Kobe wants to be traded - hopefully not to the Suns

Thoughts on trades

This team does not want Kobe. No matter that AZ Central is already saying Marion/Thomas/picks works to get him, this team does not want him.

by andrewinnewyork on May 30, 2007 12:12 PM MDT reply actions

I put my feelings in another thread, but the just of it is, you summed up my personal feelings on the matter to a tee. I don't think I could even watch a team that was built around Kobe (and make no mistake, if Kobe came to the Suns he would HAVE to be "the man". Wouldn't work any other way). But at the same time, I think my opinion is probably the vast minority. If Kobe became the new face of the Suns, and especially if they won a championship because of it (and they would as long as Amare wasn't part of the deal, and as long as everyone put their personal agendas on hold), 99% of Suns fans would eventually embrace him as much as they currently do Nash, Amare, etc. Most people cheer for jerseys and franchises. I fully get that. So on that basis alone, I can't object. I just won't be able to watch when/if it happens. (And maybe that's a good thing).

by TexSUN on May 30, 2007 12:14 PM MDT reply actions

You folks are Nuts

If you have a chance to get Kobe - you get Kobe. This guy is the best basketball player on the planet today. Period. He's got a more all-round offensive game then MJ and is just as good defensivley. Could you imagine how exciting the Suns would be w/ Nash, Kobe and Amare running down the floor? Forget Showtime. This would be...I don't know what you call it...how about Ringtime!

I mean seriously, how could you pass this guy up if you had the chance? B/c you don't like him? B/c he fooled around w/ some hotel maid? He's Kobe Friggin Bryant! You take him no matter what it takes. Heck, I have 4 kids and would throw one into the deal if that's what it took.

B/c we are talking about Kobe Friggin Bryant here I would say the question is what don't you give up to get him. Here's the list. Everyone else can go to get Kobe. Nash, Amare, LB. I would hate to lose Bell but if that's what it takes you do it. Heck, as much as it would hurt I would consider LB too.

As far as ball hogging, I think you need to take off the Sun's colored glasses for a minute and look at the situation. Kobe was playing w/ a point guard that wasn't good enough to warm the Suns bench. Smush Parker people. Smush Parker was their point guard. Of course Kobe dominated the ball w/ Smush Parker on the floor. What else was he supposed to do run up the floor and wait for Smush to jack up a bad shot or turn it over?

You can say what you want about Kobe but he is NOT stupid. He has clearly learned over the last three years that he needs a point guard and a big guy to win. He knows that he is getting older and needs to play off the ball and take over in spurts. He knows that getting other guys in the game helps him. He knows that if he wants to win he needs other great players around him. That's the point! If he wanted to be a ball hog and score 80 points he would STAY IN LA w/ the scrubs!!!

All that said, I don't think Kobe would come here and I don't think the Lakers would be willing to send him to Phx. And I don't think he's serious about wanting a trade. I think he's pissed at getting jobbed by Jerry DUI Buss and he's trying to get the Lakers to do something.

But if the Suns have a serious chance at getting him you damn well better take it.

by Seth Pollack on May 30, 2007 12:51 PM MDT reply actions

I don't want Kobe because...

what has he done in the NBA besides score a lot of points? What has he done without Shaq? Nothing...so why risk messing up a good team? Has Kobe ever been on a team where there is a good feeling around everything and where the teammates actually enjoy playing together? I'd say no.

Sure, the guy can score a lot of points. But so what?

I don't see why the Suns would want him. What are the benefits? That he can score? So can Shawn Marion, Amare Stoudemire, Steve Nash, etc.

You can't just say "he's Kobe Friggin Bryant so I want him" What's he done without a big man? he can't even get his team out of the first round of the playoffs without Shaq...

by Dan @ Bright Side Of The Sun on May 30, 2007 2:55 PM MDT up reply actions

What are the benefits?

The benefits are the Suns would get a guy that can score from anywhere on the floor. Anywhere. What other guy can you name that can do that?

