Spinning Out of Control

Ever since Kobe Bryant began his media blitz yesterday by hitting both popular sports stations in Los Angeles with raw interviews, things have been spinning out of control for Ocho and the Laker Organization. As I listened yesterday to him being interviewed on the best sports talk show in LA (PMS the Petros and Money Show on KLAC AM 570), an interesting tid-bit came up. The Chicago Bulls, my favorite basketball team, called the Lakers about a possible trade for Kobe Bryant.

Now this interesting factoid brings up a huge conundrum for myself. I love the Bulls, and it killed me that they laid such a huge egg against the Pistons in the second round of the playoffs. The one thing they were missing was a presence down low, and a go-to super-star scorer.

Having said that, I have been vehemently against “the Black Mamba” since the day he laced up his shoes and threw on that purple and gold uni. I have always hated the Lakers. Its rough living in a Lakers town, and absolutely being disgusted by them all the time because that’s mostly the only thing that the majority of the hacks on sports talk radio in LA talk about (yes they are all hacks; the only two shows I can stand listening to anymore are the aforementioned PMS show and the Jim Rome Show).

On the flip side my feelings for players have changed after they leave the bright lights of Staples. One former Laker for whom I used to spew so much venom was Shaq. I couldn’t stand that guy, thought didn’t have any talent all he did was dunk, and couldn’t even hit a free-throw (yes I know how bad Big Ben is too). Since leaving LA, I have softened on the Diesel. I can now see how he was able to be so dominate, and how truly athletic he is with the incredible foot-work he uses. I even enjoy his playful personality, which I used to ride relentlessly.

Could the same thing happen with me for Kobe if he were somehow to show up in my favorite colors, red and black?It’s a tough question for me to ask. Am I that much of a fair-weather fan, that as long as they don my colors I can stand the sight of him. I just might be.

Obviously the Bulls would have to give up a lot to get Kobe. Probably Ben Gordon, Luol Deng (who I absolutely have a man crush on), and their 9th overall pick in this years draft, which may end up being one of the deepest drafts in history. Is that too much? Would a nucleus of Captain Kirk, Flying Ty, and Kobe be enough to push the Bulls past the Pistons. Quite frankly I don’t really know. Thomas is too young and raw still, and Chicago would still lack a reliable low-post scorer, but Kobe is a proven winner. With Kobe in charge and the Bulls supporting cast around him, it would probably be a better situation than the one he was in with the Lakers.

I hate to say it, but if Pax could pull the rug from underneath Mitch Kupchak I might welcome the trade (which considering the Caron Butler trade shouldn’t be hard). Winning might mean more to me, than supporting a guy who I thought was scum.

Here’s the trade that should go down. The Bulls get Kobe, and send Gordon, Tyrus Thomas, and the #9 pick to LA., That leaves the Lakers with a young core so they continue to rebuild, while the Bulls have the best two-guard in the game, an up and coming point-guard, and one of the leagues rising stars in Luol Deng. I know both Deng and Bryant usually end up playing the three, but you can’t tell me Skiles wouldn’t go small with a staring line-up of Kirk, Kobe, Deng, Wallace, and either Malik Allen or a resigned Andres Nocioni. I really think that team can compete for a title, and should be a shoe in to win the weak East.

I doubt this will even happen, but one thing is for sure. Kobe and the Buss family are going to have some awkward moments this off-season.