nothing substantiated at this point, but it hasn't even been considered until now, and this is pretty much how the Rasheed Wallace rumors started.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=5741



A new suitor seems to have emerged according to a league source. This source admits the deal sounds more fan-based than team-based but says it's been making its way around and that's the Detroit Pistons. According to the source an offer of Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton could be what is on the table. If the Pistons are genuinely looking for a way to trump the Big Three in Boston cashing out Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun might be enough, especially considering how much the team has gushed about Amir Johnson. Pistons sources admit the idea is intriguing but could not confirm if the deal has legs, so at this point it could be exactly what it sounds like – a good idea, but until a Piston's source confirms it, be skeptical.

all I'd have to say to that is

http://cache.viewimages.com/xc/2639334.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF1934A2752006EF5F0EDAB86CA6026BED4E5 5A5397277B4DC33E

ohh yeahhhhhhhh

oo Hoopsworld must be legit

i would think chauncy would have to be a part of the deal, and maybe stuckey too. would be my guess, who really knows.

If I was Joey D...

*Sigh* "Ok, ok...we'll throw in Tayshaun, Rip, and Flip Murray. Fine. Deal?"

i would think chauncy would have to be a part of the deal, and maybe stuckey too. would be my guess, who really knows.


No point in dealing 3 starters for Kobe. It defeats the purpose and makes them a worse team.

If LA asks for half our rotation, Joe's going to say no.

I'd be a little hesitant if he asked for rip,tay, and either Amir or Stuckey.

If we get Kobe at the cost of rip and tay, we are instantly the favorites to win and I think we get a much better team. I'm excited.

I wonder how many "fan-based" trade ideas actually come to pass?

Thanks for sharing the link/info though, Kstat.

I would ideally like to keep Tay to play along side Kobe. That would be a nice defensive wing tandom. Also, since Kobe has PG skills, he would fit nicely with Stuckey because they could share the load. If RIP and Billlups had to go for Kobe and another starter we could figure something out. Maybe Bynum in there. We might have to move Dyess then, but that would be easy to do with his character. If Billups went, I'd like to get a PG back in the deal as well, even if it was a solid bench PG.

especially considering how much the team has gushed about Amir Johnson

I'm sorry but what does Amir have to do with Rip and Tay?

Almost wrote the same thing Z. I'm guessing the HoopsWorld kid is suggesting Amir as a 3...

We had a poster once who was on staff with Hoopsworld (I think it was them).

He flatly stated that he was instructed to write things in such a "creative" manner that it would cause people to subscribe to read more.

Can't remember the poster's name, but it almost came across as being told to fabricate stuff for monetary gain.

Almost wrote the same thing Z. I'm guessing the HoopsWorld kid is suggesting Amir as a 3...

I wondered that too, and assumed that we'd be including Dyess as salary filler or something in the deal and he just didn't mention it. But I think you guys are right about him thinking Amir is a 3.

I'm guessing we'd include Maxiell or Flip Murray as the filler. McDyess's salary would force LA to add salary to match.

I'm guessing we'd include Maxiell or Flip Murray as the filler. McDyess's salary would force LA to add salary to match.

Right...I was thinking some sort of Kobe/Bynum/Crittenton for RIP/Dyess/Billups deal or something like that. I haven't looked at the salaries yet but I'm sure that could work with filler somewhere.

LA is keeping Crittendon...they drafted him to be their starting PG of the future.

They also refused to deal Bynam for Jason Kidd...they aren't dealing alongside Kobe him for Rip/Tay/Dice.

The Lakers dealing Kobe so they can keep their future intact. they aren't going to deal any of their young pieces.

They just signed Fisher, they still have Farmar, and they drafted Crittendon. They DO NOT WANT CHAUNCEY, for fuck's sake.

Kobe would not want to come here unless we kept Chauncey. He probably wants to play with a PG that can actually make plays for once, instead of having to do everything himself.

Well, I doubt we deal two starters and a big for Kobe without getting Bynum or another solid piece back. RIP/Tay/Maxiell for Kobe and scrubs won't happen IMO.

If we dealt Rip, Tay and Maxiell for Kobe, it would be the biggest steal in the NBA. Nobody outside of Detroit cares about Maxiell aside from the occasional hustle plays he gets. He's slightly underrated nationally but hugely overrated locally.

LA only has one big man that anybody wants, and they aren't trading him.

It would likely lead to a Webber re-signing if we traded Maxiell in part for Kobe.

If we dealt Rip, Tay and Maxiell for Kobe, it would be the biggest steal in the NBA. Nobody outside of Detroit cares about Maxiell aside from the occasional hustle plays he gets. He's slightly underrated nationally but hugely overrated locally.

LA only has one big man that anybody wants, and they aren't trading him.

It would likely lead to a Webber re-signing if we traded Maxiell in part for Kobe.
Our bench would be increadibly thin. Hayes would start and we'd have no backup SF again. I suppose Kobe could backup Hayes, but we have to be sure Stuckey can play 25 minutes plus. Also, Billups would go back to chucking 3 balls most of the time with Kobe having the ball a lot. Sheed would also float in a similar manner. Add in Dyess/Webber's mid range game (and lack of post game) and we become Kobe playing 1 on 1 with everone waiting for a kick out.

thin? Huh?

We'd be pretty damn deep aside from SF.

We'd have a roster of:

C: Sheed, Webber, Nazr
PF: Dice, Amir
SF: Hayes, Afflalo
SG: Kobe, Stuckey, Murray
PG: Chauncey, Stuckey


Also, Billups would go back to chucking 3 balls most of the time with Kobe having the ball a lot.

Consideirng that he's a very good spot 3-point shooter, that wouldn't be too much of a bad thing.

thin? Huh?

We'd be pretty damn deep aside from SF.

We'd have a roster of:

C: Sheed, Webber, Nazr
PF: Dice, Amir
SF: Hayes, Afflalo
SG: Kobe, Stuckey, Murray
PG: Chauncey, Stuckey



Consideirng that he's a very good spot 3-point shooter, that wouldn't be too much of a bad thing.
You are counting on 2 rookies, a NBDL player (yes amir has promise, but has proven nothing), an old fart that can't move and Flip as your bench. Forgive me for not exuding confidence in that.