Not Wade. Not LBJ. No one can score like him and last time I checked you win games by score at least 1 point more then the other team. And btw, he's 1st team defender too. Not bad.

He would take the pressure off everyone else including himself. By spreading the offense around the Suns become unguardable. They can go small and super fast or bigger and play in the half court. Sure, they would need to fill some holes but they need to do that anyway.

Defensively Kobe is the best at his position just like MJ was. He can shut down Ginobili or McGrady and he even looked good at times on Nash. Against some team he could focus on D depending on the match-ups.

Here's some more benefits. How would the Spurs guard a Suns team w/ Nash, Amare and Kobe on the floor? Who would Bowen knee? I mean guard. Do you take the ball out of Nash's hands and give it to Kobe or the other way around? Do you gear your defense to stop the perimeter and then how to you stop Amare? The Suns would still need some other guys but you can find them. And where is the Spurs D most vunerable? The mid-range game. I am pretty sure that Kobe can hit a mid-range J or pump and drive on a Nash kick out. Seriously, they would be unstoppable.

I get that you don't like the guy but you have Marion that wants to be Kobe and dominate the game and get more touches but he doesn't have the game for it. Then you have Kobe who wants to win and has the game to back it up. Clearly there are benefits here. An improvement. A big improvement. And he's as tough as they get on the court. He wants to win as much as anyone that's every played the game. Don't you want that on your team?

And as for "what's he done without a big man?" question. What does that even mean? Obviously he can't win by himself which is why he wants to be traded. So do you blame him for wanting to go to a team where he can win with a big guy? Do you blame him for being pissed at being lied to by the team about Shaq and for a series of dumb moves like Kwami for Caron Butler? Is there anything this guy has done or failed to do that we can't blame him for?

As long as he wears some other colors I will boo him like everyone else. But if this guy is in a Suns uni I would be in fan heave. A great team with balance that would play an up-tempo game all year long and then kill you in the playoffs from anywhere on the court.

by Seth Pollack on May 30, 2007 3:59 PM MDT up reply actions

What I mean is...

Kobe can take 50 shots a game and make 50 points but how does that work into the Suns system? Do you change the entire system just for him?

You say that the Suns would still need to fill some holes with Kobe but that they would need to fill some holes without him. So what holes does he fill? How does he benefit the team?

I agree that he is the best player in the league. But he certainly hasn't helped the Lakers get to a championship.

And do you really want a guy who would go onto a radio show and demand a trade? How does this help him or his team? What happens if he doesn't get traded? Now he's thrown his teammates under the bus. Can they go back and play with him (err, I mean stand on the court while he plays)?

I don't see how this would benefit the Suns at all. He hasn't won anything without Shaq. He's no MJ. He doesn't have the leadership skills.

by Dan @ Bright Side Of The Sun on May 30, 2007 4:12 PM MDT up reply actions

I really think he doesn't want to

Score 50 points a game to win. He would change to fit into the Suns system. He is a HUGE Diantoni fan since he was a kid in Italy. They speak Italian to each other at the All Star game and such. They are bud's. He and Amare are buds. He and Nash would get along just fine.

You have to think that these are guys who see the end coming and know they can't carry the team and would LOVE to have the help and take some of the pressure.

I mean really, this is all so unlikely to happen, but he has a no-trade clause so if he comes here he would do so w/ an understanding and a desire NOT to be the only option. I really believe that he DOESN'T want to be the only option like he is now. He loved it when his guys stepped up at times but they just weren't good enough.

I don't love him on the radio saying all this stuff but that's how these things work. He wants out. He's pissed. He's the guy that laces up the shoes and plays. Why shouldn't he have a say? Why should he have to put up w/ being slandered and lied to by his employer?

Sure, it sucks to be his teammate but his team mates suck! His GM made bad moves and who exactly is he throwing under the bus? Smush? Walton? Radmonovic? These guys are professionals too btw. They get paid to play a game. Paid a lot. This isn't my kid's little leauge where we worry about everyone's feelings. This is the big time. You put the best team you can together and win. Its time for the Suns to do that. Win a ring.

