Kobe: Done deal?

by Roy_Hobbs on Oct 31, 2007 4:18 PM EDT in NBA Articles

This one could be legit, or then again, it could be completely bogus. We should know shortly, I imagine. Here's the latest Kobe rumor, courtesy of our good friends over at Sactown Royalty (by way of RealGM) :

Pound the salt, baby, but a Chicago radio station is reporting the Bulls have a deal on the table, awaiting Kobe Bryant's approval, which involves the Kings. Apparently, Ron Artest and Kirk Hinrich and possibly another Chicago asset would go to the Lakers, Kobe would join the Bulls, and the Kings would get... something?

To me, if this isn't smoke out of [somewhere], Hinrich to Sacramento would make more sense... unless Sacramento was shedding an undesirable contract in the process, as well. I know Geoff Petrie was very high on Joakim Noah around draft time, and I think a kid like Noah is worth adding (along with enough expiring contract to make it fly under cap rules) for wasting Artest's time. But I still think Hinrich makes more sense in Sacramento than PG-heavy L.A.

I hate Kobe with a passion, as I'm sure many of you do, as well. Still, Hinrich as the center piece for the Bulls to get Kobe? Say it ain't so. (And yes, I know there would be more pieces to be named.) While I'm skeptical, this could be huge news, so discuss accordingly.

Update: I didn't see the report myself, but there's a topic in our forums saying that Ric Bucher has reported the CHI / LAL / SAC fell through. Much (or little) ado about nothing, it seems.

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Well, it seems very vague, and has alot of holes in it. Which is either a good or bad sign. It could mean that they really talked to a source, but the source wasn’t able to give out details…or it could mean that they were just completely throwing things at the way, and being purposely vague.

I am really surprised to hear Hinrichs name come up though. I didn’t think Chicago would offer him in any deal.

by Chris72 on Oct 31, 2007 4:29 PM EDT reply actions

Let’s say it is Noah and Gordon (which is what I consider a best case scenario for Chicago), if so then the Bulls line up is…

Duhon
Kobe
Deng
Thomas/Nocioni
Wallace

pretty good, but nothing that makes me knee knocking nervous.

by The Duke33 on Oct 31, 2007 4:32 PM EDT reply actions

Man with Kobe if deng and Wallace and others stay, that may be dangerous
hopefully its just a balloon full of HOT air

by Edgar on Oct 31, 2007 4:32 PM EDT reply actions

This rumor may not be true but having Kobe in the Eastern conference will really suck like a sour orange. I hate him #1 a #2 he makes it much more difficult for us to win the Eastern Conference crown.

by Master Po on Oct 31, 2007 4:33 PM EDT reply actions

Down Goes Bryant!! Down Goes Bryant!!!! Po said #2. HeeHee.

by The Real Large James on Oct 31, 2007 4:37 PM EDT reply actions

They can have Ron Artest for Kwame Brown any time they wish.

Completely bogus rumour.

by Who on Oct 31, 2007 4:37 PM EDT reply actions

Wow if they have Gordon, Deng, and Kobe, we are in big trouble. Please say the Lakers aren’t trying to screw us.

by orrzor on Oct 31, 2007 4:41 PM EDT reply actions

How could LA not hold fast on getting Deng back in this deal? it just doesn’t make sense … last night all the announcers talked about was how much LA loved Farmar (sp?), why are they sending out a sg and bringing in a pg?

by MaineBleedsGreen on Oct 31, 2007 4:44 PM EDT reply actions

I expect Chicago to be tough with or without Kobe. I think we’ll be competitive with the Bulls either way. My big hope is that the deal keeps LA in a long-term state of mediorcity.

by Neurotic Guy on Oct 31, 2007 5:00 PM EDT reply actions

If Kobe moves it may be to Dallas. Other than that, he’ll sit tight and opt out and the end of this year which would be the best of all possible scenarios. The Lakers lose Bryant to free agency and get nothing in return. That’s what we should be hoping for.

by The Real Large James on Oct 31, 2007 6:09 PM EDT reply actions

According to the Kings fan site the deal is beyond dead.

by StartOrien on Oct 31, 2007 6:11 PM EDT reply actions

Absolute BS.
Other rumours are flying that the deal isn’t moving anywhere fast, because of 3 things…
1. The Lakers refusal to consider anything that doesn’t involve Deng…
2. The Bulls refusal to consider anything that DOES involve Deng…
3. His Royal Divattitude’s refusal to waive his ‘no-trade’ clause on a deal that includes Deng…

And anything that paints the Lakers as getting crap for Kobe, you can dismiss. No firesale… yet.
And Duke? The line-up you suggest beats your Celtics 7 times outta 10.

by withmalice on Oct 31, 2007 6:30 PM EDT reply actions

Gilbert Arenas: Nothing against getting traded, but that would be a dumb thing on the part of the team who is accepting me because, don’t they know I’m a free agent? What that means is, if you lose somebody who you really want and you come get me back and I leave too … TA-DAH! That means you have nothing. So take my name out of it because whoever gets me, there ain’t a guarantee that I’m staying.

Yeah if LA weren’t scared of this happening before … they certainly are now. Washington don’t want to give up Arenas anyway but this just pushes it further away from happening.

by Who on Oct 31, 2007 6:54 PM EDT reply actions

Kobe for Artest and Hinrich? Ya right . . . .

I dont think Sacramento could give Artest away

by tmcdon on Oct 31, 2007 7:21 PM EDT reply actions

Artest is meant to be available for any expiring contract going. Petrie isn’t re-signing him and would rather not have his influence on the team. He won’t take back a bad contract though.

If somebody takes a chance on him they better have a veteran team and players/coaches who’ll hold him accountable for his actions on the court.

by Who on Oct 31, 2007 7:32 PM EDT reply actions

A lot of commentary seems to have no basis in truth, or any possibility of happening. Kobe Bryant, like him or not, is in pretty elite company when it comes to who’s his equivalent. So to even consider ‘Ron-ron for Kobe’… or ‘Hinrich for Kobe’… or even ‘Agent Zero for Kobe’ just doesn’t work. Not unless you place a helluva lot of other bits around him, and then you’re going to get his ire, and his ‘no trade’ clause will come into affect.
Honestly? Chicago should be jumping at Deng for Kobe, because even tho’ ol’ Lu’ has potential, to this point it’s just that: potential. Kobe has many good years left in him, and could be the piece that the Bulls need. Not sure that it’ll ever happen tho’, because I don’t think Pax has the cajones to do it. He’s always been ultra-conservative when it comes to the players he considers ‘his boys’.

by withmalice on Nov 1, 2007 2:07 AM EDT reply actions

Why do Celtics fans get so turned on by the idea of the Lakers being mediocre?

As a Celtics fan, my #1 fantasy is seeing the C’s win #17. The #2 fantasy is seeing them do it against the Lakers. With the Celtics being legitimate contenders, would you really rather have them go up against, say, Dallas than the Lakers?

I know LA won’t be in the running this year or next, with or without Kobe, but I would love it is they were, just for the hope that it leads to the next chapter in the greatest rivalry in pro hoops.

by Cousin It on Nov 1, 2007 11:19 PM EDT reply actions