Chad Ford will take your questions today in The Show at 3:30 ET!
Phil Jackson is out. Shaq is in South Beach. Kobe?
Paging Kobe Bryant ...
At 3 p.m. ET today, noon in L.A., Kobe is expected to announce his decision.
The Lakers and Clippers are the final two contestants in the Kobe sweepstakes.
The Bulls were the suprise players in the sweepstakes. They might have been Kobe's first choice, but the only way Chicago could've landed Kobe was via sign-and-trade, something the Lakers just weren't going to entertain. Still you have to wonder, if the Lakers catch wind that Kobe's going to the Clippers, maybe they'll change their stance. A deal including Eddy Curry and Ben Gordon would've been better than nothing.
So, Lakers or Clippers?
We've all believed that, given the events over the past two weeks, that the Lakers were the heavy favorites to retain Kobe.
If Kobe truly wants a challenge, he'll choose the Clippers.
The Lakers dumped the coach he hated. They shipped off the most dominant player in the league to accommodate him. Their owner, Jerry Buss, has begged on bended knee. They can offer him a seven-year deal worth $136 million -- as much as $30 million more than the Clippers can offer.
The Lakers still have a solid roster with Lamar Odom, Caron Butler and Brian Grant coming into the fold. They still have Gary Payton, Devean George, Kareem Rush, Luke Walton, Brian Cook and rookie Sasha Vujacic to surround him with. The team also has its full mid-level exception and is trying to lure a big man like Erick Dampier with it. Coach Rudy Tomjanovich is a class act. He's a winner and has a great rapport with his players.
Most importantly, the Lakers have the purple and gold. They have instant credibility and a storied history. They are the Yankees of the NBA. Everyone outside of L.A. hates them, but there isn't a player in the league who doesn't want to don their jersey. Buss is handing the team to Kobe. By the time this offseason makeover is complete, Kobe would not only wear the captain label, he'd also inherit the titles of GM and King of the Lakers.
That's the upside. But there's a rather large downside to returning to the Lakers that no one has bothered to mention. The Shaq trade hurts the Lakers tremendously. I'm a big Odom fan, and I think Butler has a chance to become a star. But the Lakers, with the roster they've now configured, are no better than the fifth-best team in the West -- possibly worse.
If Shaq blows up in Miami and the Lakers stumble out of the gate in the West, the floodgates will open. Kobe will take the blame for breaking up the marriage and causing the team's demise. The retribution from the media will be swift and ferocious. The Lakers won't be the team Kobe built --they'll be the one he destroyed.
The Clippers' history, on the other hand, is much more sordid than storied. Their owner, Donald Sterling, is synonymous with cheapskate. The team has just one measly playoff appearance in the past 10 years. It has had a winning record once in the past 24 years. There are no banners. No titles. There is no honor in being a Clipper.
Kobe knows it. But his ego tells him things could be very different if he was running the ship. With Kobe, the Clippers would field one of the best teams in the league.
Elton Brand is an unselfish, 20-and-10 guy and low-post warrior who does all the little things a championship-type team needs. Corey Maggette has improved every season and, at the still young age of 24, has the potential to be Kobe's Scottie Pippen. Chris Kaman is one of the best young big men in the game. Shaun Livingston, the Clippers' first-round draft choice, has more potential than anyone drafted in June. He's unselfish -- a kid who wants 20 assists, not 20 points a night. Marko Jaric and Chris Wilcox are formidable pieces off the bench. Their coach, Mike Dunleavy, is experienced and has a great rapport with Kobe.
The Clips, even with Kobe, won't be ready yet. Livingston is too young, and Brand, Maggette and Kaman have never played a playoff game. But Kobe is just 25 years old. He knows the drill. Unlike the Lakers, where anything short of a championship is a failure, he can afford to be patient with the Clippers. He recognizes they don't have to win the title overnight.
Making the playoffs would be expected with Bryant on the roster. But anything else would be gravy. A run to the Western Conference Finals, a distinct possibility with this team, would mean more on that side of the Staples Center than another title with the Lakers. A Clippers title? That's one of the signs of the apocalypse, isn't it?