He's no MJ but he's darn close. And MJ wasn't MJ until later in his career. And let's not forget MJ's women issues, his quiting the team to play baseball. His gambling. MJ was/is no saint.

And no, he hasn't won anything without Shaq. Neither have the Suns btw. That's the point.

by Seth Pollack on May 30, 2007 4:29 PM MDT up reply actions

It's a moot point

Now he's saying he doesn't want to go anywhere that the Lakers are his team. I think he may just be crazy. :-)

by Dan @ Bright Side Of The Sun on May 30, 2007 7:22 PM MDT up reply actions

?'s

i think the idea of the SUNS with Kobe would be appealing, but you have a lot of questions to answer. Certainly with Kobe, they become a better group of individuals, but are they a better team? Who and how many people besides the Matrix, do you have to give up? How deep would the Suns bench be? Would Kobe be a distraction or a cancer to the team? At the end of the game, who's the closer? do you want the ball in Nash's hands or Kobe's? Would there a contrast of styles? I know Kobe and D'Antoni get along well right now, but so did Iverson and Mo Cheeks before Cheeks became the coach in Philly. Kobe has had issues with several people, Phil "Colonel Sanders" Jackson, teammates, front office people, etc. how is some of that inevitable in Phoenix? Just remember in 2004 when they had 4 hall of famers on that team with the additions of Karl Malone and Gary Payton. How did that work out? If not for Nash's bloody nose, if not for the screw job/corrupt rulings (or rewarding Cheap Shot Bob & company) of David Stern & Stu Jackson, if D'Antoni would have used more than 6 players in game 5 (using Pat Burke for 15 seconds doesn't count as 7) before burning out, couldn't the Suns have knocked out the Spurs, and be playing for a title right now? I know its gonna get tougher next year, but you can't blow everything up, without giving it 1 more chance. This was only the 2nd year with Nash/Amare/Matrix together.

by Aluminum Foyle on May 30, 2007 10:29 PM MDT up reply actions

I agree...

...with just about everything you said Aluminum Foyle.

The question of 'how deep would our bench be' is one that has bothered me - in Bill Simmons' proposal, for example, he suggests giving up the Matrix and Leandro for Kobe, and moving Diaw into the starting lineup. Ok then, who comes off the bench? Without LB and Diaw coming off the bench, who substitutes for Nash?

Would Kobe be a distraction is a good question. Would Kobe get along with the rest of the team is a good question. Would there be a contrast in styles is a good question.

There's so many things I don't think people are considering. They think 'Kobe, ooh' - but good teams come down to a lot more than great talent.

We have a great team. We have a team that was so close this year.

With the experience of this postseason (which I would argue was more valuable that the past 2 postseasons combined) and a few tweaks here and there, we'll have as good a shot at a championship as we could possibly have. You don't just break that up, no matter what fool's gold is dangled before you.

by NativeArizonan on May 31, 2007 4:31 PM MDT up reply actions

Whoa now

I agree that the Suns probably shouldn't trade for Kobe because a) That would not help them get under the luxury tax and b) he and Nash both dominate the ball too much to be compatible.

But...

I could not blame the Suns for trying it, if they did. Kobe and Duncan are the only players in the league who can dominate a game at both ends. And I would love to see Kobe and Bell together.
Let's not forget that trading Shaq was a very good idea on the part of the Lakers, and if Kobe helped in that he should be applauded.

I like Shaq. Six years ago, he was the best player in the game. But his skills are in decline. He demands an outlandishly disproportionate 20M per. He never plays full seasons. And remember the Lakers had not won a championship for two straight seasons when he was there. So the Lakers traded him. And in July 2004, that trade may have seemed lopsided, but let me ask you this:

If, right now, you had 20M dollars per year to spend for the next three years would you take Shaq or Lamar Odom and Caron Butler?