Kobe as your SG means not needing much backcourt depth. Stuckey would be all you need.

In case you didn't notice, we're counting on basically the same thing off our bench this year, except for Hayes and Maxiell. And neither of them is really proven either.

In the meantime, we pair chauncey and Kobe together, and the rest of the NBA gets to figure out how to deal with them.

If we throw in Max we would need to get SOMETHING back in return other than just Kobe, I would think. Yes, its a steal for us to get Kobe for those 3, but 3 for 1 wouldn't work with their roster. I would think they would at least need to throw us some filler. What about those 3 and our 2 second rounders (or whatever picks are needed) for Kobe and Ronny Turiaf?

Kobe as your SG means not needing much backcourt depth. Stuckey would be all you need.

In case you didn't notice, we're counting on basically the same thing off our bench this year, except for Hayes and Maxiell. And neither of them is really proven either.

In the meantime, we pair chauncey and Kobe together, and the rest of the NBA gets to figure out how to deal with them.

Exactly. We essentially swap RIP and Tay for Kobe and Hayes...and also Max for Amir in the rotation (if you considered Maz actually in the rotation last year). How does that take us from ECF losers to champs? I consider it basically a wash, with Billups, Sheed, Webber and Hunter all a year older. IF stuckey can give you 25 minutes of backup guard play you are fine. Then Flip is your injury replacement for Kobe or Billups if they are hurt a few games. I have no problem with that. But, you have to have Webber healthy all year OR Amir play consistant OR Nazr play consistant AND Dyess/Sheed to stay healthy as well.

It's just very risky is all I am saying. Right now we have a lot of depth. You are putting more eggs in less baskets. It could work, but like I said it's risky.

Well, Rip Tay and Maxiell match Kobe's salary almost exactly, and LA could just release half the fodder they have anyway.

Exactly. We essentially swap RIP and Tay for Kobe and Hayes...and also Max for Amir in the rotation (if you considered Maz actually in the rotation last year). How does that take us from ECF losers to champs? I consider it basically a wash, with Billups, Sheed, Webber and Hunter all a year older. IF stuckey can give you 25 minutes of backup guard play you are fine. Then Flip is your injury replacement for Kobe or Billups if they are hurt a few games. I have no problem with that. But, you have to have Webber healthy all year OR Amir play consistant OR Nazr play consistant AND Dyess/Sheed to stay healthy as well.

It's just very risky is all I am saying. Right now we have a lot of depth. You are putting more eggs in less baskets. It could work, but like I said it's risky.

I don't think it's any more risky than what we have right now. Less balanced sure, but not more risky.

Kobe erases a lot of mistakes. As long as there is sufficient frontcourt defense, he could easily lead a core of Chauncey/Sheed/Dice to the finals.

If you have a chance to pick up one of the 3 best players in the NBA, you do it. It's really that simple.

I look at it this way: San Antonio has been getting away with crap centers for years. Why? because they have Tim Duncan at power forward, and when you have Tim Duncan, you can make your own rules.

Same thing goes for Kobe. When he's on your team, you can get away with not having a great small forward next to him, so long as there is quality at other positions.


San Antonio is terribly thin at PF/C. They have been for years. Having a 1st-tier hall of famer means you don't need depth at his position.

But SA doesn't have Flip coaching them. If Jackson was running the traingle here with Sheed down low, Kobe on the wing and Billups in the backcourt that would make me confident. I guess at least we'd have a "go to" player when Flip's stupid offense bogs down, something we haven't had since Hill left. I'm not sure I even want Webber back though. I'd rather roll with Nazr and bring in Webber mid season of Nazr doesn't work out. Webber can't play 82 games anyway and I'd like to see if we can get Nazr enough confidence to give us 20 minutes of play in the paint (since we'll need him on Big Z, Shaq, etc) eventually.

Flip is hardly a negative. KG won an MVP playing for him and might have won a championship if Cassell had stayed healthy.

KG isn't in Kobe's class, either.

Actually, the more I think about it, I'm thinking Afflalo would be starting eventually at SF because of his defense, and Hayes would come off the bench to provide some scoring punch.

That would certainly be a switch.

Are we actually talking about this? I can hardly believe it.

:cogent:

:cornbread:

:dismissed:

No point in dealing 3 starters for Kobe. It defeats the purpose and makes them a worse team.

If LA asks for half our rotation, Joe's going to say no.

well, i mentioned 1 starter (chauncy) and 1 bench player (stuckey). so i mentioned neither 3 starters or even 3 players.

LA is keeping Crittendon...they drafted him to be their starting PG of the future.

They also refused to deal Bynam for Jason Kidd...they aren't dealing alongside Kobe him for Rip/Tay/Dice.

The Lakers dealing Kobe so they can keep their future intact. they aren't going to deal any of their young pieces.

They just signed Fisher, they still have Farmar, and they drafted Crittendon. They DO NOT WANT CHAUNCEY, for fuck's sake.

Kobe would not want to come here unless we kept Chauncey. He probably wants to play with a PG that can actually make plays for once, instead of having to do everything himself.

midseason form already?

first off, this trade isnt happening.

second, if it was, it would involve chauncy.

I buy everything kstat has said...well spoken.

I don't think Kobe will be traded until the trading deadline. That, IMO, is the best time to trade him. They're no better than the 7th best team in the West.

I think the Pistons have as good a shot as anyone, for the reasons KStat said. I would trade Rip, Tay, Maxiell, a future first rounder, Minnesota's 2nd rounder for Kobe and either Evans or Vujacic (to give us more depth at the 3).

That's a no-brainer IMO. There's no question the addition of a motivated Kobe Bryant (how much would he have to prove??) would make the Pistons a better team. And the ace in the hole is Webber, which would give us big man depth if we need it.

The biggest obstacle would be Kobe agreeing to come here. I don't think he would if Chauncey or Sheed were included. A trio of those 3, with Dice as the 4th scorer along with solid depth, would make us real championship contenders.

This has been proposed to Lakers fans on RealGM with positive feedback.

oo Hoopsworld must be legit
rotflmao

I wouldnt do it. The guy is a great scorer and veteran athlete. But in the long run we can't afford him and a legit team at our budget. Cashing out for a title with a coach who gets out coached in the playoffs time and again? No thanks. Take in a scorer who can hog up a lil much with an attitude above his coach on a team with Rasheed already on edge? no thanks.

