Wednesday, June 20, 2007

More Kobe trade possibilities (revised order)

(After some thought, I changed the order below and added one to Dallas - otherwise unaffected).

Kobe has reiterated his trade demand, and even has a video out trashing GM Kupchak and team darling Bynum. But none of the current rumors – to Chicago, or the Knicks – make sense. So, if there's no Jermaine O'Neal, Rasheed Wallace, or KG coming to the rescue… then....

Here are 5 possible Kobe trades – all work under the salary cap, and to me make sense, to varying degrees, for both parties in the transaction. I think #1 makes the most sense (is most likely to actually occur, has highest plausibility), then in roughly descending order. See if you agree – rank-order them yourselves and explain in the comments. Here I go- I say the best scenario for both sides is Dallas- Lakers:

1 To the Lakers:
Greg Buckner
Salary: $3,240,741 Years Remaining: 5
PTS: 4.0 REB: 2.1 AST: 0.9 PER: 7.77
Devin Harris
Salary: $3,153,120 Years Remaining: 2
PTS: 10.2 REB: 2.5 AST: 3.7 PER: 15.96
Dirk Nowitzki
Salary: $15,101,622 Years Remaining: 5
PTS: 24.6 REB: 8.9 AST: 3.4 PER: 27.70

To Dallas:
Vladimir Radmanovic
Salary: $5,215,000 Years Remaining: 5
PTS: 6.6 REB: 3.3 AST: 1.2 PER: 11.02
Kobe Bryant
Salary: $17,718,750 Years Remaining: 4
PTS: 31.6 REB: 5.7 AST: 5.4 PER: 26.13
Jordan Farmar
Salary: $939,120 Years Remaining: 2
PTS: 4.4 REB: 1.7 AST: 1.9 PER: 10.79
Ronny Turiaf
Salary: $664,209 Years Remaining: 2
PTS: 5.3 REB: 3.6 AST: 0.9 PER: 15.54

Rationale: For LA: The Lakers need a star attraction in return if they are to deal Kobe, and the league MVP certainly counts. Devin Harris gives the Lakers a sorely needed PG, and Buckner can help fill in at SG and provide defense. The front court is huge, with Lamar starting at SF; Mo Evans can step in at SG nicely. New rotation: Bynum/Kwame/Mihm, Dirk/Cook, Odom/Walton, Mo Evans/Buckner, Harris/ S. Vujacic

For Dallas: With his playoff collapse, Dirk is the most unpopular MVP in his home city in history. The Lakers give them an inferior version of Dirk back in Radmanovic (who at least will play somewhat the same role in the offense) and a young energy guy in Turiaf, a good young PG in Farmar, and a stone cold killer in Kobe, the kind of guy who could push them over the top. Cuban didn’t get where he is by refusing to take chances, and Dallas may well believe they’ll never win a title with Dirk as the centerpiece, and so take a shot at trading up for Kobe – without losing glue guy Josh Howard. New rotation: Diop/ Dampier/ Mbenga, Radmanovic/Turiaf, JHoward/DGeorge, Kobe/JStackhouse/Ager, JTerry/Farmar

2 The alternative: if Dallas is unwilling to deal Devin Harris and wants some salary reduction (Kwame's expiring contract) next summer, increasingly in tune with Cuban's new modus operandi-

Lakers get:
Greg Buckner
Salary: $3,240,741 Years Remaining: 5
PTS: 4.0 REB: 2.1 AST: 0.9 PER: 7.77
Jason Terry
Salary: $8,100,000 Years Remaining: 6
PTS: 16.7 REB: 2.9 AST: 5.2 PER: 18.97
Dirk Nowitzki
Salary: $15,101,622 Years Remaining: 5
PTS: 24.6 REB: 8.9 AST: 3.4 PER: 27.70