That's why it was a good trade. Only the Lakers screwed it all to hell when they traded Butler for Kwame Brown. And I'm damn sure Kobe had nothing to do with that (thanks Kupchak). So it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to say this is "Kobe's bed" as his bed included All-Star Caron Butler (19 ppg 7.5 rpg, 4 apg, 2 spg) not Brown.

Think of it: if the Lakers don't make that trade going into 07/08 they've got Butler, Odom, Kobe, Bynum (all great) and Walton and Farmar (both solid) and are right at the cap (58M). I doubt Kobe's still asking for a trade.

G

by rosewood on May 30, 2007 12:56 PM MDT reply actions

Dominate the ball?

Do you really think that Kobe wouldn't relish playing w/ Nash and not having to dominate the ball? Nash would drive and kick and get him so many open looks that Kobe could score 40 w/o working up a sweat. He could spell Nash for periods on the ball and then play a two man game w/ Amare...I mean the 3 of them on the floor together is basketball heaven!

Its not going to happen though unless the Suns gave up Amare and that's not a deal I would do but man....if only. Nash, Kobe and Amare in Diantoni's system? You could just pencil in 120/game and a ring.

by Seth Pollack on May 30, 2007 1:07 PM MDT up reply actions

Sorry

This could be the worst sentence ever put to keyboard:

"Do you really think that Kobe wouldn't relish playing w/ Nash and not having to dominate the ball?"

by Seth Pollack on May 30, 2007 1:16 PM MDT up reply actions

I don't know

I don't see that combination being great. They'll obviously be good. They're good without Kobe. But the Suns 1)will have no interior defense without Marion and Thomas 2) will be an even weaker rebounding team and 3) will have no backup PG.

Plus, the Suns are a pick and roll team in the half court that depends heavily on Nash taking advantage of mismatches to drive to the hole.

Kobe has played in the triangle for almost his whole career. The triangle deemphasizes the PG in favor of wing players. Think of it, the Bulls had Paxon and Harper, even though both were SGs. The Lakers in their heyday had Fisher and Harper. Kobe isn't used to being in a PG driven offense and I'd doubt he'd relish it. He's used to the triangle and isolation plays. The Suns can't offer him that.

G

by rosewood on May 30, 2007 1:33 PM MDT up reply actions

Sure

Great points. Especially about the defense. Clearly the Suns would and do need more interior help and good defensive 3 man but those guys can be had once the dust had settled. I mean guys would be banging down the door to come here and play w/ the Suns.

I also think re: the triangle that that's the system he was in and not Kobe. Sure, the Suns would have to tweak up their half court game but they would have more options. They could run iso plays for Kobe at times and also run the P/R. They would serve to free each other up. How do you double Nash on the p/r knowing that he can find either Amare rolling or Kobe spotting up or cutting? These guys would find a way to score, that's not the problem.

by Seth Pollack on May 30, 2007 1:45 PM MDT up reply actions

Yes, I do think that

I really do think that Kobe wouldn't relish playing with Nash and not having to dominate the ball. Not dominating the ball means not dominating the box score. Not dominating the box score means not dominating the news. And not dominating the news means not getting his ego stroked. Kobe's been nothing but a media hog since he got into the league and forced a trade to the Lakers. Now that he's not happy with the Lakers, he's trying to force a trade away from the Lakers. He's bad blood for any team. He hasn't shown me any different.

by Dan @ Bright Side Of The Sun on May 30, 2007 2:57 PM MDT up reply actions

Good point

I still think it would work though, at least in the short term, and the main reason it would work is because of Nash. There is nobody in the league who would be more willing to put his own ego out of the way for a chance to win it all. The other Suns would likely follow his lead. But it's an enormous risk without a doubt, and if the Suns didn't win it all (and VERY soon), then we'd have the same situation here that's currently playing out in LA. That's why I think it's an "all or nothing" type thing. It would either REALLY work or else it would REALLY fail, and I'd say it's about 50-50 which way it would be. (Which is maybe the best argument of all NOT to do it--with the Suns already so close, they could probably get where they want to be anyway by taking on a lot less risk than rebuilding their team around Kobe would entail).

by TexSUN on May 30, 2007 4:26 PM MDT up reply actions

No to Kobe

You want him to destroy this team too????

by Coolbean04 on May 30, 2007 12:57 PM MDT reply actions

Kobe Friggin Bryant

If you can get Kobe, you get Kobe. Come on! That's not even a question. Marion/Thomas/picks for Kobe is a GREAT deal! I wouldn't want to give up Amare, Nash, or even Brabosa. But Marion and Thomas? That's a no-brainer.

by sonicking on May 30, 2007 1:08 PM MDT reply actions

Kobe the ball hog?

