Big Time Kobe News!
This whole Kobe: “I don’t want a trade, I do want a trade, well I actually don’t want a trade” is really getting out of hand. There is hardly any way to digest all of the news and implications of the Lakers possibly trading Kobe. Plus, there’s the whole thing about Jerry Buss and the Shaq trade that happened years ago, which would have been a week’s worth of news by itself.
Luckily, you can always count on Bill Simmons of ESPN to give you a good take on it all. For people who write small blogs on something as huge as this whole thing, the task can seem daunting to try and even say just one little bit of commentary without it spilling into a 3,000-word essay. Where would he go, and why? Will the Lakers really do it? I just finished payments on my Lakers No. 24 jersey, and now you’re telling me I have to buy one (or two) for his next team!?
The best thing to do right now is to fully immerse yourself in sports talk radio and reading the possible scenarios. If your head gets all swimmy, just venture on over to StubHub.com to look for some Los Angeles Lakers tickets. Try not to think about who is going to be their shooting guard.
Kobe Demands Trade from Lakers
We have probably reached the peak of the Kobe-wanting-a-trade rumor mill drama. Yesterday Kobe stopped beating around the bush and said, in no uncertain terms, that he would like to be traded from the Lakers. This news came after a week of Kobe Bryant entering the headlines for demanding that the Lakers sign Jerry West after he retires, and then West saying that he doesn’t intend to come to L.A. and undermine Mitch Kupchak.
Also of note, Kobe Bryant confessed that it was Jerry Buss who got rid of Shaq because he believed Shaq was being paid too much money and was in a decline. He was not traded to the Miami Heat for issues related to a much-hyped feud with Kobe Bryant. Shaq later stated that he believed what Kobe had said about a meeting with Buss which discussed the situation with Shaq.
Things are really heating up in Los Angeles. Nobody really knows how this whole thing will shake out, but whether you’ll be seeing Kobe with your Los Angeles Lakers tickets next year or not, you can count on StubHub.com to put you in a good seat for all the action.
Kobe Wants Jerry West in Los Angeles
The big news coming out of LA this weekend was the report that Kobe Bryant may have given the Lakers organization an ultimatum regarding the reinstatement of Jerry West, the former Lakers general manager who is retiring from the Memphis Grizzlies this summer.
Both Kobe and West denied that there had been any communication between the two of them, and Kobe asserted that he has never talked about demanding a trade in order to win a championship. Said Kobe, “The frustrating thing to me is I haven’t demanded a trade, I haven’t asked for a trade, I haven’t said anything like that. Not at all. That’s not something I even want to think about.”
Kobe’s desire to involve West in the Lakers organization operates under the assumption that bringing in West (instead of Kupchak) would perhaps make it easier to win a championship, that West is more likely to get the players capable of winning. Perhaps, but people don’t get Los Angeles Lakers tickets at StubHub.com to see the general manager, and there is no guarantee that West could get a Garnett anyways.
Lakers to Package Bynum, Odom, others for Garnett?
I don’t know that I’ve ever gotten a satisfactory answer about why Garnett simply can’t get traded to the Lakers. Nowadays it seems like Los Angeles is more desperate than ever to draw in a superstar center. Kevin Garnett is a superstar center. So why not? A lot of people seem to think that the Lakers will try to create a little Odon-Bynum-Somebody-or-other gift basket for the Timberwolves, but that it won’t work. Apparently Kevin McHale hates the Lakers.
This is the part I don’t understand: Kevin McHale holding a grudge against the Lakers. Why would he keep Garnett away from LA simply out of spite? The only real evidence I’ve heard to support such a theory is that while he was playing ball there was a rivalry between the Celtics, his team, and the Lakers. But in case people don’t seem to realize, he is with the Timberwolves now. His loyalties might have changed a bit. Plus, maybe 25 years is a long time to carry a feud like that? It just doesn’t make sense.
Hopefully cooler heads will prevail and the T-Wolves and Lakers will make something happen. Then you can get Los Angeles Lakers tickets at StubHub.com to see the newest tag team: Kobe and Kevin.
Lakers on the Bench
A lack of lottery luck has left the Los Angeles Lakers on the bench. Unfortunately, we haven’t heard much positive news from our Lakers in quite some time. Adding to the heap of not so promsing news is the lack of progress from center Andrew Bynum. While Portland plans to draft Gred Oden, and Seattle intends on taking Kevin Durant, the Lakers are stuck with making efforts to improve Bynum on the court.