When Phil Jackson took the Lakers coaching job, more than a few people rolled their eyes. Jackson's "challenge" wasn't much of one. Anything short of multiple championships with a team that had the two best players in the game would've been a monumental failure for Phil. Had he chosen to coach the Clippers? Then we would've been impressed.
The same challenge awaits Kobe.
He can play it safe, take the money and return to the Lakers. The purple and gold will be his recruiting call. Eventually, Buss and Kupchak will spend enough to put them back into contention. Three or four years from now, Kobe could stand on a podium, holding the golden Finals trophy above his head, and he can tell the world, "I told you I could do it without Shaq." We would cheer, nod knowingly, and then ask, under our breath, "Well, how many trophies would you have if you had chosen to get along with the Big Fella?"
Or he can take the mission impossible. He can etch his name into the very fabric of a tattered franchise. Kobe or no Kobe, the Lakers will always be Magic, Wilt, Kareem, West and Shaq. The Clippers could be Kobe's forever.
We'll learn a lot about Kobe Bryant in the coming hours. We'll learn whether this was just a power-play -- a desperate, vengeful purge against enemies, both perceived and real. Or whether this was truly about the challenge. About doing something bold and special with his career. About taking the path less traveled and transcending the game in the process.
Pick the Clips, Kobe. Pick the Clips.
Kenyon strikes gold
The Nuggets called the Nets' bluff Tuesday night when they announced they were prepared to offer Kenyon Martin an offer sheet with an up-front $15 million signing bonus. Wednesday night, the Nets blinked.
The Nets re-engaged in sign-and-trade talks with Denver on Wednesday afternoon, and by evening the sides were close to an agreement that would make Martin a Nugget for the next seven years. The deal reportedly would send three future first-round picks to the Nets in return for Martin, who would sign a seven-year, $90 million contract with New Jersey, then be traded to Denver.
Kenyon Martin
Power Forward
New Jersey Nets
Profile
2003-2004 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
65 16.7 9.5 2.5 .488 .684
It's a best-case scenario for the Nuggets, who had been maintaining for a week that signing Martin to an offer sheet, one the Nets could have taken 15 days to match, was a "last resort." By working out a sign-and-trade, the Nuggets lose some valuable assets but know immediately Martin is theirs.
The three first-round picks the Nets would be getting likely will include one of the Nuggets' own draft picks, along with picks the Nuggets own from the Sixers and Clippers. Both picks have the potential to be in the lottery. The Sixers pick is protected 1-8 for 2005; 1-5 for 2006 and has no protection for 2007. The Clippers' pick is top-14 protected in 2005 and has no protection for 2006. Obviously, if the Clippers land Kobe, their pick isn't as attractive.
The trade gives Denver one of the more formidable front lines in the West, with Martin and Nene likely in the starting lineup and Marcus Camby coming off the bench. The team would use most, if not all, of its cap space to land Martin, meaning it still would not have addressed its need for a top shooting guard. However, the Nuggets chose not to waive their rights to Voshon Lenard on Wednesday, meaning that at least Lenard will be firing away next season.
The trade also means the Nets really are slashing costs. They couldn't afford to keep Martin, Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson on the books. Kidd already is a max player, and Jefferson will be looking for a big extension before the season opens.
What will the Nets do to replace Martin? Insider reported Tuesday the team had re-started talks with the Blazers about acquiring Shareef Abdur-Rahim for Kerry Kittles and Aaron Williams. Abdur-Rahim is in the last year of his contract, which means he could help the Nets this year and bring salary-cap relief next summer.
Knicks trying to land Dampier
Isiah Thomas' first order of business is trying to land Erick Dampier, who would provide the Knicks some much-needed toughness in the middle. Thomas has offered Dikembe Mutombo (who is in the last year of his contract) and Nazr Mohammed (who, unfortunately, isn't) in return. So far the Warriors haven't agreed to anything.