Kobe played 3,140 minutes and jacked up 1757 FG attempts. That's about 1.8 per minute. Seems like a lot. What a ball hog.

But how does that compare to the Suns?

Marion led the team with 2.8 / min. Then comes Amare w/ 2.5 and LB w/ 2.4.

And Nash. The distributer. The get everone involved in the game great passing teammate? 2.76/minute. Nash had 1 full attempt more per minute then Kobe who played on a crappy team.

by Seth Pollack on May 30, 2007 1:51 PM MDT reply actions

You must

be doing your #'s wrong.

There's no way in hell that's accurate. It's IMPOSSIBLE.

by Coolbean04 on May 30, 2007 2:04 PM MDT up reply actions

Look it up

http://www.nba.com/lakers/stats/2006/index.html

http://www.nba.com/suns/stats/2006/index.html

by Seth Pollack on May 30, 2007 2:08 PM MDT up reply actions

Dude

Aren't you getting your numerators and denominators mixed up? 1757 in 3,140 minutes would probably be one shot per 1.8 minutes, not 1.8 shots per minute. Thus, I'm guessing Nash took one shot per 2.76 minutes. That's what common sense would dictate. there is no way Nash shoots more per min than Kobe.

by Hoft on May 30, 2007 2:05 PM MDT up reply actions

I just did the math

You dork, it's not 2.8 shots per min. It's one shot per 2.8 min!!!!!!!! So basically it's almost one shot per 3 min. played for Marion.

by Coolbean04 on May 30, 2007 2:07 PM MDT up reply actions

Math? Basketball?

They don't mix....my bad

by Seth Pollack on May 30, 2007 2:09 PM MDT up reply actions

Okay

Does this stat even mean anything? A shots/min ratio seems fairly pointless. A shots/possession ratio would be useful maybe, but minutes don't measure much.

G

by rosewood on May 30, 2007 2:51 PM MDT up reply actions

Despite the math problems

Kobe played on a crappy team because he made it crappy. He's just not a good teammate. He's the best player in the league but the game is played with 5 players on the court, not 1. If this was a one-on-one league, I'd take Kobe in a heartbeat. But it's not. That means he's got to play with others and he hasn't learned to do that yet. Maybe he never will.

He's just thrown all of his teammates under the bus and said that with the players the Lakers have now they obviously don't want to win. How would you feel now if you were his teammate? Would you really want to play for this guy?

Kobe's always blaming someone else. maybe he needs to look at himself for the cause of the problems.

by Dan @ Bright Side Of The Sun on May 30, 2007 4:16 PM MDT up reply actions

Kobe?

There are a few things that suprise me from what i read on the various forums:

a) Lakers fans saying Kobe is not being traded, no way, no how, not going to happen...emm guys, he said it flat out, that there is nothing the Lakers can do for him to change his mind, so there is nothing they can do. I don't think Kobe will want to back down from that comment, he was too honest, too direct.

b) Hopefully the Suns don't make a trade for him. I recognize him as a great player, but i'm not sure he would be a great fit. Not sure where all the "ball hogging" comments come from? I mean, did you see his team play, they suck. I'm not sure how you can be a NBA player and not be able to score on an open 15 footer?! So i think with better players around him, he could bring a team far. Just not sure the Suns are a right fit for him. I'd rather have KG than him on the Suns

c) How awesome would it be if they trade Kobe for Wade. Shaq and Kobe reunited on the east coast? Brilliant. Movie waiting to happen.

by Whaat on May 30, 2007 2:03 PM MDT reply actions

I think if you could, you should

No bigger Laker-hater than me, and I'm no fan of Kobe, but...