But results actually show Bynum to be slipping, not gaining ground as they so desperately need him to do now. Kobe’s public announcement of frustration has only added more pressure to this volatile situation. With these other teams picking up key players and fattening their rosters in all the right places, the Lakers can’t afford to delay with the Bynum improvement process. They need to suck it up and trade Bynum, Lamar Odom, and possibly a couple more Lakers in return for an all-around court crusher. Make sure you get your Los Angeles Lakers tickets today.
No Lucky Numbers Yet
The 2007 NBA Draft took place yesterday in Secaucus, New Jersey. To everyone’s surprise, the Blazers advanced. When the Milwaukee Bucks logo was pulled first, everyone knew that the top three teams were up against a wall. The top lottery winners were the Portland Trail Blazers, Seattle Supersonics, and the Atlanta Hawks.
The Blazers are now faced with the option of trading Zach Randolph. His high salary makes him a sensible trade, but last season’s amazing performance still makes him a valuable asset. The Lakers might have a chance to trade Lamar Odom for Randolph and point guard Jarret Jack. However, the Blazers have made no mention of such a trade, and we can only keep a close watch and speculate at this point. Keep an eye open and get your Los Angeles Lakers tickets soon.
Who’s Feeling Lucky?
As with the rest of the NBA, the Los Angeles Lakers have been in a holding pattern until now, the famous day of the NBA lottery. Recent talks have made mention of trading for Jermaine O’Neal or Pau Gasol, using frosh Andrew Bynum as the trade-up. But since Bynum is bound by a rookie contract, the dowry would have to be fattened with another sheep from the herd. Kwame Brown is the most likely to be traded with Bynum to suffice securing a big timer on the Lakers roster.
And what will this leave for size on the Laker roster? Not much. The Lakers would need to trade for a stellar center or power forward to put some weight back on the court. This would add some validity to speculation about the Lakers trading for Indiana Pacer Jermaine O’Neal. Vice President of Player Personnel Jim Buss openly admitted that the Lakers planned to make adjustments around Kobe and are not adverse to major rearrangements for the roster. Get your Los Angeles Lakers tickets today.
Media Mess
It looks like the Los Angeles Lakers’ recent talks of new coaching positions may be inciting some latent disagreements between the gentlemen in the higher echelons. Lakers VP Jim Buss was recently on a talk radio show where he ripped Phil Jackson for ripping Lakers players in the media. Well, isn’t that a bit hypocritical? Buss definitely made himself guilty of exactly what he was accusing Jackson of. Way to go with the quick fix on that one Buss.
This is not to say that Jackson was in the right, but Buss’ calling out should have taken place in private. Buss’ sister Jeanie, Jackson’s girlfriend, and another Lakers VP returned Jim’s volley by calling him out for vilifying Jackson. Anyone else picturing a sandbox with children pointing fingers at each other? Apparently it’s time for some restructuring in management. Let’s hope this is all part of ironing out the wrinkles of the off-season. Make sure you get your Los Angeles Lakers tickets and join the action.
Former Lakers GM Receives Hall of Fame Honors
Fred Schaus was recently inducted into the Ohio Hoop Zone Basketball Hall of Fame. This is a well-deserved accolade for Schaus, who has multiple, significant accomplishments under his belt. It began with aiding the Newark High School boys basketball team in winning the 1943 boys basketball state championship. Schaus then went on to become the first Newark Mountaineer to score 1,000 points. This task is even more commendable considering plays and tactics weren’t as advanced then.
Following this great feat, Schaus coached Newark through five consecutive NCAA tournaments, and then became the general manger for the Los Angeles Lakers, building one of the most successful NBA franchises of the 1960’s and 1970’s. He helped the Lakers achieve a record 33 consecutive wins, and an NBA championship in 1972. For your chance to see potential, future Hall of Famers, get your Los Angeles Lakers tickets today.
Bionic Basketball
Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odom successfully underwent shoulder surgery Tuesday. Odom will most likely be able to play by the start of training camp in October. Team doctor Dr. Lewis Yocum completed the surgery in 40 minutes. This was nothing new for Odom or Yocum, as this was the same surgery Odom had two years ago. Odom is expected to begin rehab work shortly. Today’s medical advancements and surgery capabilities must be quite comforting to coaches and managers. Granted, injuries can be devastating to a team, but they’re certainly not looked at the same as they were a few years ago. Our professional athletes will soon be looked as bionic super-humans.
Professional teams must also be taking this into consideration when trade talks are being made. And sports medicine and therapy are discovering advancements on a daily basis, whipping players back into playing form in significantly less time. After all, if a player can simply be tinkered with, to at least temporarily extend his time on the court, then wouldn’t that be much better than trading up for a healthier player with less innate athletic talent? A fine line divides these views. At the very least, these injuries are indicative that our athletes are still vigorously pounding the court and earning their keep. Get your Los Angeles Lakers tickets today.