Why should Kobe have to move, just to get traded?

Kobe, Radmanovic, and Turiaf to the Clippers for Cuttino Mobley, Corey Maggette, Chris Kaman, and Shaun Livingston, plus the 2007 Draft #14 Pick

Kobe decides that he should’ve gone to the Clips 3 years ago after all. Despite this trade giving the Lakers four/fifths of the original Clipper starters from 2006, Kobe would join a reasonably good team – Elton Brand/ AWilliams/ PDavis (and perhaps Sofocles Schortsianitis, aka the Greek ‘Baby Shaq’ – if they buy out his contract and bring him over) at 5, Tim Thomas/ Turiaf at 4, QRoss/ Singleton/ Radmanovic at 3, Kobe (and Ross) at 2, SCassell/ JHart/ DEwing/ WConroy at 1. The main Clipper problem last year, of having no consistent second scorer besides Elton, is suddenly, completely fixed. And their defense would likely be better by subtraction, with Ross and Thomas playing more minutes than they did last year behind inferior defenders, and Turiaf presenting a needed boost of energy off the bench. Sofocles killed the American team running the pick and roll at the World Championships in 2006, so he might be a real contributor and let EB play PF. If they also signed his Greek teammate (and key to that killer pick and roll), 6-7 free agent PG Theo Papaloukas, or if Sam Cassell could just stay healthy, this is a team that could make a serious playoff run.

The Lakers, meanwhile, would greatly augment their considerable depth, and would have a wealth of options at every position to decide between; Phil could go big or small, shooters, slashers or passers, and everything in-between with these 4 newcomers plus his leftovers. And there’s an extra draft pick to boot – a superathletic Kobe wannabe, Nick Young from USC, is likely available at #14, but not at the Lakers #19. Just look at the Laker centers in this scenario: Kaman, Bynum, Kwame, Mihm. That’s more than enough fouls to use on Shaq! And assuming Livingston recovers fully, they could even have their new Magic-man at the PG, for Jerry Buss’ dream of reviving Showtime, which more than anything requires the right sort of floor leader (and Steve Nash isn’t available). It looks like a win-win; too bad the Lakers would never do it.