With more speculation surrounding Kobe going to New York, will Kobe's reign in Lakerland be over before the season?

I really think that he will be in LA at the beginning of the season. However, I think that he will be traded before next season. I believe that he will force the issue once he has more leverage with his contract. It comes down to one fact, the Lakers do not want to trade him.

Much like MWithers, I don't see the Lakers trading Kobe Bryant before the start of the season. There is absolutely no deal thinkable to me that would earn them even 35 cents on the dollar, with no big name player available that could fill the seats or sell jerseys the way Kobe does. But with the poor man's KG (J. O'Neal) probably staying in Indiana and the Nets trying to give their Big Three another run (now with some sort of bench), they will be unable to get anyone who can satisfy Kobe's demand for improvement either (besides that this would cost them the last bits of talent they have besides him and the cheap role players have already signd with Boston).

I have the feeling that somehow Lakers management will be able to talk him into staying at least one year so they could work out a deal for him, but will find some stupid, dumbass GM that will take their combo of Odom and Bynum for...I don't know whom, but I'm sure they will pull of some trade that makes Kobe play at least another year or two for the Lakers.

You make a good point. But as Bynum develops, their love for him increases considering that they wouldn't give him up for Jason Kidd. I don't think Odom is good enough that they could get anyone that could change that team around, even with Bryant and Bynum.

The Lakers Front Office has all the leverage for THIS off-season, but after that they are pretty much at Bryant's mercy. I'm sure Bryant will start off playing for the Lakers (as he won't forfiet 20 million,) but unless they make huge changes, he'll probably be gone by next off-season is my guess.

@ MWithers
My take on the Bynum situation is, that he and Odom (like I said) will probably be gone in a trade by midseason. I just can't imagine that, with all the leverage Kobe will have (College Wolf eyplained that very well) soon, the Lakers Management will bend backwards to satisfy Kobe. No matter what, this franchise depends on one spectacular baskeball celebrity or does anyone think Jack Nicholson and friends will pay a fortune to see some Joe Johnson play? I don't think so. But since no one they could get in atrade for Kobe or in the FA-Market in the next three years has this special talent Kobe does, they just CAN'T AFFORD to loose him.

And this love for Bynum thing...I am not sure, but wasn't this Bynum guy some personal project of Mitch Kupchak's son or at least of himself? I am pretty sure that when it comes to the fate of the franchise, no matter what kind of talent Bynum is, Kobe will be more important, short AND longterm. And if Mr. Kupchak wants to keep his job, he will be forced to satisfy Kobe's demands at all costs.

And that is why he will keep scrambling for a trade behind the scenes and I strongly believe that someone will fall for what he has to offer (Odom and Bynum)...I would not, but someone will.

College Wolf wrote:




I agree with that. Kobe's time in LA does seem limited. You'd think as soon as someone can put together a reasonable offer for Kobe he'd be gone...but the question is why? Why would a team pay a lot for Kobe right now when they could possibly get him at a HUGE discount later on this year or next offseason. That's just my opinion though...

whiskeydizzy wrote:
Possibly to avoid the I don't want to go here or there and I won't sign an extension. Sounds familiar doesn't it?

I think the Bynum situation is hilarious as well!! Anytime you hear a professional ath-a-lete (Kobe) who's obviously angry with personnel decsions I become interested!!!

I'm really not sure how this whole Kobe thing will play out...it all depends on Kobe's true dissatisfaction with the organization. I really can see this going one of two ways. Either Kobe is willing to continue to play for LA but needs some considerable roster changes to do so (bye-bye Bynum) or he'll say screw it and start over somewhere else. I personally believe he'll do the latter, but honestly who knows with Kobe...it's like predicting the next Bengal to get arrested