Let the teams who can afford him cash out for him. And good luck to him wherever he heads. But please never let it be detroit.

Yeah, it would truly suck to have the greatest SG of this generation and one of the top three players in the NBA. I hope we never get him.

GG, but if the salaries match, why not? Tays 10 and Rips 10 or Kobes 20, makes no differnce to me other than this teams needs a shakeup. The other starter will obviously cost us too, but a sf that can play D and not be total idiot on the O end is all you'd need, imo.

RE:Topic

JoeD built a balanced team. The league likes SS. This might be a good time to cash in the balanced team concept and join the SS ranks that is the NBA. If you can't beat them, join them.

A 2 for 1 has more of the pyramid look talent and salary that seems to be what the Stern likes. TV likes those sound bites where they can advertise a team as "Lebron vs Kobe"

And we haven't won shit lately with the same team. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result...blah blah blah...not good.

Yeah, it would truly suck to have the greatest SG of this generation and one of the top three players in the NBA. I hope we never get him.
Yikes, dont be such a sensitive guy. Nobody is assigned to your opinion as law. Stop talking as if they are. Great SG or not its a team sport and he's a chucking selfish ball hogger. Kudos to him and i again wish the best for him on any team.

You can look past this and him throwing his center under the bus. But I choose not to. difference of opinion. This isnt NBA Live where you insert great SG's and win titles.

You can look past this and him throwing his center under the bus. But I choose not to. difference of opinion. This isnt NBA Live where you insert great SG's and win titles.


http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/PHOTOFILE/AABL034~Michael-Jordan-Last-Shot-Photofile-Limited-Edition-Posters.jpg

RE:Topic

JoeD built a balanced team. The league likes SS. This might be a good time to cash in the balanced team concept and join the SS ranks that is the NBA. If you can't beat them, join them.


Yea kinda like how conforming to playing more offense than defense totally helped the refs treat us better. Oh wait we get even more fouls on us and guys like lebron shred us daily. great. Conforming is really working out. [smilie=heatsmiley2:

Only way we fall in line is by adding 5 million people to detroit and increasing our media market. Until then, I dont care for conforming. its killed us so far.

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/PHOTOFILE/AABL034~Michael-Jordan-Last-Shot-Photofile-Limited-Edition-Posters.jpg
He's not Jordan. And Flip isnt Phil Jackson by any stretch of the imagination. But ignore this stuff. I'm not the one to stomp on your dreams. Also Jordan wasnt inserted. He gradually was built a team and brought a coach to get his title shot. In fact is was a greater scorer in chicago suckass years.

If this thing even has legs at all, it will still be up to Davidson, right?

He's not Jordan. And Flip isnt Phil Jackson by any stretch of the imagination. But ignore this stuff. I'm not the one to stomp on your dreams.

No, he's the best SG ever not named Jordan. but continue to bash him like he can't lead a team to a championship. I'm not one to put salt in your haterade.

No, he's the best SG ever not named Jordan. but continue to bash him like he can't lead a team to a championship. I'm not one to put salt in you haterade.
Really? Bashing him is not riding his jock on a jordan level? Yea ok.

Haterade is wishing his failure. I just dont think he'd fit here and that he wouldnt lead us to a title. I'm sure you have some post Shaq proof that he's done this. Again its not a known fact that he can or cant do it. My opinion is that he cant do it. Based on his results, not that far fetched.

If this thing even has legs at all, it will still be up to Davidson, right?
Yep.

Yep.

Considering the salaries match evenly, I don't see why.

Even if Davidson committed to re-signing Kobe, he'd just be paying him what he was already due to pay Tay and Rip.

Considering the salaries match evenly, I don't see why.

Even if Davidson committed to re-signing Kobe, he'd just be paying him what he was already due to pay Tay and Rip.

And isn't that roughly 10 a piece for Tay and Rip and 20 for Kobe?

And Kobe's deal prolly ends sooner than Tay or Rips.

And isn't that roughly 10 a piece for Tay and Rip and 20 for Kobe?

Yeah, but he's paying 20 either way. What does it really matter how the money is divvied up? He wouldn't be paying any more than he's paying right now.

Regardless, Davidson is smart enough to know Kobe makes his team infinitely more popular, and thus more profitable. He'd sign off on any Kobe deal.

The Palace would be packed every game. No, I'm not talking about the empty sellouts where every ticket is sold but we have 3,000 empty seats. People would actually come to every game, and that means more money via merchandise, concessions, etc.

The Pistons Kobe jersey alone would be worth it. Fans would buy that shit up nationwide.

And Kobe's deal prolly ends sooner than Tay or Rips.

Even when it expires, he likely won't make much more than he's making right now. No team could match a $20 million offer from a team with his bird rights.

But if for some reason we wanted cap relief, Kobe's deal would be better...was my point.

And my point was also that it didn't matter 10 and 10 = 20. I'd rather have Kobe.

For the record, I think this deal has about a %5 chance of happening. But fuck anyone if they can't have fun once in a while with a fantasy trade scenario.

The season is still 8 days away. This kind of shit gives people something to discuss for a while.

I don't know what the %s are but the Piston's have a better roster than most any other team to make a deal with the Lakers. They could get 2 2nd tier players, certainly not SS and Kobe would still have a couple of 2nd tier players on the roster to make him happy.

And fuck anyone who can't handle someone who can't handle someone who disagrees with someone or something. Lets talk about that shit, get a panel together to talk about that shit. <--my best Ja Rule

They promotin' homosexuality and shit.

HEY DUMARS!!!!!

JoqDYcCDOTg

They promotin' homosexuality and shit.

Cogent and shit!

If we throw in Max we would need to get SOMETHING back in return other than just Kobe, I would think. Yes, its a steal for us to get Kobe for those 3, but 3 for 1 wouldn't work with their roster. I would think they would at least need to throw us some filler. What about those 3 and our 2 second rounders (or whatever picks are needed) for Kobe and Ronny Turiaf?
Maxiell basically = Turiaf... Both hustle guys
Theres no point trading for each other, since they both have fan-bases with their respective teams

I dont think Lakers would even want Maxiell because they have Turiaf... I rekon they would want Amir thrown in.


