Kobe To Be Traded?

Interesting that I would choose to talk about Kobe since I've always been cheering against him most of my life (with the exception being when he suits up for Team USA), but this situation is interesting. It should be even more interesting to those of us in Philadelphia since we seem to follow Kobe so closely. True, we are not thrilled that he calls here home and then, in his words, "came back to rip out their hearts" during the Finals, but this situation should mirror another one we've seen recently. I'm referring to the Iverson trade situation not even one year ago. A lot of the same signs are there: player growing older, team falling from the peak it once enjoyed, a youth rebuiliding movement which does not compliment player's abilities, player finally hinting that they might have to move on, rumors flying everywhere, and constant refusal by both player and management to comment on the situation as it wears on.

There is a third player to join in this discussion and that is Kevin Garnett. A lot of the same things surrounded him prior to his departure from Minnesota. What I find especially interesting is that those three players had/have the longest tenures in the league with one team. Rewind 3-4 years ago and tell me you really thought any of them would end their careers with other teams. Now it's likely it will be a reality for all three. I really find it interesting that no matter what players say, and how much I believe they are truthful about loving a place, they want to contend and win. It throws the whole notion that "all players care about is money" out the window. I know some leave for the money in free agency but I think a lot try to put themselves in successful positions, more so as their careers wind on. Webber, Mourning, Payton, Malone....they all tried to do this and a couple have been successful, others not.

The Kobe situation would mark the end of an era in LA where they were always in the playoff hunt. The same sentiments are echoed in Minnesota and Philadelphia. The key to returning to that status is how you rebuild. San Antonio has become the Patriots of the NBA in that they have built a great system and find players to fit that system, thus they have contended for 8 years straight now. The Hawks can't get it right no matter how many top-5 picks they get. The one I'm intrigued with is Chicago. It took the Bulls too long to rebuild after Jordan's retirement mainly due to the fact that they made poor personnel decisions such as trading away promising players like Elton Brand, Ron Artest, and Brad Miller for less then equal value. Now they seem to have it right. They have built up a wealth of young, marketable, tradable talent. They are in prime position to put together a package deal for a marquee player. This could be their time with Kobe. The Lakers could take back Deng, Gordon, one of the younger guys (Thomas/Noah), and a pick for Kobe. That's not THAT bad of a deal. And don't start about Kobe not wanting to play in Jordan's shadow. Please, do you know the man? He wants to prove himself better. That destination makes the most sense because it also removes him from the West. Trade him to the Mavs and he will burn LA everytime he comes through. We will probably know soon enough...