Gilbert for Kobe?

Yesterday I was scrolling through my news aggregator and I stumble upon a post by the guys at DC Sports Report entitled “Kobe to DC?“. Naturally this piqued my interest so I clicked through and the post was centered around a blurb in Sam Smith’s column in the Chicago Tribune.

Here’s what Smith wrote:

Agent Zero going Hollywood?
One general manager on the periphery of the Bryant talks says he believes the “dark horse” to make a deal with the Lakers is the Washington Wizards. The consensus is the Wizards have hit a plateau, but have the star power in Gilbert Arenas to make a deal.

Arenas is talking about opting out of his contract after this season. He’s from Los Angeles and has become a star, one of the league’s highest-scoring players and an engaging personality who would embrace the Hollywood scene. He would meet the Lakers’ demands for an All-Star player if they trade Bryant.

“Watch out for them,” the general manager said, meaning the Wizards.

The Lakers probably would want a power forward, which the Wizards don’t have. The biggest obstacle, though, may be Bryant’s no-trade clause, along with the fact he hasn’t indicated any interest in Washington. Still, with Bryant, Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler, the Wizards would have a three-star set that could match up in the East.

Now Sam Smith is fairly well known for tossing out all sorts of trade rumors, thats basically his whole shtick, so I took that with a grain of salt. But then DC Sports Report updated their post to include a Marc Stein quote from an ESPN.com chat he did:

Real enough that I wouldn’t call it a rumor. Washington’s interest, I’m told, is super genuine. What we don’t know yet is whether Kobe would be amenable to Washington. But the Lakers would be hard-pressed to do better than a package that apparently features Gilbert Arenas and Andray Blatche . . . as long as Gil were willing to agree to extension with his hometown Lakers as opposed to opting out at season’s end.

getting involved in the Kobe Sweepstakes and I’ve since heard that there’s legit smoke here. We’ll have to see what Kobe thinks of sharing a city with the president, since he wields more power than anyone in the NBA with the only active no-trade clause.

Hmmm. Could this be real? I guess they are at least talking about talking about it or something like that right? Now I’m getting a little excited, thinking about possibilities, etc. I love Gilbert as much as the next guy and would hate to see him go…but Kobe in DC? Best player in the league, here? Makes you pause, I’ll tell you that.

Then of course I read in today’s paper that Ernie Grunfield denies it all. Here’s Ernie:

“I don’t normally comment on rumors but there is no truth to this rumor,” Grunfeld said when reached by phone last evening. “We’ve never had any conversations with the Lakers or with anyone else about Gilbert.”

Oh. I guess I didn’t really expect Ernie to say anything differently but still, that kind of kills the fun of considering trade offers, doesnt it? Ivan Carter, WaPo Wizards beat writer extraordinaire, had more on his blog:

(cites Grunfield quote mentioned above) I heard the same from other folks with knowledge of the situation so I really don’t know what to make of Sam’s speculation or similar speculation via Marc Stein at www.espn.com. Now, in terms of Sam, I’ll say this: my man Sam had Kevin Garnett traded to the Bulls around 1,500 times over the last few years. I think he had Iverson moved nearly half as often. That’s Sam’s job: talk to folks around the league and throw out possible trade situations when he hears them. As any reporter will tell you, there are 5,000 “source” rumors for every trade that actually goes down. In the NBA, where many voices are whispering sweet nothings in many an ear, rumor is a way of life.

Here’s why I don’t see a Kobe/Wiz deal going down:

1. Kobe has a no-trade clause, a hefty trade kicker and it appears that his heart is set on Chicago. Now, if something floats out in the next few days that Kobe secretly loves the Redskins, has always wanted to visit Mount Vernon and really digs trips the Smithsonian when visiting the DC, you’ll know that there something is to this rumor. Believe this: Kobe is driving all of this and we’ll all know soon enough if he wants out of LA bad enough to step off the windy city and flirt with chocolate city. Until then, it’s all talk. Now, if Kobe shows up to practice tomorrow wearing a Caron Butler jersey……..

2. Would the Lakers really give up Kobe for a guy who is coming off of knee surgery and can opt out of his deal next summer? Where would that put them in a Western Conference that is top heavy with the Spurs, Suns, Mavs, Nuggets, Jazz and Rockets?

