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Monday, May 14, 2007
Odds Against Lakers Satisfying Kobe
The words came with a certainty and a tone of defiance and were punctuated by a molten 1,000-mile stare so intense that it pierced the future. But that didn't matter.
The Los Angeles Lakers already had decided they had one untouchable even before Kobe Bryant, the one, declared his patience had run out in the wake of another first-round elimination. They already had been plotting the potential of a summer blockbuster trade, making Bryant's televised call to arms at the post-series news conference in Phoenix more a personal venting and, if anything actual, a hindrance.
The Lakers now must try to make a deal with everyone else in the league knowing they have to make a deal. Advantage: everyone else.
For actual concerns, they have few options for adding another star, no matter how hard Bryant glares at the front office in his very public push for substantial change. Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom, picks and enough other players to get to the $22 million salary of Kevin Garnett. Bynum, Odom and enough salary cap ballast to reach the $19.7 million of Jermaine O'Neal.
And that's it.
The Lakers also could resurrect the Jason Kidd talks with New Jersey that fluttered about at the trade deadline, before the Nets understandably waved off rather than take back the Los Angeles low ball, or get into conversation for Mike Bibby or Ron Artest from Sacramento , but those would not have the same impact. As resurgent as Kidd has been this season, as much as the pressure-tested Bibby would be an upgrade at point guard, the priority is a celestial big man to balance Bryant's work from the backcourt.
That the Timberwolves say they have no plans to trade Garnett is different than saying they won't trade Garnett. The greater obstacle as the Lakers ponder a gamble _ aware of how all this blows up in their face if 19-year-old Bynum has a great future elsewhere as Bryant and Fill In The Blank head into retirement _ is the internal belief that Minnesota personnel boss/former Boston great Kevin McHale refuses to deal with them.
It's a Celtics-Lakers thing.
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