Pretty accurate. Like MJ he is known for playing as hard and competitively in practice as game situations. I dont see how anyone faults him for the Lakers thing. Mitch Kupchak is one of the most incompetent managers in the NBA, and he passed up a trade for Kidd or Jermaine Oneal which certainly would have vaulted the team up to contender status. If the Lakers were in the east last year they very well could have made it to the Finals just like the Cavs did.

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Ric Bucher is reporting on ESPN right now that nothing is imminent, and Kobe will play against Houston tonight. Im confused, I just hope he plays tonight.

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Normally, I would say to not believe Bucher as he has been consistenly wrong in his Kobe coverage, but in this case, I think he's right.

I was immediately skeptical of the Score's reporting, and it looks as if they did nothing more than speculate about a possible trade with Kobe happening soon

Probably just throwing shit against the wall and hoping it sticks. If for some reason he was traded to the Bulls you can bet they'd be playing up how they broke the story for weeks

How much bigger of a distraction could it possibly be?

We should give NSJ a ring to see what are his peeps at emmission testing and Lake Forest Shell stations are saying?

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"It's not exactly a rocket surgery." D.J.

I think the Bulls would have to part with at least ONE of those guys, and likely a huge draft package.

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I didn't think it was on the brink of happening the way it was being described today. Saying that, the longer LA waits, the less they will get back as he can become a free agent after next season.

I think Pax knows that. The Lakers want him gone more then the Bulls want him.

Pax will get him before the deadline. At his price.

It's a small market because the Lakers don't want to trade him to a Western team. Nobody else but the Bulls have anything the Lakers want in the East.

It's Poker. Pax will get him without giving up Deng.

Isn't Washington said to be offering Arenas? That's better than any single player the Bulls can provide, even if Deng is included.

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The denial of Arenas's availability means nothing, as you know.

If I were LA, I would much rather have Arenas + crap instead of Gordon + crap (Noah, Thomas, whatever).

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You shouldn't roam out of the General section, TM. You prove time and time again that you know nothing about sports.

That's true, Thomas isn't crap. He has elite physical ability and may some day develop an offensive game. The problem, though, is that Gordon isn't a guy who has thus far shown the ability to create his own shot. Arenas is that kind of player and that's why I'd be interested in seeing what else Washington had to offer. I'd rather have one really good player than an above average player and another player with potential that may or may not develop.

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If you have a point, make it. Otherwise, I suggest you go stick your head back up your ass.

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I cant believe it took you this long in the discussion to mention this. No way Kobe accepts that trade, its a senseless debate.

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

That's what is great. Kobe won't allow Deng to be traded. So the Lakers are just gonna have to bite the bullet and do it without him.

It still could work out for them. They won't get even value but if they stay under the cap maybe they can sign a great free agent in the next 2 years. Alot of players would want to go to LA.

That's the way LA has to look at it. Because they have to trade him and they know that.

Kobe got 45. 17-25 shooting. 18 in the 4th. 27 free throw attempts (career high). Plus he's got a bad wrist.

Lakers lose. But a hell of a final 2 minutes by the Lakers and Kobe.

But you're right Nas. Every loss by the Lakers means Kobe is one step closer to the Bulls. I hope they start out 0-8.

Just messin' with you, TM, thus the . Pokin' fun at your over simplification of what the Bulls have to offer the Lakers.

On the other hand - What if the Bulls start out hot? Do they still break up the core for Kobe?

i dont think there is any way paxson is going to give to much for kobe. no matter how good we're doing, paxson isnt going to give away what we need to advance in the play-offs.

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GO BULLS!

i agree but i think kobe said he wouldnt accept a trade that involved wallace. he wants to play with big ben. but i think kobe is even more desperate than before to move away from LA so the circumstances might have changed since then.

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GO BULLS!

But...that's Kobe....

You make good points, but what happens if he decides Chicago blows in a few months? Why is L.A. so willing to get so little in return for Kobe? Why does everyone in the Lakers organization apparently despise him so intensely?

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Has anyone ever liked Kobe there? I thought that he's been hated for a long time. He is obviously a great player, but his addition to the Bulls will likely introduce some chemistry problems. It will be interesting to see how he relates to the other players and Skiles if he gets traded.

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i think you're right nas

farve fan was saying there was a 3 team trade already in the works and should be announced in the next couple days. i think he said noah, tyrus, ben, kirk, and kryapa for kobe. some players go to the lakers some go to the kings. he said he heard it on the radio.

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GO BULLS!

And here is the problem with discussing this in 2 different threads

he was generally liked by all until last spring when he said he wanted to be traded. and wasnt really disliked by most there until just recently i think.

i dont think people in the organization will dislike him much as long as he's still playing hard.
i personally think that kobe should sit if his wrist is hurt. theres no need for him to risk getting even more hurt. he doesnt want to be on the team anyway. Its afftecting his shooting so it is at least semi-serious unless he just had a rare off-night at the foul line, 18/27. thats not terrible, maybe his wrist is fine, but i think its uncharacteristic of him

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GO BULLS!

Can't say I would be too excited about a starting lineup of Chris Duhon, Kobe Bryant, Luol Deng, Nocioni, and Aaron Gray.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

He meant little Ben, not big Ben.