If the Suns could get Kobe for Marion and change, I think they should. D'antoni just posed the question, "how do you get better by trading Shawn Marion?" The answer to that question is by trading Shawn for Kobe. I have zero doubt that the Suns would be a better team with Kobe at the 3 in exchange for Matrix. Nash could run the offense, Kobe could run it with Barbosa to spell Nash, the defense would get better--can you imagine Bell and Kobe hounding opposing backcourts? Yikes.

I don't think it is going to happen, but you'd have to think the Suns would be not just elite but downright dominant.

by SoCalSun on May 30, 2007 2:10 PM MDT reply actions

I just love

how people love trading for players (fantasy trades) and put players in different positions.

Kobe is NOT a SF, he's a SG. He's a very good defender at the SG position but he would have a lot of trouble at the SF position.

by Coolbean04 on May 30, 2007 2:15 PM MDT up reply actions

Agreed

If the Suns did get Kobe, they'd almost HAVE to do something like that Diaw for Artest trade that somebody suggested earlier, and bring Bell off the bench (LB would probably have to go to LA in the trade, so we'd need a replacement bench player at the 2-guard anyway). That would plug the Marion-sized hole at the "3" on defense, and Kobe would more than make up for the Marion-sized hole on offense (along with Artest's decent contribution there too). The question is, would that team win a championship or blow itself apart first. Probably the former, but it's still a huge risk. And there will always be a few fans, including myself, who wouldn't want either of those guys on the team even if it guaranteed a championship. But I also think we're in the 1% or so minority, and the other 99% would happily say "good riddance". :)

by TexSUN on May 30, 2007 2:21 PM MDT up reply actions

Kobe's position (on the court)

Kobe is a natural 2 guard, I am aware of this. However, at 6'8", with his skills, he is quite capable of playing at the 3 spot on both ends of the floor, and this has often been the case--Jackson sometimes goes small and moves Kobe to the wing position (the 3) in the triangle. Just as Marion is a natural 3, he has spent a lot of time in the 4-spot (like most of the last 3 seasons). Diaw can play pretty well at the 1, 3 or 4, and maybe at the 5 as well.

I'm not trying to cast Kobe as a small forward, and I generally don't just make up trades, however, this is a discussion thread about Kobe's trade demand, how we as Suns fans feel about that, and how he might fit on the Suns--my position being that a Kobe for Marion trade would make the Suns a better team.

Obviously, were the Suns to make that trade, they could move Bell to the bench, put Diaw (or Jones) at the 3 and Kobe at the 2.

by SoCalSun on May 30, 2007 5:03 PM MDT up reply actions

Did Kobe

all of a sudden grow 2 inches? He's actually 6'6''.

by Coolbean04 on May 31, 2007 4:41 PM MDT up reply actions

How does this make the team better?

Trading Shawn for Kobe means that plays have to be run for Kobe. Usually plays aren't run for Shawn unless it's an inbounds play. Kobe would demand the ball. If he demands the ball, Amare gets the ball less. Then Amare demands a trade. So the Suns are left with Kobe Bryant in two years with no Amare and no Steve. Then the Suns basically become the Lakers...a washed up 7/8 seed every year until Kobe demands a trade because his teammates are obviously the problem.

by Dan @ Bright Side Of The Sun on May 30, 2007 3:00 PM MDT up reply actions

true

i agree 100%, that's well said.

by Aluminum Foyle on May 31, 2007 10:37 PM MDT up reply actions

No way...

..the defense gets better by trading Marion for Kobe. The guard defense may be better (when Kobe chooses to play defense that is), but the all-around defense would be significantly worse.

