The Kobe Thread, for all the latest |
The Kobe Thread, for all the latest |
Oct 27 2007, 04:01 PM
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#1
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Leading Scorer Group: Members Posts: 1,169 Joined: 5-April 06 Member No.: 99 |
QUOTE Sources: Chicago still the most likely preference for Bryant By Chris Sheridan ESPN.com (Archive) Updated: October 27, 2007, 4:37 PM ET Comment The Kobe Bryant-to-Chicago trade talks are very real, and they've been real for a while. The Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls have been having daily discussions about Bryant trade possibilities for at least the past week, with Bryant's no-trade clause throwing a unique wrench into the situation, according to sources. The Lakers are asking for a package built around Luol Deng, Ben Gordon, Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah, which is more than Chicago is willing to surrender. Also, Bryant would not want to play in Chicago if the Bulls surrendered all four of those players, believing there would not be enough talent left to compete for a championship, and he would veto that trade even if the Bulls and Lakers were both in favor of it. Further complicating matters is the division within the upper echelon of the Lakers front office, a house divided between the competing desires of owner Jerry Buss, his son, Jim, daughter Jeanie (and her boyfriend, coach Phil Jackson) and general manager Mitch Kupchak. According to sources, one faction seems more determined than ever to part with Bryant, while others still are hanging onto the belief that Bryant can still be persuaded to stay in Los Angeles. Bryant sat out the Lakers' final exhibition game Friday night in Las Vegas after injuring his right wrist in the Lakers' previous game. It has become an accepted fact around the Lakers that Bryant still wishes to be traded, and two sources with direct knowledge of the ongoing trade discussions said Bryant's preferred -- and most likely -- destination remains Chicago. So while the NBA's only no-trade clause gives Bryant a substantial amount of leverage in determining his future, it also is hampering the Lakers in their efforts to get something approaching fair value for arguably the best player in the league. One source said the Bulls' supposed opposition to including Deng in any deal had been overstated in recent media reports. A source told ESPN.com that the likelihood of a Bryant trade before opening night seemed higher a few days ago than it does now, and a deal going down sometime before the end of November now seemed more likely. But the situation remained fluid, and with other teams trying to lobby the Bryant camp to get on the list of his acceptable destinations, the trade possibilities surrounding Bryant only figured to increase in the days leading up to Tuesday night's start of the NBA season. Chris Sheridan covers the NBA for ESPN Insider. hope this isnt true, and the bulls would NEVER give up luol deng and ben gordon, seems very unlikely the trade will happen. |
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Nov 1 2007, 02:45 PM
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#2
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Superstar Group: Members Posts: 3,150 Joined: 20-March 06 Member No.: 73 |
Hmm well Pax did what I thought he should, he put these talks to rest.
QUOTE Chicago Tribune - Chicago general manager John Paxson put an end to more than a week of feverish speculation, declaring, "There's not a deal to be done" in the Kobe Bryant sweepstakes following Thursday's practice. "It's time to put it to rest," Paxson said. Paxson acknowledged having several conversations with the Lakers regarding Bryant but refused to divulge specifics. It's known that the Bulls engaged in multiple talks trying to engineer three-team trades, but nothing ever got close, Paxson said. Paxson refused to say his team was distracted by the daily rumors regarding the incident, saying merely that the Bulls "played poorly" in Wednesday's season-opening loss the Nets. Though it could be likely that he is just saying this just to say it.. There has been so many rumors over the last 24 hours, maybe its his way of telling Kobe "Accept any trade or screw you" because of his trade clause Kobe doesn't want to lose Deng to the Lakers. I wish we got Kobe but of course nothing is going to happen... |
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