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KOBE TO KNICKS: <BR>LET'S TALK IN JULY <!--end headline--><BR><SPAN id=a10blb><!--start byline-->By MARC BERMAN <!--end byline--></SPAN>
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<TD colSpan=3 height=2></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><SPAN id=a10bl><I>June 9, 2004</I> -- <!--start bodytext-->LOS ANGELES ?Rev up the engines of James Dolan's yacht. Free-agent-to-abe Kobe Bryant told The Post yesterday he would make a recruiting visit to New York if the Knicks extend an invitation in three weeks, when the free-agency courting period begins.
<P>Knick President Isiah Thomas is not allowed to speak to Bryant or his agent Rob Pelinka until July 1. At yesterday morning's shootaround before the Lakers' gutsy 99-91 OT win last night in Game 2 of the Finals, Bryant was asked if he would pay New York a visit if Thomas invited him, as is expected.
<P>"I'll be there," said Bryant, who scored 33 points and hit the game-tying 3-pointer with two seconds to go last night, sending the game into overtime.
<P>"Are you serious?"
<P>"Yeah," Kobe said. "I'm going to listen to all options. If he invites me, I'll be there."
<P>That's all Bryant was willing to say. But it was enough, as his policy is not to speak to the media at home shoot-arounds.
<P>Thomas is not permitted to speak on potential free agents, at the risk of violating tampering rules. There's a possibility Thomas can meet with Bryant in L.A. in July because the Knicks' summer-league team has entered the event in Long Beach, Calif. <!--OAS Middle-->
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<P>After the Knicks were eliminated by the Nets in the first round in late April, Dolan was asked by The Post if Thomas charisma could help in attract Bryant.
<P>"It's possible," Dolan responded. "I'll support Isiah with it. That would be some charisma, wouldn't it?"
<P>Of course, it's a big longshot for the Knicks to make this happen, as they are over the salary cap, unlike Phoenix, Denver, Utah, Atlanta and potentially San Antonio.
<P>The Knicks can only offer Bryant a contract starting at the $5 million mid-level exception, unless they can engineer a sign-and-trade with the Lakers.
<P>The Knicks' best shot at acquiring Bryant was last training camp. According to a league source, former Knick GM Scott Layden and the Lakers held high-level talks about a Bryant-for-Allan Houston swap. It sounds farfetched now, but back then, Bryant's career was in flux after he missed all of training camp with the knee and shoulder injuries, was out of shape, and there was concern he would miss a chunk of the season because of his rape trial.
<P>Meanwhile, Houston was coming off his best season, and alarm bells had yet to go off about his arthritic knees. The source said Laker owner Jerry Buss put the kibosh on talks, though Dolan, too, had concerns then about Bryant's legal issues.
<P>The Knicks declined comment yesterday.
<P>"There were people from both sides who wanted to do it and didn't want to do it," the source said. "I don't think Jerry Buss will ever trade Kobe Bryant."
<P>If that's the case, the Knicks have no shot at Bryant this summer, unless he forces the Lakers' hand. If the Lakers think Bryant will sign with Denver or Phoenix without compensation, they'd have to look into a sign-and-trade.
<P>With the Lakers still suffering at point guard, Stephon Marbury would be the only player of interest. With Houston's knees putting his status as an elite player in serious jeopardy, his trade value is now at zero because of the contract that has three years and $57.3 million left.
<P>In fact, the Knicks are expected to leave Houston unprotected in the upcoming expansion draft, according to a league source. Charlotte can't fit Houston's salary under its downsized cap and wouldn't be able to trade him.
<P>Messages left for Layden were not returned. He will be at the Chicago pre-draft camp today. Though he has not landed with another team, Layden last month went to Shanghai, China, to run an adidas basketball camp and will soon head to Berlin to coach at another camp, a source close to Layden said.
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<P><!--end bodytext--></SPAN><!--Print Friendly End--><BR>일단 이 코비가 뉴욕으로 가기 위해선 휴스턴 - 코비 또는 마버리 - 코비의 트레이드나 </P>
<P>코비가 미드레벨 금액으로 가야만 합니다. 참고로 코비가 부인에게 못 쓸 짓하고 나서 사죄의 뜻으로 사준 다이아 반지의 가격이 미드레벨 금액 보다 조금 더 비싼 거였습니다.-_-;</P>
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<P>일단 휴스턴은 그의 비싼 연봉과 무릎 부상 등등의 이유로 레이커스가 거절할 거라고 하네요. 지금 레이커스가 닉스에 있는 선수 중 유일하게 관심 있는 선수는 마버리라고...</P>
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<P>물론 레이커스는 마버리 보다는 코비겠죠. 하지만 아무 것도 얻지 못 하고 그냥 떠날지도 모를 코비 대신 </P>
<P>마버리(장기 계약을 맺어 놨으니 오래 오래 뛸 수 있겠죠.) 도 그런 대로 괜찮은 선택 같습니다. </P>
<P>일단 7월1일 전에는 코비 영입에 대해서 표면적으론 아무 얘기도 않을 거 같습니다.</P>
<P>코비의 에이전트와의 접촉도 일단은 금지 시켰다고 하니깐요.</P>
<P>물론 코비가 워낙 거물이기에, 어느 팀에서 어떤 카드를 꺼내들지 모르겠지만 뉴욕에서 뛰는 코비를 보는 것도 재밌겠네요.</P>
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첫댓글 출처가? 뉴욕 포스트? 그렇다면 ㅋㅋㅋ
반지 가격의 압박...
예전부터 그리도 뉴욕에 오고싶어했던 마버리가 그렇게 쉽게 떠나려고할까요?
설마 코비가 미드레벨익셉션을 받아들이겠나여? 지금 받는 연봉 이상아니면 별로 땡기지 않을텐데여..^^
뉴욕의 샐러리가 감당할수있을라나?
엘에이 보다 더 대도시로 가는군~~~ 과연 코비스타일이 뉴욕의 언론을 감당할수 있을지...