One of the primary reasons the Suns are able to survive being a 'small-ball' team is because of Shawn Marion's all-around play. It doesn't matter if Kobe Bryant is a better player than Shawn Marion, he doesn't replace Shawn Marion. Matrix gives the Suns a lot of options defensively and it makes up for the fact that they only have 2 or 3 good defenders on the team.

Shawn Marion makes the Suns style of play possible - people constantly overlook it but he's actually just about as important to the Suns' style as Nash is. It's no coincidence that the Suns and Marion were slumping at the same time during the regular season.

Kobe Bryant doesn't replace the defense, the rebounding, the fast-break, the alley-oop-goodness, the steals, blocks, and all-around ball-intuition that Shawn Marion brings. We don't need the greatest offensive player in the league - we have the greatest team offense. Bryant doesn't make us better.

Despite the fact that it's mentioned all the time, Marion still is one of the most under-appreciated players in the league. People say he's underrated without seeming to understand what's so special about him. Believe me, the Suns would remember what's so special about him if they ever got rid of him.

by NativeArizonan on May 30, 2007 3:39 PM MDT up reply actions

I agree with everything you just said

Simply shipping Marion out for Kobe won't make the Suns a a better team. So that would have to be followed up with a subsequent trade to bring in a defensive-minded SF. Which is why as bad as I hate the idea, that Diaw for Artest trade someone suggested a couple of days ago would probably be the way to go. My personal feelings about getting Kobe (and especially if Artest were part of the deal): Ugh. But I can see why it would be very tempting from a "we want to take a big gamble to win it all NOW" standpoint. (But you can bet I would never watch another NBA game if that happened--I'm hanging on by a thread as it is after that playoff debacle, and rebuilding the team around a player I hate would push me over the edge).

by TexSUN on May 30, 2007 3:53 PM MDT up reply actions

I said something above that I want to explore

But I don't want to create a new post for it unless it got a lot of comments...

Would you watch a league where it was just 1-on-1? Create a league where guys are just their own teams. You play 1-on-1, first to 7, win by 2. Maybe something like American Gladiators where it runs for an hour each Saturday and you have round-robin games and then a championship at the end with the best players...

I think it'd be interesting.

by Dan @ Bright Side Of The Sun on May 30, 2007 4:21 PM MDT reply actions

How about a sidebar diary?

That's a fun question, and since we're so bored we're actually seriously discussing bringing Kobe to the Suns, maybe this deserves a poll. Care to create one in the sidebar? I already made one for the Kobe discussion.

For the record, I love the 1-on-1 idea. I think they should add it to All-Star weekend. I'd much rather watch than yet another boring dunk contest, or that silly shooting stars thing.

by TexSUN on May 30, 2007 4:30 PM MDT up reply actions

1-on-1

Remember when they were going to have a 1 on 1 challenge with Shaq and Hakeem a while back (maybe after the 95 season)?--it fell through for some reason but that would have been very cool to watch.

by SoCalSun on May 30, 2007 5:07 PM MDT up reply actions

E!SPN?

I do not know why people speak of Kobe Bryant and his ego and what he did to the Laker front office when it's more than obvious we know neither him nor what happened. We really have nothing to do with these people aside from the fact that they play basketball and we like to watch them play basketball. That's the extent of our relationship with them. I don't see why we can't leave it at that. If you want to talk about Kobe's game, fine. If you're talking about him, his trial, or the "dramatic" events that always suround the Lakers, then I'd prefer you do it on the E! network.

I am a sports fan not a soap opera/reality television fan. And if I wanted to read gossip about celebrities I'd buy US Weekly.

G

by rosewood on May 30, 2007 4:28 PM MDT reply actions

Amen

by Seth Pollack on May 30, 2007 4:32 PM MDT up reply actions

Ok, fine.

Let's restrict it to Kobe the basketball player, and forget about all the alleged off-court stuff.

In the relatively short time I've been watching the league, my impression of Kobe strictly from watching him play and listening to him speak has been:

He is without a doubt the best individual player in the game when he wants to be.
He either totally dominates his team's offense (sometimes to its detriment) or else he appears to sulk and not shoot at all.
If he has the ball in his hands with a chance to win the game at the buzzer, forget it--it's a done deal.
If things aren't going his way, he sulks, pouts, and throws his teammates under the bus. (This is based on actually hearing him speak during interviews, not just taking what someone quoted him as saying).