Dallas gets:
Kwame Brown
Salary: $8,287,500 Years Remaining: 2
PTS: 8.4 REB: 6.0 AST: 1.8 PER: 13.79
Kobe Bryant
Salary: $17,718,750 Years Remaining: 4
PTS: 31.6 REB: 5.7 AST: 5.4 PER: 26.13
Jordan Farmar
Salary: $939,120 Years Remaining: 2
PTS: 4.4 REB: 1.7 AST: 1.9 PER: 10.79

Other possible Kobe trades:
3 Houston deals:

Tracy McGrady
Salary: $16,901,500 Years Remaining: 4
PTS: 24.6 REB: 5.3 AST: 6.5 PER: 23.28
Shane Battier
Salary: $5,393,300 Years Remaining: 5
PTS: 10.1 REB: 4.1 AST: 2.1 PER: 12.05

For Vladimir Radmanovic
Salary: $5,215,000 Years Remaining: 5
PTS: 6.6 REB: 3.3 AST: 1.2 PER: 11.02
Kobe Bryant
Salary: $17,718,750 Years Remaining: 4
PTS: 31.6 REB: 5.7 AST: 5.4 PER: 26.13

Rationale: Yao and Kobe together! That explains it for Houston - shades of Shaq-Kobe revisited, and the Rockets hope for titles as well. For the Lakers, TMac is the closest Kobe equivalent, and Battier would be a wonderful fit in Phil’s triangle. As stated above, Maurice Evans' availability means the Lakers don't have to get a 2-guard back in return.

4 Or Phoenix deals:

Shawn Marion
Salary: $15,070,000 Years Remaining: 3
PTS: 17.5 REB: 9.8 AST: 1.7 PER: 20.87
Boris Diaw
Salary: $1,870,501 Years Remaining: 6
PTS: 9.7 REB: 4.3 AST: 4.8 PER: 13.02
Leandro Barbosa
Salary: $1,679,733 Years Remaining: 6
PTS: 18.1 REB: 2.7 AST: 4.0 PER: 18.49


For Vladimir Radmanovic
Salary: $5,215,000 Years Remaining: 5
PTS: 6.6 REB: 3.3 AST: 1.2 PER: 11.02
Kobe Bryant
Salary: $17,718,750 Years Remaining: 4
PTS: 31.6 REB: 5.7 AST: 5.4 PER: 26.13


Phoenix would become the most lethal triumvirate in the league with Nash/Kobe/Stoudamire (with Banks/ J.Jones/ K.Thomas and others left to play roles), and Radmanovic again would nicely fit, spotting up for 3s. The Lakers get a star in Marion and an electrifying youngster in Barbosa, and a great triangle player (a big who can pass and defend multiple positions) in Diaw.

5 Golden State deals:

Adonal Foyle
Salary: $8,125,000 Years Remaining: 4
PTS: 2.2 REB: 2.6 AST: 0.4 PER: 13.58
Monta Ellis
Salary: $664,209 Years Remaining: 2
PTS: 16.5 REB: 3.2 AST: 4.1 PER: 15.06
Jason Richardson
Salary: $9,999,999 Years Remaining: 5
PTS: 16.0 REB: 5.1 AST: 3.4 PER: 15.55
Andris Biedrins
Salary: $1,986,960 Years Remaining: 2
PTS: 9.5 REB: 9.3 AST: 1.1 PER: 16.23
and a 1st round pick (#18 in 2007) plus another in 2009

For Vladimir Radmanovic
Salary: $5,215,000 Years Remaining: 5
PTS: 6.6 REB: 3.3 AST: 1.2 PER: 11.02
Kobe Bryant
Salary: $17,718,750 Years Remaining: 4
PTS: 31.6 REB: 5.7 AST: 5.4 PER: 26.13

If the Lakers want to rebuild, getting Biedrins and Ellis and the draft picks would help, and JRich gives them a star in return as well to fill the Kobe void. And Foyle's statesmanlike presence would help a divisive locker room. For the Warriors, Nellie-ball with Baron, S. Jackson, Al Harrington and the rest becomes the most exciting show in the league with the addition of Kobe (and Radmanovic would nicely fit, spotting up for 3s).
What do y’all think?

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