Golden State already has turned down an offer of Shane Battier and Lorenzen Wright from the Grizzlies. They team also spiked an offer from the Pacers that would've sent Austin Croshere their way. The Knicks' offer isn't much better. The Warriors reportedly are hoping the Grizzlies will offer Stromile Swift in the deal via sign-and-trade. The Lakers are willing to offer Gary Payton and Devean George in a sign-and-trade, which may be the most attractive deal for the Warriors.
If Golden State can't work out a sign-and-trade deal, Dampier likeky will be forced to either go to the Hawks, who have been pursuing him, or take the mid-level exception from a playoff-bound team like the Grizzlies, Knicks, Lakers or Pacers.
Carter to the Mavericks?
For the second straight day there was serious talk that Dallas was closing in on a trade for Vince Carter, despite the fact Raptors GM Rob Babcock sounded Wednesday like he didn't want to trade his only star.
Vince Carter
Guard-Forward
Toronto Raptors
Profile
2003-2004 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
73 22.5 4.8 4.8 .417 .806
"Any trade that would be entertained would only be a trade that makes us a better basketball team," Babcock told the Toronto Star. "I'm not going to make a trade just to trade Vince because of what's said in the newspapers. ... It's not going to happen unless it's a good deal for our team. I'll look after our team first, that's the most important thing."
The deal, according to sources, would send Carter, Kurt Thomas, Shandon Anderson and Moochie Norris to the Mavericks. Michael Finley and Josh Howard would go to the Raptors. Antoine Walker and Jerome Moiso would go to the Knicks.
The deal works for the Mavericks and Knicks. Carter is younger than Finley and a better draw at the box office, even if their basketball skills are relatively equal. Thomas gives the Mavericks much-needed toughness up front. Anderson and Norris have terrible contracts, but at least both players could be contributors in Dallas.
The Knicks would shed three bad contracts and get back two players who could come off the payroll next year. That may not be Isiah's intention, however. Thomas has been in hot pursuit of Walker all summer and reportedly wants to keep him.
The deal makes less sense for the Raptors. While Finley is a model citizen and one of the top two guards in the league, he's 31 and coming off his worst season in six years. Nagging injuries have taken their toll. He just isn't worth the money he's making anymore (four more years, $66.4 million). You can't trade away the franchise for a guy like Finley, no matter how hard he plays. Including Howard in the deal makes it more palatable, but it's still not enough to make sense for the Raptors.
Chad Ford covers the NBA for ESPN Insider.
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Thursday, July 15 Updated 9:32 AM EST
Rumor Central
Nets, Nuggets close to a deal
WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY
Kenyon Martin
Nets
Nets
Nuggets
Hawks Jul. 15 - After it appeared as though talks between Denver and New Jersey had broken down, the Nuggets are on the verge of completing a sign-and-trade with the Martin, league sources told ESPN.com.
The Nuggets, according to sources, have agreed to send at least three future first-round picks to the Nets, who would sign Martin to a seven-year deal worth just over $90 million and then ship him to Denver. No other players are expected to be involved in the trade.
WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY
Kobe Bryant
Lakers
Lakers
Clippers Jul. 15 - At 3 p.m. ET today, noon in L.A., Kobe is expected to announce his decision. The Lakers and the Clippers are the final two contestants in the Kobe sweepstakes.
The Clippers quietly agreed to trade forward Melvin Ely and guard Eddie House to the expansion Charlotte Bobcats for future second-round draft picks Tuesday night.
Insider reported earlier Tuesday that, given the lower than expected salary cap, the Clippers would have to move Ely and House's salaries to get far enough under the cap to offer Bryant a six-year, $106.3 million deal -- the most any team (other than the Lakers) can offer.
The fact they did it so quickly has to make you wonder -- do they know something we don't? There were other signs early Wednesday that the Clippers could be close to landing Kobe. Two league sources, one affiliated with the Clips, claimed to be confident, after Monday night's tryst with Kobe, that the team was the favorite to land him.
Two, another league source was very confident the Clippers weren't going to match the Suns' offer sheet to Quentin Richardson. Given the smaller-than-expected salary cap, the Suns aren't going to be able to offer much more than the mid-level to Richardson. Why wouldn't the Clippers match? Unless, perhaps, Kobe would be taking up L.A.'s cap room ...