HEY DUMARS!!!!!

JoqDYcCDOTg

BOOyeah

I've had a couple but I would consider CBill and Rip too. We could bring Chucky Atkins back or someone like him to do nothing more than dribble the damn ball up the court and dish it.

kstat did a pretty good job of convincing me that this trade could be some good shit.

Too bad its not legit.

Chauncey and Rip or Tay and Rip? whodjarathertrade?

Chauncey and Rip or Tay and Rip? whodjarathertrade?

I'd much rather trade Tay and Rip just because Hayes looks like he could step into Tay's spot pretty nicely. I also feel that the replacement for Billups would be quite a step down.

Houston is offering a package that includes TMac, per SAS

If the Lakers like first round exits, this is the deal for them.

I'd much rather trade Tay and Rip just because Hayes looks like he could step into Tay's spot pretty nicely. I also feel that the replacement for Billups would be quite a step down.

I was thinking that maybe CBill and Kobe both like shoot from outside and slash??? Maybe a disher for a pg would be better, not a scorer like CBill. Tay on the wing wouldn't collide quite as much? Just a thought.

CBill's playoff performance is still stinging me a little.

That's a hard one. I guess it depends, who would you rather have as a "temporary starter" alongside Kobe? Stuckey in the PG spot or Hayes in the SF spot?

I think Billups/Kobe could be a pretty sick backcourt. I feel you first have to build the top and bottom of the lineup seperatly, then worry about the 3 spot. Inside out can almost always get the job done. So my vote is Rip/Tay, especially since it doesn't seem like Tayshaun's going to be improving significantly anymore.

I was thinking that maybe CBill and Kobe both like shoot from outside and slash??? Maybe a disher for a pg would be better, not a scorer like CBill. Tay on the wing wouldn't collide quite as much? Just a thought.

CBill's playoff performance is still stinging me a little.

Like kstat said, I'd think Kobe would want Billups and Sheed in pistons uniforms if Kobe comes.

If we could take Crittenton for Billups...then maybe that'd be different but i hear he's raw as hell.

As for the t-mac for kobe trade, that'd be interesting to see as t-mac is not the player he was before. I thought he was one of the elite before he kept getting injured.

BTW, i also read Kobe's getting traded before the Lakers home opener on sports illustrated.

I've really rolled this around for a couple days. I like Tay, remember he guarded Kobe when we got the ring, and in the playoffs the other teams best player... but he seems to have hit a solid brick wall. I'm a big Tay fan so it hurts to say that. I also love Rip, but if Kobe doesn't act like a turd he is unquestionably an upgrade. So if Hayes or whoever playes the 3, well I haven't been able to watch one minute of preseason so I just don't know. I do know that we haven't even had a real 3 backup, so I have to think we don't have a backup let alone a starter. One thing I will say is don't throw CBill in instead of Tay or Rip because that will just set us back. It would take a couple years to develop a PG and by then Kobe would be on the market.

That was a bit of a running thought, I'm a bit buzzed, woohoo. [smilie=heatsmiley2:

Tay always guarded the other teams best guy in the playoffs, but I'd have to think Kobe would be doing that if we traded Rip and Tay. Kobe's a damned good defender if I do remember correctly.

He'd be motivated too. My only problem with Kobe is the fact he relies way too much on shooting long range jumpers IMO. Not that he can't make them of course, but when he's done that (in the playoffs this past season more specifically) he's gone into droughts. Not that would affect the team that much, as he'd have others to pick up the slack.

I heard a bit of SAS' radio show yesterday and he said that he considers Houston as the front runner for Kobe right now, but the Lakers are concerned about TMac's back (as they should be). Chicago was the team he mentioned as the next most likely.

At the end he noted "don't underestimate Detroit".

He also said Mark Cuban is nuts for not being willing to trade Dirk for Kobe, because Kobe really wants to play in Dallas.

Enter Bryant.

The buzz was the Pistons would part with Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Amir Johnson and/or a first round pick for Bryant, arguably the best player in the NBA.
"Yeah, I heard that, too," Chauncey Billups said before the Pistons beat the Wizards, 104-85, at The Palace Wednesday night.

Then again Billups, who signed a five-year contract this summer, heard about many sign-and-trade deals. One had Mr. Big Shot himself going to Houston.

But Billups is still here and Bryant is on the West Coast.

Staying intact is OK
Clearly, there was nothing to the Bryant talk. Even after Bryant spewed all over sports-talk radio shows from coast-to-coast that he wanted out of L.A. The Lakers weren't interested in dealing him.

That's changed, though.

There's a real chance that Bryant will be traded by next Wednesday. If the Lakers want to get maximum value, the time to deal is now.

Either way, the Pistons -- who are expected to be in the mix for the conference title again -- are happy president Joe Dumars believes in them and didn't make a trade.

Dumars vowed he would only make a deal that would make the Pistons markedly better. He wasn't going to overreact and break up a team that has gone to five straight conference finals. Obviously, that trade wasn't out there because Dumars didn't pull the trigger.

"We're cool," said forward Rasheed Wallace when asked if he was disappointed the status quo was maintained. "We have our main core back. So I like our team the way it is."

That doesn't mean if there was a real chance to get Bryant the Pistons wouldn't look into it. That's just business.



this is from the Detroit News...just for you fool

Who were we supposed to get back for Chauncey going to Planet Houston?

I would seriously prefer if links were posted with "article" quotes. Where something comes from is a large factor on judging if its spurious.

I am selling my season tickets on ebay right now for cheap, now I am considering pulling the tickets off until next wednesday.

What would you guys do? The tickets are 2 rows from the court and if Bryant came you would think my tickets would go up in value

I am selling my season tickets on ebay right now for cheap, now I am considering pulling the tickets off until next wednesday.

What would you guys do? The tickets are 2 rows from the court and if Bryant came you would think my tickets would go up in value
How much are you selling them for?

RE: Kobe to Detroit slowly growing legs...

