Yeah the dude is in his prime and has done everything for the organization, and they keep getting younger and sorrier every season. I hope he stays, we would be far worse off without him. It's ultimately up to him because of the no trade clause that he would have to waive. If he wants to be a Laker, then he'll remain one. I wouldn't blame him or hold it against him if he were to waive the clause and be traded, he deserves to be on a team that actually cares about winning and not selling tickets, because that is what he is being "used" for in LA.
if they get a good deal for kobe, do it. the lakers are young, and if theres a potential number 1 pick next year who could be a great player, trade for that and some decent experienced players who can help th eyouth on the team develop. i still think theres a little more to come from kwame, hes shown some promise and if he gets consistant, he becomes solid. which is a rare thing in the league... a solid center!
Originally posted by Darth Martin
J.O. would impact their team more than Kidd. Kobe is just as good a passer as Kidd and plus they already have Fisher
Kidd would help Kobe get easy buckets, as opposed to Kobe trying to create his own baskets. Fisher? I'd take Kidd's off games over Fisher's "on" games.
Kobe is not even in Kidds realm as a passer, Kidd has that rare ability to see things happening before they do like all the great PG's. Kobe can make good passes when he is confident his teammates will do something with it, but its not his natural game.
Its kinda like saying MJ was as good as Magic at passing, was MJ a good passer? sure but thats not his natural game. He could find the open man but his natural instinct is to create his own shot like Kobe. Nothing wrong with that when you are a 2 guard, thats your job by definition - score first.
As for the Kidd trade, it sounds nice on paper but it would have left us ridiculously thin at center. Bynum, Kwame and another would have had to go which would have left us with Turiaf and Cook at center, thats not gonna accomplish anything in the West. As much as i love Kidd's game (ever since he was at Dallas) i dont think he would solve the Lakers problems and in the West you need size to overcome the Spurs, Suns, Rockets and Jazz. Kidd would no doubt get easier shots for everyone but if the triangle offense is run properly easy shots are available anyway. Also in the triangle the PG spot is switched to the 2, think about all the "PG's" that have had success in the triangle - Paxon, Armstrong, Kerr, Shaw, Fisher, all of those guys are shooters and unfortunately that is Kidds one weakness.
As for JO the way he is playing now i think the Pacers would trade him for a bottle of Gaterade. I originally said that i wouldnt trade Odom and Bynum for him and i stand by that, especially since Bynum is improving every year. I think once Odom gets his timing back we could be a good team, better than any team Kobe will be left with after he is traded to them. If we focus on defense, share the ball and have Kobe perform his heroics every now and then we can surprise some people. Kobe has been playing incredible ball after our first game against the Rockets, defensively he is playing the way i always wanted to see. Thats where he can help the Lakers the most, shutting down his man and disrupting the opponents offense with weakside blocks and steals. Thats also what has always separated him from MJ imo, MJ used to intimidate his opponents on both ends of the floor - this year Kobe is doing the same.