Kobe To Chicago?

Kobe trade remains possibility for Bulls
Source confirms teams have talked, denies deal near

October 28, 2007
BY BRIAN HANLEY bhanley@suntimes.com

Might Kobe Bryant be in the Bulls' starting lineup when they open the regular season Wednesday at New Jersey?

A source confirmed Saturday that the Bulls and Lakers had talked last week but denied that the sides were close to sealing a deal in the last few days, as reported by ESPN.com. [...]

King Kobe brokering Bulls deal
Bryant isn’t going to let Lakers trash Bulls’ roster and leave him with nothing, so Deng stays — and could form MJ/Scottie-like duo

October 28, 2007
BY JAY MARIOTTI Sun-Times Columnist

DENVER -- [...] He wants to play for the Bulls -- very, very much, I am told -- and it's time, people, to start seriously pondering the possibility.

Because Bryant himself is the power broker behind the intensifying trade talks,
[...]Have no fear that Luol Deng, Ben Gordon, Ty Thomas and Joakim Noah all would be lost to the Lakers, since King Kobe would veto the deal via his no-trade clause before allowing such a loaded package.

What he wants is what Paxson wants: To be paired with Deng in a newfangled version of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, the shooter and the slasher, the egomaniac who needs the ball like air and water and the unselfish humanitarian who would complement him perfectly. Having won rings with Jordan and Pippen, Paxson knows that Bryant would need a Deng to win his championships. And with Kirk Hinrich, Ben Wallace, Andres Nocioni, Thabo Sefolosha, Chris Duhon and Joe Smith playing their roles, well, now hear this: The Bulls wouldn't be anything like the current mediocre Lakers, they of the lame supporting cast that led Bryant to make his trade demands.

No, they would become the best team in the Eastern Conference. Instantly.

[...]
But that would miss the point. With the Bulls, Bryant wouldn't have to gun maniacally. With the depleted Lakers, he has to gun sometimes just to keep his team in the games. Look, if Paxson thought for a second that Kobe would bastardize and discombobulate his old-school philosophies, he wouldn't be talking to the Lakers. And if he thought Bryant couldn't get along with Scott Skiles, who demands team ball and detests selfishness, this thing would have been shut down weeks ago.

[...]You might wonder why the Bulls even have to step on the wild side and acquire Kobe. Don't they continue to lead the league in attendance? Aren't they picked by some to win the East? Aren't they a team in the classic Chicago image -- grit, guts, toughness? Hasn't Paxson done a terrific job in cleaning up Jerry Krause's mess? Shouldn't Paxson and Skiles be given a chance to see their plan to fruition?

And what about Reinsdorf? Doesn't it go against his business principles to acquire a superstar who will make $19.49 million this season and $21.26 million next season -- and is due a 15 percent raise if he's traded -- and surely will want a monster extension that will be the biggest in NBA history?

Apparently, Paxson and Reinsdorf don't share those thoughts. They are trying to make a deal for Kobe Bean Bryant. Over on West Madison, a statue just moved in the wind.