Unfortunately, all we have now are signs and speculation. Kobe is not talking, and his agent declined comment Tuesday night. The Clippers aren't talking, nor are the Lakers, who also are privately confident Kobe will pick them.
And despite all those signs, you've got to believe that all the Lakers' maneuverings and contortions to keep Kobe have them in the lead. There's also the little issue of money -- the Lakers can offer an additional year and $30 million more in guaranteed money than can their Staples Center rival.
WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY
Vince Carter
Raptors
Mavericks Jul. 15 - For the second straight day there was serious talk that the Mavericks were closing in on a trade that would land them Carter. The complicated three-team deal, according to sources, would send Carter, Kurt Thomas, Shandon Anderson and Moochie Norris to the Mavs. Michael Finley and Josh Howard would go to the Raptors. Antoine Walker and Jerome Moiso would be coming to the Knicks.
WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY
Erick Dampier
Warriors
Knicks
Grizzlies
Pacers
Hawks Jul. 15 - Knicks GM Isiah Thomas' first order of business is trying to land Dampier, who would provide much-needed toughness in the middle for New York. Thomas has offered Dikembe Mutombo (who is in the last year of his contract) and Nazr Mohammed (who, unfortunately, isn't) in return. So far the Warriors aren't agreeing to anything.
The Warriors have already turned down a Shane Battier/Lorenzen Wright offer from the Grizzlies. They've also spiked an offer from the Pacers that would've sent Austin Croshere their way. The Knicks' offer isn't much better. The Warriors are reportedly hoping that the Grizzlies will offer Stromile Swift in the deal via sign-and-trade. The Lakers are willing to offer Gary Payton and Devean George in a sign-and-trade, which may be the most attractive deal for the Warriors.
If they can't work out a sign-and-trade deal, Dampier will be forced to either go to the Hawks, who have been pursuing him or take the mid-level exception from a playoff-bound team like the Grizz, Knicks, Lakers or Pacers.
WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY
Shareef Abdur-Rahim
Blazers
Nets Jul. 15 - With the Nets on the verge of losing Kenyon Martin, they're in the market for another established scorer. Insider reported on Tuesday that the team had re-started talks with the Blazers about a Abdur-Rahim-for-Kerry Kittles-and-Aaron Williams swap. Abdur-Rahim is in the last year of his contract, which means he could help the Nets this year and bring salary-cap relief down the road next summer.
WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY
Paul Pierce
Celtics
? Jul. 15 - Pierce isn't going to lie. He told the Boston Herald he was about to demand a trade like Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter and Shaquille O'Neal, but he sat down one last time with coach Doc Rivers and everything changed. "I just wanted to spend some time with him and talk about things. It was real good. He talked about the way he wanted to use me and the things he expects from me. It was great. I mean, after hearing what he had to say, I have a lot of confidence in Doc and what we can do with this team. Then (Tuesday) I had a talk with Danny (Ainge) and he gave me some good reassurances about what we're doing.
"Last year was just so hard. I know I don't ever want to go through anything like that again. There were things happening that I really didn't understand at the time. But hearing it from Danny really helps now. I can see what he wants to do. So I'm here for the long term. I signed the big contract because I want to be here, and I bought a house back there last summer. I'm willing to deal with whatever comes up."
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Thursday, July 15, 2004
By Chad Ford
ESPN Insider
Yawn . . .
That's about the most passionate reaction you're going to hear from anyone about the New Orleans Hornets.
The Hornets ranked second to last in attendance last season despite being a playoff team playing in a new city.
Why? The Hornets may be technically sound as a basketball team, but they elicit little passion or emotion.
Baron Davis and Jamal Mashburn are good to great players when they're healthy (which isn't very often). Jamaal Magloire continues to develop into one of the best young centers in the league.
But the Hornets have no buzz, which is ironic for a team that has bug on its jersey. Now that they're stuck in the Western Conference, will the Hornets winning ways disappear along with their fan base?
