fans would be happy getting both Gordon/Deng for Kobe...but most Bulls fans, and the GM, would not like to see Kobe on the Bulls for that cost. It'd make us a worse team.</p> </p>
One hitch in landing Deng is Kobe saying he wanted to play alongside Deng if he were traded to Chicago. I can't imagine the Lakers wanting Kirk Hinrich with the glut of PGs on the roster now. He's obviously an upgrade over anything the Lakers have, but it would be hard to come into the season with 4 to 5 PGs.</p> There are a lot of factors making it tough to pull the trigger on any deal. If you trade Kobe, what happens to PJax? Are the Lakers going to continue running the Triangle offense, and if so then do you get players who work in that system? If not then what direction are you taking the team Post-Kobe era?</p> Kobe's no-trade veto really limits the Lakers options and the longer they wait the less control they lose in negotiating.</p>
