QUOTE
Joe in Philly:
If Kobe becomes available would you sign him? When getting the ball to Shaq became clearly the best hope to get a win, he just kept taking bad shots. Is there any reason to think he'd be less selfish on another team? Not to mention, there is a chance that he could be going to jail. It may be a slight chance, but would you be willing to take that risk if you were an owner?
One theory about Kobe Bryant's selfishness that's been making the rounds is that he was rebelling against the triangle offense implemented by Phil Jackson. Bryant has always felt constrained by it and has had difficulties being a team player within that structure. Couple that with the pissing match he and Shaq have had for the past three years (who's team is it? which one is most important to the Lakers?) & you have a miserable person. By going to some other team he would be the big dog around whom every play would be designed & would have a coach he could control. In essence, combining the on-court dominance of Michael Jordan with the off-court prima dona attitude of Magic Johnson, who got a coach fired from the Lakers.
Would I sign him? If I were willing to build a team around
him, definitely. If I already had a relatively strong team that merely needed some adjustments, no; I don't think Bryant's ever going to be a true team player.
The Lakers have announced that they will do whatever it takes to re-sign Kobe which pretty much ends Phil Jackson's tenure here. Up in the air is Shaq's future. He has long said that Phil is his man & that he doesn't want to play anywhere without Jackson, even comparing himself to a "general serving under President Bush" so Shaq may also be on his way out of town.
~Adam
[ June 18, 2004, 09:56 AM: Message edited by: Adam ]