Dr Buss finally realizes that not getting Garnett, O'Neal or Artest means that Kobe, Turiaf, Radominich, and Fisher will not be enough to get a ring or even get past the second round. They trailed most of yesterday's game by 15 points before making it respectable...of course it was an preseason game but who cares...Laker diehearts do believe me and they are concerned..

With that being said>> Kobe and Mihm for Rip, Nazr, Flip, Dupree and 2nd round draft pick 2013...Ok I realize that is not enough...If I were Buss I would turn it down too. May have to throw in Tay or Max too and I know none of you would agree to that.....
.

You're basically proposing Rip + Tay + salary burdon for Kobe + Mihm... that seems like a fair trade. Probably still better for us. The Lakers would get Hollywood Hamilton though, and Tay would go back to his hometown.

We'd have the best starting lineup in bball still and a potentially good bench.
Billups/ Stuckey
Kobe/ Afflalo
Maxiell/Hayes
Dyess/ Amir
Sheed/ Mihm


.... wait a minute. I see what you're doing. You're trying to get all of your favorite Pistons to go to LA and stick us with that ball hog Kobe.

Didn't think about that scenario but of course I would still be pulling for my original homeboyz Pistons. Tay and Rip would get some sentimental cheers from me if I ever show up at any Laker Games

As far as ballhog Kobe goes he would be limited to just taking the combined average shots per game last year of Rip and Tay about (30 maybe)

Lakers best player in order.

1. Kobe
2. Odom - You didn't mention
3. Walton - You didn't mention
4. Crittenton - You did mention
5. Everyone else

If Odom is healthy the Lakers are a definite playoff team.

Yeah I know Walton and Odom will help out, and they will make the playoffs, but how long are the local Laker fans going to take second round exits...??

Kobe leaves in 2 years. Dr. Buss just wants something so he'll look at all offers. Doesn't want to get nothing when the contract runs out. Dumars will listen.

Kobe, Mihm, and Phil Jackson for Rip, Nazr, Tayshaun, and Flip Saunders.

We can't let the Lakers rip us off like this.

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Momma was queen of the mambo, Poppa was king of the congo, deep down in the jungle, I start banging my first bongo
Every monkey like to be, in my place instead of me, cause I'm the king of bongo baby, I'm the king of bongo bong
-Manu Chao

Is the increasingly ridiculous Kobe "should I stay or should I go" soap opera finally coming to an end?

I hope something happens after all this media hoopla from Mark Stein and others. I think it would make the NBA more interesting to see Kobe on a different team. The Lakers are gonna want A LOT. Players, draft-picks, first-born children, coupons to Chuck E. Cheese.

Imagine if he went to Chicago? Wow, that would really be something. That would change the balance of things in the NBA fo sho.

I didn't really read back through all the possible Pistons trade scenarios but I think the Lakers would most certainly want Amir Johnson to be involved in any trade. But I think having Kobe on a Pistons team would run counter to Joe D's philosophy of team ball. Kobe is simply not a team player from what I've seen and I'm not sure he can become one. In that respect, Jordan was a much better player because he finally listened to Jackson on that issue.

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"I don't believe there's any problem in this country, no matter how tough it is, that Americans, when they roll up their sleeves, can't completely ignore. - George Carlin