Does that sound like my impression of him as a basketball player and teammate is all over the map? Good, because it is. Kobe--like any other player in the NBA--has strengths and weaknesses. Anyone who wants to make note of the former without also acknowledging the latter is in for a rude awakening if Kobe ends up coming to the Suns.

by TexSUN on May 30, 2007 4:41 PM MDT up reply actions

Nash, Kobe, Bell, Diaw and KG

Read Bill Simmons' article.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/blog/index?name=simmons&entryDate=20070530

THIS WOULD BE THE DREAM COME TRUE.

by sonicking on May 30, 2007 5:23 PM MDT reply actions

Lest we forget...

...Kobe did at one time share the ball pretty well with a dominant big man who wanted the ball, and several spot-up shooters, to the tune of 3 straight titles. Granted, Marion's un-official title of "most underrated player" is well earned because of the many, many things he does to help the team win--as someone who watches every Suns game, as Shawn goes, often as not, so go the Suns.

That said, we are talking about Kobe Bryant, 28 years old, entering his prime, able to drop 50 on any team most any night, and all with pretty much nobody helping him. On a team with a future hall-of-fame point guard, a dominant PF/C to open the lane and draw double teams, and several of the best 3 point shooters in the league, I suspect he would make a pretty solid addition. He may not have quite the defensive versatility that Marion does, but Kobe is a repeat member of the all-NBA defensive squads, and not for nothing (I really can't believe I'm defending Kobe, but there you go.../boggle).

Shawn Marion is probably my favorite single player in the league, and Kobe is probably my least favorite player. But purely from a basketball standpoint I am thinking that trading the two for each other would end up with the Suns being a better team.

by SoCalSun on May 30, 2007 5:23 PM MDT reply actions

I'll say again

Kobe's an awesome 1-on-1 player but I watching him on the court last year in the playoffs, I wouldn't want him on the Suns. And as I said above, it's a moot point. He now is saying he doesn't want to be traded. I'm not sure how they'll spin it to say he was misquoted but it somehow always happens when someone says something they shouldn't have said. :-)

by Dan @ Bright Side Of The Sun on May 30, 2007 7:24 PM MDT reply actions

Just wait a day

He seems to be changing his mind back and forth on a daily basis.

by TexSUN on May 30, 2007 8:04 PM MDT up reply actions

k....the lakers are not idiots....

hear me out first......

would you trade the best player (notice i said player...not team mate, becasue we all know he is an individual and not a team player) on the planet (as some of you call him) to a team in the same conference....or even better yet....a division rival?

by USMCGUNZ on May 30, 2007 8:09 PM MDT reply actions

If that was the best deal available...

...and I knew I wasn't going to be contending for a few years anyway, then yes. Not sure the Suns can offer them the best deal out there, but if they could (and especially if it was the best deal by a wide margin), then the Lakers would probably take it. If the Lakers were serious about contending right away, they wouldn't be in this mess to begin with.

by TexSUN on May 30, 2007 8:42 PM MDT up reply actions

no-trade clause

kobe must approve the trade...so if suns (not the other big media clubs) are offering, kobe will jump on it.

by sonicking on May 31, 2007 8:22 AM MDT reply actions

As Much As I Detest Kobe

It'd be stupid to turn down a deal to get him if all it costs is Marion/Thomas/two first round picks in '07/ATL's first round pick in '08.

Everyone knows what he can do offensively, but he doesn't get nearly as much pub about his defense. And that's one element of the Phoenix Suns that is severely lacking right now.

Plus, Bryant and D'Antoni have earlier relationship roots from days back in Italy.

"I am not a role model. A million guys can dunk a basketball in jail, should they be role models?" Charles Barkley

by kcbrett5 on Jun 6, 2007 7:55 AM MDT reply actions