I've heard of "growing a tail" before, but legs?

i would hold off selling. would they at all go down before wednesday? i wouldnt think so. if the extremely unlikely happens, those tickets would go up a decent amount, i'd think.

and even though i dont think this trade happens, i'll be thrilled with just about anytrade that brings kobe to the pistons. probably makes me sound like a shitty fan, but i just like kobe, rape allegations and all (does anyone really think that was anything more than a money grab? oh crap, forget i mentioned that).

i actually agree w/ guts that kobe has a ton to prove, or reprove anyway. i cant imagine kobe going from LA to det, and no chance in hell he'd stay here till he retires. he wouldnt like detroit, and the city would never embrace him anyway.

[/rambling]

sportscenter just said the lakers want deng, gordon, thomas, and noah for kobe. meaning they would laugh us out of the room if we though rip, tay, and maxiell would be enough.

if we were serious, it would probably be similar deal, stuckey, amir, and two starters.

According to RealGM, Bulls are in talks daily with Lakers about getting Kobe.

Say Kobe does end up in Chicago, assuming they keep Deng, how much better does that make them?

I don't think Chicago is going to get Kobe.

What LA wants, Chicago won't give, and even if they did agree to make the deal, kobe wouldn't accept the deal.

sportscenter just said the lakers want deng, gordon, thomas, and noah for kobe. meaning they would laugh us out of the room if we though rip, tay, and maxiell would be enough.

if we were serious, it would probably be similar deal, stuckey, amir, and two starters.

would you do a kobe and vlad rad for rip tay stuckey for amir?

i dont thinki would

btw lax, i doubt kobe and deng would play on the same team.

The big hangup with the Bulls is that Kobe thinks that trade will leave him with a team that can't contend for a ring, just like his situation with the Lakers. He does have a no trade clause. So wether it is the Bulls, Pistons, whoever, that team can't give up too much or he will just say no. Considering that, we won't give up two starters plus any two of JMax, Amir, Stuckey, Dice, or Afflalo per Kobe's wishes.

reallistically, kobe would never stay in detroit. hes a prima donna.

It's tooo coooooooooooooooooooooldddddddddddddddddddddddddd.

we won't give up two starters plus any two of JMax, Amir, Stuckey, Dice, or Afflalo per Kobe's wishes.
I don't think we'd be losing too much to contend if we gave up Rip, Tay, JMax, and Afflalo. We thought we were good enough without Rip, Tay, and Max. Does Afflalo really add that much to the team that he'd be the difference between us contending or not with a Kobe trade?

Kobe a Piston?

Posted by A. Sherrod Blakely November 02, 2007 17:53PM

As some of you have probably read and/or heard, the Detroit Pistons are apparently involved in trying to acquire Kobe Bryant.

That's news to Joe Dumars.

"We haven't had any discussions with them about Kobe," Dumars said just moments ago.

Now make no mistake about it.

Dumars, just like every other GM in the East, is monitoring the Kobe situation closely because, if he does get traded, it'll likely be to a team in the East.

But for Detroit to pull off such a deal, it would require AT LEAST three Pistons to be included, with at least two of those players being starters.

Now Kobe is a fine talent, arguably the best player, pound-for-pound, in the NBA. But there is no way you can tell me that he's worth at least two starters from a championship-caliber team like Detroit.

So in the coming weeks, you'll continue to hear talk about where Kobe might end up, and chances are, Detroit will be one of the teams mentioned.

But considering the cost of what it would take to bring Kobe to Motown, Kobe fans wanting to see Kobe in Detroit shouldn't hold their breath.

Bucher: Pistons still a possibility for Kobe

Posted by Justin Rogers | MLive.com November 02, 2007 16:06PM

With the start of the NBA regular season taking a backseat to the Kobe Bryant sweepstakes, the Detroit remains a wildcard destination according to ESPN analyst Ric Bucher in a Friday morning interview with Colin Cowherd.


Cowherd: If I was to ask you Kobe will be a ________ by ________, what would you say?

Bucher: That's just too hard to call, because there's one other team that's floating out there that I'm waiting to get in the mix and that's the Detroit Pistons.

Cowherd: There we go. There's another team with a lot of players: Give me Tayshaun Prince, Chauncey Billups and a draft pick.

Bucher: I don't even know that you'd have to go that far. Also, Rip Hamilton is going to have to be in the mix because that's the spot Kobe would take.

Cowherd: Oh, that is interesting.

Bucher: So the way things are going, I'd be surprised if Kobe's not somewhere else by Thanksgiving. Again, I was the guy that said he would never wear a Lakers' uniform again because it was obvious where this was heading. I thought calmer heads would prevail and they'd never let it get to this. I thought they'd make the deal way before this, so it's difficult for me to put a timeline on it. They've already gone way further down this road than I ever would have been willing to go.

Charley Rosen doesn't believe Detroit's front office has the moxy to make such a bold move.


November 2, FoxSports: To Detroit for Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Amir Johnson

Add Bynum and this is far from being a bad idea for both teams. With Chauncey Billups, Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess, Jason Maxiell and the underrated Jarvis Hayes still on board, the addition of Kobe just might provide the spark the Pistons need to push them over the top. The Lakers, meanwhile, would also get a close approximation of the "equal value" they've been seeking.

Does the Pistons' front office have the guts to pull the trigger? Probably not.

I fail to see why the Lakers would include a Bynum for Johnson swap. The Lakers are already making a drastic move dealing Bryant, why would they also be looking to ship off the more polished Bynum for a project like Amir Johnson?

Who were we supposed to get back for Chauncey going to Planet Houston?


Chuck Hayes, Steve Novak, and Bob Sura

I think we break even overall. The value of what Rip and Tay bring is underrated imo. But not just that. I have an issue with anymore to conforming to wgat the nba slights its love to. Because i've come to realize awhile ago that its not just lebron, wade, and the mini jordan wannabe ballers against soft defenses stars getting their way. Its money. Detroit doesnt have the market value to get love. And of all the stars to get, Kobe is the only one that the nba doesnt endorse(reflective in him not getting calls to the basket and getting mad techs).

We conform, and we give more power to the nba. Hire an offensive coach, remove the defensive players, and next you know we lose to the likes of cleveland because of our defensive issues helping the already slighted calls. To me its all a rig. If Lebron played for New york, not even SA would have been able to stop him. Its just the money. Which is why i've sworn off watching general nba games as much. I just saw that the reason we snuck into their party is because we were built against the grain, which made it hard to knock us off. Now its a mess and we're under the leagues thumb more and more with any move in their direction. Thats why I liked the drafting affalo, maxiell, cheick samb, and amir johnson. Its a move in the right direction. we need guys who hustle and play defense.