3. I would assume that if the Lakers are doing their jobs, they would demand Andray Blatche in any deal involving Kobe and that isn’t going to happen, not based on the things Blatche showed in preseason. You don’t trade 6-11, 260-pound 21-year olds with that skill set and a five-year contract that is only running you $15 million.
Not in a conference that has LeBron, Luol Deng, Rasheed, KG, Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, Rashard Lewis, Zach Randolph, Gerald Wallace, Josh Smith and assorted other matchup nightmares lurking in every corner. If Blatche reaches his potential, he gives you a five-tool almost 7-footer who is just scratching the surface. Hard to trade that, even for Kobe.

Now, as we all know, things can change and that’s why the first three months of this season are going to be so interesting. By February, the Wizards should have a feel for where Gilbert is on that knee and have a feel for how the rotation is coming together. If Gilbert does his thing and the big three stay healthy and Blatche continues to come along, the Wiz should be one of the top two or three teams in the East and there would be no reason to blow it all up by trying to land Kobe. Also, we’ll know just how hungry Kobe is to go somewhere.

My educated guess is that the Lakers will sit back, see how Kobe reacts early in the season and evaluate their options come February. I do have a feeling that it’s going to kill him watching KG play with Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. Thing is, KG was put into prison by Kevin McHale while Kobe pretty much did it to himself.

Carter mentions a big sticking point I had in any proposed Arenas for Kobe deal: I love Andray Blatche and consider him close to untouchable. Blatche is going to breakout this year, is signed for the next 5 years at a very reasonable price, and is going to be a 7 foot stud. You can’t involve him in any deal, you just cant. I guess its all moot anyway, which I think is a good thing. But its fun to think about.

After the jump, for no real reason other then I think its interesting, Michael Wilbon’s answers to some questions on this subject in a WaPo Chat House session yesterday.

Here’s Michael Wilbon in a WaPo chat Monday:

Should be paying attention in class, Md.: Oh Mr. Wilbon! I’ve been surfing the Internet and I saw that there are rumors that the Wiz are considered a dark horse for Kobe. Gilbert for Kobe, is that really a good idea?

Michael Wilbon: I’d do it…Why not? Gilbert’s going to be a free agent soon enough anyway since he can opt out…So why not pursue Kobe? Ernie Grunfeld and Mitch Kupchak are friendly. That makes sense. Question is, what else would the Wizards have to give up? Would you do it for Gilbert and Jamison? I would NOT do it for Gilbert and Caron. Nope. But Gil and ‘Twan…As much as I like those guys and want to see what the team can produce this season, I’d do that. Yep.

snip

Washington, D.C. : Mike,

Could you please just skip all of the Redskins questions today? As a die-hard Redskins fan, I don’t want to have to re-live any of that stuff that happened yesterday. So…

What do you think of that Kobe for Agent Zero rumor?

Michael Wilbon: As I mentioned, I like that deal. If you’re the Lakers you get a guy who can score nearly as much as Kobe who’s a L.A. native…That would be good for the Wiz, too, I think. Lineup of Kobe and Antonio Daniels, Butler, Songaila, Haywood…Okay, I’m not taking that team over Boston or Chicago, but it would win the division and finish no lower than 4th seed (again, presuming relative health)…And that’s IF Antawn Jamison has to go. Kobe loves Caron Butler…loves him…was actually with Caron when he was told he was being traded to Washington for Kwame.

snip

Washington, D.C.: If the Wizards trade Arenas for Kobe, I will stop following the team.

I understand Kobe is a superstar and probably one of the best 3 players in the game, but he is also a selfish player that has NOT elevated his team, much less taken them to a title since Shaq left.

What exactly has Kobe accomplished since Shaq left that Gilbert hasn’t done for the Wizards?

Why are we to assume that they would be better off, because Kobe is a better player? What about the team chemistry that appears to exist on the Wizards?

Do Kobe’s teammates like him? Is he one of those players that is incapable of carrying a team because he is so selfish.

Michael Wilbon: Every single point you make is not only valid, but right on the money, which is why as a Bulls fan I don’t want to give up players like Luol Deng, Ben Gordon and Jokim Noah to get him. He hasn’t elevated his team since Shaq left. In fact, in the biggest test since Shaq’s departure, Kobe came up zero against Phoenix in Game 6 at home in L.A. and Game 7 in Phoenix. He was dreadful. I’m so with you, I might reconsider what I just said…Thing is, I think Kobe’s a frontrunner. With Caron Butler and an evolving Blatche and Songaila and these two rookies that I really, really like, Kobe might see a championship in his future and really evolve himself a little bit. But the Wizards can’t give up too much. I could see this Wizards team finishing anywhere from 3rd in the east this year to 8th if they don’t take playing defense seriously.

The Sports Note

Gilbert for Kobe?

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