As do I. How much better or different do the Bulls look in 2007-08 than they did in 2005-06?

Sure, he had to deal Eddy, but we cashed in Tyson for Ben Wallace... whee.

I hate to think he is a conservative gm but he is. I don't want to act like I knew what was going on in his office going through numerous trade offers but he's GOT to bring this guy to Chicago. If it means giving up Deng DO IT! But not Deng AND Gordon, one or the other or neither. I know Kobe wants Lu but if he wants to be traded he is going to have to accept the fact that he isn't always going to get what he wants. He wanted traded so the organization granted that to him but now he's acting like a GM which he is not. Either you want to come here Kobe or you don't, figure it out.

I think what might have happened here is that Pax went through about 2-3 different deals but LA backed off and it pissed Paxson off to the point where you just say "Screw them" and thats basically what he did today. I hate the fact that this happened but If im in that situation I'd get pissed off to if the Lakers were piddle farting around with this deal and being too picky. I'd just say "fish you, good luck this season with your disgruntled athlete." Pax probably did the right thing here if it is what I think it is. I hope im not right, hopefully talks are still very much alive and there will be a trade to announce within a day or so otherwise I'm going to get tired of it and say screw Kobe.

I doesn't matter if Paxson wants to give up deng or not - thats Kobe. Kobe wants to win a championship, and he knows hes going to have the best chance with Lu.

Talks will once again heat up around December 15th when Nocioni can be dealt... Im sticking to my original deal:
Nocioni, Gordon, Thomas and Khryapa. This will happen esspecially if Kobe continues to bad mouth the Laker organization and state his unhappyness.
For now im going to enjoy watching this team.. we almost finally took one in NJ but came just short... Lets win the home opener tommorow and go from there.

General manager John Paxson basically squashed the notion that the Los Angeles Lakers' superstar will wind up in Chicago, saying the teams were never on the verge of a deal and talks were over for now.

"There's not a deal done," he said Thursday. "There's not going to be a deal done. All the things that were out there were really unfair to all of us who were trying to do our jobs. The misinformation ... I think gets in the way of the process. It's just such a complicated thing and we kind of put it to rest now."

Paxson said they discussed "parameters," but the sides "never got down to the nuts and bolts of it because there was never a deal to be done."

"That's the reality of it," he said. "People can make what they want of it, but what I know is that part of it is over with."

The trade deadline isn't until February, so it's possible talks between the Lakers and Bulls could resume.

"Who knows?" Paxson said. "The reality is that right now, it's done."

Paxson was concerned the issue would become a distraction, so he decided to put it to rest.

"I think today sends a message that our guys don't have to worry about anything right now," Paxson said.

Then again, coach Scott Skiles wondered: "What's resolving anything in all sports until the trading deadline?"

"Just because this rumor at some point dies down, does that mean another one's not going to crop up in two weeks?" he asked. "It's ongoing, it's all the time. Now, this is one that involves a very, very high profile player, so I understand the extra attention on it."

Luol Deng acknowledged the Kobe questions are wearing on him.

"I am," he said when asked if he's annoyed by them. "But you guys want to get to the bottom of it so I've just got to keep answering your questions."

not so fast on khryapa, hes a stud. kobe may veto the trade if hes involved

if the deal with the kings would have went through.... the Bulls would have been scary good.

I'm still in disbelief that Kobe Bryant could be a bull.... and for whatever reason (barring gutting a team) the deal isnt going to get done.

I understand what reservations people have about the guy.... but hes the best basketball player alive right now, and would completely take over Chicago.

Pax.... grow a pair, seriously.

Michael Jordan is still alive, last I checked.

From what I read, it's Kobe that was screwing up the trades. It sounds like the Bulls and LA agreed a few times, and Kobe vetoed it because he didn't like the team he would be left with in Chicago.

I'm over it. Let's move on with what we've got, and if Buss comes to us at the deadline with a good deal, we take it, if not, the Lakers can enjoy missing the playoffs.

I agree. We have our core, let's play ball.

Win the whole f***ing thing this year and the Kobe talk stops.

If this happens, way better than getting Kobe. If this team can prove it has the talent to win a championship... BOOM. Dynasty baby.

My 2 cents...

I believe the trade is done and agreed to. Kobe wouldnt come to chicago if we traded Deng. Supposedly the Lakers 2nd choice was Nocioni. Since he can't be traded until 12/15, they announced there is no trade. This makes sense bc Pax doesnt want the bulls distracted for the next 6 weeks and brings Kobe here to a team with a losing record....

I wouldnt be suprised if this trade was announced at 12:01 am on 12/15...

Gordon, Nocioni, Wallace and a draft pick....(I think the Lakers will have to throw in 1 or 2 players for salary and roster purposes)

(I'm hoping Kobe wants Tyrus here too!)

You can tell this Bulls team is not right. They were completely inept in the 4th quarter last night against the sixers. Hinrich couldnt hit anything and kept turning it over and Gordon was forcing his game. If we had Kobe...we would win games like that in the 4th...Plus, he draws so much attention that Deng and Tyrus would benefit greatly.