Also let me say championship acquisitions arent always home run swings(kobe?), but smaller moves(stuckey? Jarvis Hayes?) getting you over.

Thats my soap box

Kobe to Detroit slowly growing testicles...

Kobe to Detroit slowly growing skanky...

Kobe to Detroit slowly growing old...

Kobe to Detroit... fuck, I'm sick of Kobe.

Kobe to Detroit slowly growing testicles...

Kobe to Detroit slowly growing skanky...

Kobe to Detroit slowly growing old...

Kobe to Detroit... fuck, I'm sick of Kobe.

I agree. No more of this kobe shit eespecially in detroit.

This is why Deng is fucking up because of all the kobe for deng shit.

Kobe will be a Laker come playoff time...


he's not going anywhere, Paxson is hesitant to give up young talent, and the Lakers aren't about to play 'Law of Diminishing Returns' with anybody...

Let's see if Paxson budges if they keep losing.

Pax might need a diversion for the fans/media.

Kobe might have to come off his no-trade first, though.

Kobe for Zach Miner. Bam. Do it Joe.

Dombrowski might object.

I'd only do it if we got Kyle Farnsworth back, too.

Kobe to Detroit slowly growing legs...

Awfully fuggin slowly

Kobe for Zach Miner. Bam. Do it Joe.


Zach Miner's contract is too big...per realgm

Kobe to Detroit slowly growing testicles...

Kobe to Detroit slowly growing skanky...

Kobe to Detroit slowly growing old...

Kobe to Detroit... fuck, I'm sick of Kobe.

Kobe to Detroit is slowly growing a mutated second head out of the middle of its chest...Quaid! Quaid! You've got to get to the reactor!

Kobe to Detroit underwent amputation.

Zach Miner's contract is too big...per realgm
So you're saying its perfect, if not a little too small?

So you're saying its perfect, if not a little too small?


No, Zach is definitely underpaid.

Bucher: Pistons tried to acquire Kobe

Posted by Justin Rogers November 13, 2007 18:47PM

Despite Joe Dumars' insistence that the Pistons have no interest in acquiring Kobe Bryant, Ric Bucher, in a short interview on ESPN's SportsCenter, suggests that Detroit actually attempted to acquire the disgruntled Lakers superstar.


Q: The Kobe trade talk are down to a whisper, but not completely silent is it?

A: No, it's not. Pistons GM Joe Dumars took offense that there was speculation that the Pistons might get into the Kobe sweepstakes. Well, multiple sources say the Pistons actually took a stab trying to get Kobe and were rebuffed because that's not one of the places Kobe would like to go.

Let's face it, no one should be surprised if Dumars actually called the Lakers about the availability of Kobe Bryant. When a superstar is on the trade block, it's your duty as a general manager to see what the asking price is.

That said, it's equally acceptable to deny making any inquiries. Team chemistry is a tricky issue, and players can struggle to focus when they believe they're on the trading block. It's human nature.

If Kobe didn't want to come here (let's ignore the actual deal for now, if one was offered)...he's an idiot.

The top franchises in my book are SA and Detroit, no doubt about it. The only knock on Detroit as a fanchise is that Davidson won't give huge money. Well, Kobe already has his deal anyway. Chicago and NY might be better markets, but NY is going nowhere and the Bulls don't want him. If he doesn't have us on his list he is a moron. Most of the other teams wouldn't be very good with him because they'd have to trade almost all their decent players for him and be worse off than the Lakers are now.

Shortage of quality groupies may also play a role.

FYI
my sources at the palace stated that the rip, tayshaun, afflalo for kobe rumor was true and joe d got upset because he didn't want those three players to know that he was offering them to the lakers

I would do that deal, posthaste.

FYI
my sources at the palace stated that the rip, tayshaun, afflalo for kobe rumor was true and joe d got upset because he didn't want those three players to know that he was offering them to the lakers

That shows you how high he is on Stuckey. Hayes would start next to Kobe, but you'd basically have Stuckey/Max/Amir as your core bench group.

Shortage of quality groupies may also play a role.

It's much more open now that Darko left the market. Groupies are looking for a home...

Per 97.1FM/1270AM, the Pistons offered Rip, Tayshaun, Amir, and a 1st rounder for Kobe...

How was that not LAL's best offer?

To that deal... uh hell to the no... strip our talent for a ME player.

Per 97.1FM/1270AM, the Pistons offered Rip, Tayshaun, Amir, and a 1st rounder for Kobe...

How was that not LAL's best offer?

Maybe that is true as well. I know that my source is a higher up in the pistons organization so i trust he was being accurate.

Maybe that is true as well. I know that my source is a higher up in the pistons organization so i trust he was being accurate.


your probably right, either way, was it the Lakers rejecting it, or Kobe's veto...?

Lakers rejected it

interesting...I'd have to think he's going to be a Laker for the rest of the season, it's almost impossible for the Lakers to get equal value for arguably the best player in the game, and with all the good young players still in rookie contracts, it just makes things more complicated...and it doesn't help that the Lakers have had a decent start to their season either...must be very frustrating for Phil (not that I give a damn)...

I've read a few things where some people are saying that the Lakers agreed to the Pistons package but Kobe refused to waive his no trade to come here.

I can't vouch for the credibility of these people, so they may be full of shit.

Hayes as a starter is a big downgrade from Tay.... If the Lakers did indeed reject the deal then talks could still be alive (providing Kobe didn't nix anything).

Rob Parker just announced that he spoke with one of his very reliable moles (Joe Dumars) in the pistons org and they said that the Kobe Nixing thing is a false rumor.

Thanks, douche.

^That was fun

I would trade Tay, Rip, and Amir, for Kobe in a FUCKING SECOND!

Rotoworld sources are relaying that Detroit radio station 1270 AM reported Wednesday that the Lakers and Pistons had a "done deal" as of 6:45 PM on Tuesday that would have sent Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Amir Johnson and a first-round pick to the Lakers for Kobe Bryant.