Here's a look at what to expect as Insider continues its summer blueprint series.
Hornets Summer Blueprint
DRAFT: The Hornets, by most accounts, did exactly what they needed to do in the draft. They needed a young, dynamic shooting guard who could not only hit shots, but make the highlight reel. They needed sizzle and got it with high school guard J.R. Smith.
SmithSmith's huge vertical, deep range on his 3 and NBA-ready body were a perfect fit in New Orleans. David Wesley is undersized and over the hill. Smith gives them a huge boost, the question is when. Most high school players take several years before they're ready. LeBron and Amare Stoudemire have raised expectations, but by all accounts, Smith isn't close to either player.
Their second-round pick, Tim Pickett, was a nice pick-up as well. He's a sharp shooter who has a pretty good shot of making the team.
FREE AGENCY: Yawn. That's been the extent of the Hornets' free-agency moves so far. They haven't really pursued any top free agent aggresively, and given owner George Shinn's conservative ways, there's a chance they won't blow any money on a free agent.
There is one player, however, Lithuania's Arvydas Macijauskas, who the team has shown some interest in. Macijauskas is an unbelievable shooter, but he's a two guard trapped in a point guard's body, which may be a little too eerily reminiscent of Wesley.
TRADES: If the Hornets make a significant upgrade this season, it's likely to come via a Jamal Mashburn trade. Mashburn burned just about every bridge with the Hornets' organization last season when he took longer than expected to rehab and then did his rehab in Miami, instead of staying with the team.
In 2002-03, he was an all-star. Last year he was just an afterthought. After the season, a blow-up with GM Bob Bass led to Mashburn demanding a trade and the Hornets privately trying to acquiesce to his request.
There are a number of teams out there with interest in Mash, but it comes with caveat. Mashburn claimed toward the end of last season that his knee injury was so severe that he would consider retiring. Most believe he made the claims to justify his long rehab in Miami and that Mash would be ready to go by the end of the season. Still, a team will take a long pause before trading anyone of value in return for him.
What's out there that might make sense? The T-Wolves have been exploring Wally Szczerbiak trade scenarios, and a Mash-for-Wally swap makes sense for both sides. Mash, if healthy, is a much better fit for the Wolves than Wally. Szczerbiak's huge contract would be tough for Shinn to swallow, but he gives the team more shooting and more energy, something they are in desperate need of.
COACHING: Another year, another coach. Tim Floyd's one-year stint with the Hornets was probably enough to swear him off the NBA forever. After a solid start, his team turned on him when trouble arose. Considering Floyd has the worst all-time won-loss record in the history of the NBA, it came as no surprise that he became the scapegoat for the organization.
ScottThe Hornets replace one scapegoat with another one. Byron Scott, who was fired in New Jersey last season after two consecutive NBA Finals appearances, was a hot name. But is he the right coach? Jason Kidd and others accused Scott of being lazy and ill prepared to coach the team. They gave most of the credit to Scott's assistant, Eddie Jordan, and then openly revolted against Scott when Jordan left to coach the Wizards.
The Nets immediately began playing better under new head coach Lawrence Frank, cementing the opinion of some that Scott is overrated. Shinn didn't think so, moving quickly this offseason to hire him. There will be pressure to perform, and given the strength of the Western Conference at the moment, the Hornets could be in big trouble.
FRONT OFFICE: The Hornets not only have the most under-the-radar team in the NBA, they also have the most under-the-radar front office. Bob Bass retired. Allan Bristow took over. Did anyone notice?
That's the problem. Recruiting to a team like the Hornets isn't easy. They have a rep as being unprofessional. They aren't a free-agent magnet. Who's the last big one they've landed? Darrell Armstrong?
The Hornets really needed someone who was going to build a winning atmosphere there. However, given Shinn's thriftiness, maybe that was never really an option.
As it stands, the Hornets' window appears to be closing rapidly. Maybe J.R. Smith will be a star. Maybe Baron Davis will be healthy. Maybe the Hornets can swap Mash for Wally. Lots of maybes. In the West, that many no longer be good enough.