Both teams had reportedly agreed to the deal, but Bryant alledgedly vetoed it with his no-trade clause, apparently not wanting to go to a depleted Detroit team. It will be interesting to see how the Pistons' players mentioned in the deal react to this news.


Im not in Detroit but is that even close to being true on any level?

Yet he'd want to go to a depleted Chicago team if they just kept Luol Dung. What a fucking idiot.


...if this is true anyway.

Kobe's all about the winning stuff is all nonsense. He wants the spotlight, and wants to feed his ego, and that's the real reason he has such a "desire to win" because of all the spotlight his ego gets when they do win.

If he goes to the Bulls, he's the top dawg, it's Kobe the SUPERSTAR and a bunch of talented youngster sidekicks. Hell its already a team without a leader.

us? Hell, we have two leaders, or at least two alpha personalities, STAYING in that trade, Billups and Rasheed. It's Kobe coming onto a veteren squad who have been deep in the playoffs and won a title and aren't going to be awed by hiim as the savior, Detroit the city will definately cheer Kobe but are not going to feed his ego enough, he's basically sharing the local spotlight. As sick a backcourt as Billups/Kobe would make, you have to wonder, if you're gonna see some team leadership clashes there.

I was thinking about that too Metro. If the story is true about coming to Detroit... Rasheed wouldn't take any SStar shit Kobe tried to pull and Kobe knows it.

That's a great fucking post, Metro.

Props.

It's tooo coooooooooooooooooooooldddddddddddddddddddddddddd.

http://clutch3.files.wordpress.com/2007/07/rony_seikly.jpg

Trade Vanessa, fuck Kobe.

*hunts little Mexican girls*

i dont think of sheed or chauncy as alpha dogs. maybe sheed's personality, but thats it. chauncy is streight pc, in persona and game. sheed would rather be second banana, if not third. we have good players, kobe is several levels above. he doesnt want to come to detroit because detroit is detroit. if our roster was the knicks' he would have looooved that trade.

If that story is true then Kobe just isn't serious about getting back to the finals. The talent level on the floor with Kobe, Sheed and Billups would be sick. Just sick.

Forgot Nazr MOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!amed

well fuck kobe's ego.

Sheed
dice
hayes
kobe
billups

How is that shit not a trip to the finals?

Can't forget Max or Stuckey either (if he ends up being who we thought he can be).

Maybe Phil has instilled his hate of Detroit in Kobe.

Forgot to add NAZR MOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!amed

This leg growing has indeed been slow.

http://cbs2.com/sports/local_story_318215353.html


Report: Lakers Agreed To Bryant Deal

According to radio station 1270 AM in Detroit, the Lakers and Pistons came to an agreement to trade Bryant to the Pistons.

However, Bryant used his no-trade clause to veto the trade.

The report claims the deal was completed late Tuesday night.

Detroit would have sent Tayshaun Prince, Rip Hamilton, Amir Johnson and a first round pick to the Lakers.

Maybe now that Wade isn't using his wheelchair anymore, he can give it to us.

There is no way in Hell he didn't veto it because he'd have to live in Detroit. It's too colllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllldddddd dddddddd.

I say "Fuck Kobe" after this, yet at the same time I'm kinda bummed.

Starters:
Billups
Kobe
Hayes
Sheed
Dyess

Bench:
Stuckey
Max
Afflalo
Murray
Mohammad


Can you imagine a Piston/Celtics Eastern Finals? I would sell my left foot for tickets to one of those games.

Hell, Stern should force Kobe to take that trade. The Celtics are suddenly relevant and then in the middle of the season an old rival becomes much more powerful? We would be swimming in "this is like the old NBA" articles. Sports writers would cream for days on end.

God damnit...FUCK YOU KOBE, WE DON'T WANT YOU ANYWAY! RAPIST!

wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Starters:
Billups
Kobe
Hayes
Sheed
Dyess

Bench:
Stuckey
Max
Murray
Mohammad




Fool,

Thank you for listing Stuckey first off the bench.

Regards,

Keith

Wait! It's Kobe! Maybe he'll change his mind!

Somebody needs to clarify this for me.

The way it appears is...

1. Bucher comes out with this "report" on Sportscenter.
2. MLive writes about Bucher's report
3. WXYT talks about Mlive writing about Bucher
4. Other national media (including ESPN) is now claiming that this info is coming from "a Detroit radio station".

Kinda sounds like ESPN knows this story is tenuous, at best, and now they are trying to distance themselves (and Bucher) from it.

I'm about to call Kobe out in the Terrordome. WHO'S GOT MY BACK?!?!

Maybe he's still pissed at us because we helped put him on this rotten team. Yes, part of that is his fault, but they haven't been contenders since we tourched them.

Vanessa needs a real man* in her life, not a little pussy.


* You KNOW who I'm referring to.

:mccosky:


As for all the noise about Kobe Bryant on the radiowaves today, wow. The Pistons and Lakers have not had any discussions about Kobe since the summer. Joe Dumars, doing his due diligence, made a call about Kobe when he learned he would be on the market. He was told Kobe didn't want to come to Detroit -- end of discussion. There hasn't been another discussion. This is an old, old newbit that Ric Bucher decided to throw back out there.

Lol, bullshit. Ric Bucher is the man.


...Who's Ric Bucher?

...Oh yeah, this guy:

http://www.headgamesradio.com/images/guests/ricbucher.jpg

Yet he'd want to go to a depleted Chicago team if they just kept Luol Dung. What a fucking idiot.


...if this is true anyway.




What's Kobe's definition of "depleted" If he goes to Chicago he want's it to be for Vikor Khryapa and Adrian Griffin...the guy is fucking clueless as to the financial structure of the NBA...

fuck you Kobe...have fun on your lottery team

As I said before, I can't see a better team for him than us honestly, with what the team would have to give up to get him. Where will he play with a better 4 than Sheed, Dyess, Hayes and Billups?

Chicago would have TT (just a tall Darvin Ham), Ben (sucks at this point), Nocioni and Hinrich. That's no better than us, and they have nothing on their bench either.

Who else has legit pieces to get kobe (without trading their superstar like Lebron, Wade, etc)?

Maybe he is hoping Boston trades PP and Perkins for him (won't happen because LA won't do it)?

Kobe makes Starbury look smart. No, No, No! I want to go play for Chicago where they can't put the ball in the basket and I'd have to do everything myself and take more beatings!

I love the idea of having a superstar on this team, but I just hate the idea of having a superstar ego on this team. I hate guys like that and I've been happy to see the pistons avoid them thusfar.

I love the idea of having a superstar on this team, but I just hate the idea of having a superstar ego on this team. I hate guys like that and I've been happy to see the pistons avoid them thusfar.



And to think, we could've drafted Chris Bosh in '03...my God where we would be right now...


or Carmelo Anthony, or Dwayne Wade...

Ok, I'll get over it now.

Well, I'm kind of glad we don't have Carmelo. He just seems whiney and egotistical. I'd have loved to have had Bosh. He doesn't seem like an ego guy that people have to "deal with". Seems more like a team player. And as much as I hate Wade, I don't ever remember him bitching at his coach or complaining about teammates in the media.

I honestly like Wade (when he's not playing the Pistons anyway). He's so courageous.

I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.

And to think, we could've drafted Chris Bosh in '03...my God where we would be right now...


or Carmelo Anthony, or Dwayne Wade...

Ok, I'll get over it now.

Out of all of those I wish we had Bosh, and it's not just the ego thing either. He would fit very nicely next to Sheed. It would be like turning back the clock on Dyess to his prime.

I'd rather have Zach Miner.

if the 'kers start struggling bad, it would be nice to know this was true and maybe kobe would reconsider. it looked like garnett's trade was dead and then he was a celtic, kind of the same deal.

but we are talking about a guy who refused to be drafted by anyone but the lakers. it should also be mentioned that kobe bought (is buying?) jordan's house in chicago. soits not a weather thing, i think its a market thing. if kobe went from LA to DET, he'd lose endorsement $$, plus downgrade in nightlife and women.

i would love this trade, btw. if only for an exciting shakeup.

if the 'kers start struggling bad, it would be nice to know this was true and maybe kobe would reconsider. it looked like garnett's trade was dead and then he was a celtic, kind of the same deal.

but we are talking about a guy who refused to be drafted by anyone but the lakers. it should also be mentioned that kobe bought (is buying?) jordan's house in chicago. soits not a weather thing, i think its a market thing. if kobe went from LA to DET, he'd lose endorsement $$, plus downgrade in nightlife and women.

i would love this trade, btw. if only for an exciting shakeup.
I realize Detroit is not as big a market as Chicago, but even coming here would be huge marketing from a basketball standpoint IMO. The west is all about the big man and PG, and not swingmen. The conference finals teams are usually SA (TD and TP), Mavs (Dirk and Terry), Suns (Marion/Amare and Nash). Even the up and coming teams are like that (Boozer/Memo and Williams). Tmac is the only real "stellar matchup" for Kobe and Tmac has barely played well the last few years. In the East (regardless of the team) he'd be matched up with Allen/PP, RIP, Gordon/Deng, AI2, VC, Redd, Arenas, Wade and Lebron. The best players in the East are mostly swingmen.

I'm not saying we should be the first choice, but he'd be wise to go east IMO, especially if he wants everyone to think he's the next MJ or whatever. What better chance then to beat the best swingmen every night instead of watching his lowsy big men and PG's get tourched every year?

Out of all of those I wish we had Bosh, and it's not just the ego thing either. He would fit very nicely next to Sheed. It would be like turning back the clock on Dyess to his prime.
Dyess plus 2-3 inches. Bosh would fit PERFECTLY with this team.

I'd rather have Zach Miner.
:howdidwegetminer:

I just love doing that.

I'm not saying we should be the first choice, but he'd be wise to go east IMO, especially if he wants everyone to think he's the next MJ or whatever. What better chance then to beat the best swingmen every night instead of watching his lowsy big men and PG's get tourched every year?
Whenever you hear about the greats, you almost always hear about their battles with other greats, often when they're head to head at the same position. A move to the east would give him more solid competition to go head to head with to prove his dominance. If he's looking to prove himself to the world and solidify himself as one of the best ever, he can't put up huge numbers on the other team's 3rd-4th-5th best player every night. He can put up all the 81 point games he wants, but if its against scrubs it won't mean much in the long run. Hell, I forgot he even did that until I was typing this.

does realgm have to word the article like "Lakers Pistons agreed on trade."

what the fuck...got a little too excited/.

fuck kobe and his ego

i'd take rip and tay over kobe anyday

not really...but fuck

lol, my thoughts exactly.

Dumars prefers current core to Kobe
by A. Sherrod Blakely
Friday November 16, 2007, 12:05 AM

LOS ANGELES -- And to think, those "Ko-be! Ko-be!" chants often heard at the Chicago Bulls' United Center these days could easily have been echoing throughout the Palace of Auburn Hills if not for the Detroit Pistons winning six of their first eight games.

Detroit has been among the many teams rumored to have had interest in the perennial All-Star who has been the subject of trade speculation for months.

The Pistons, like most NBA teams, inquired about Bryant's availability when he made it clear that he wanted out of Los Angeles. However Detroit's unwillingness to break up their core group, coupled with Bryant's desire to play somewhere other than Detroit, all but squashed any chances of a deal being worked out.

Pistons captain Chauncey Billups never worried about this team being broken apart to make room for Bryant.

"It is what it is," Billups said. "He's probably the biggest star in the league. You really can't control anything that happens, or goes on, or is said about it. It doesn't bother me at all."

The rumors certainly bothered Joe Dumars, Detroit's president of basketball operations. He took exception to multiple media reports that alluded to the Pistons having made a trade offer for Bryant that the Lakers star rebuffed.

Bryant's salary, coupled with his trade kicker, totals about $23 million.

"We would have to include two or three starters," Dumars said. "I'm not ready to give up on my core guys."

Dumars' blueprint for success has involved establishing a core group of players while developing a next wave of youthful talent that can contribute when given an opportunity.

For a number of Detroit's young players, that opportunity presented itself on Wednesday when the Pistons fell behind by as many as 22 points at Golden State.

Although Rasheed Wallace was huge late in the game for Detroit, the play of several of the Pistons youngsters proved to be just as valuable in Detroit rallying for a 111-104 win.

Third-year forward Jason Maxiell, starting in place of an injured Antonio McDyess (left shoulder), had his second career double-double with 14 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. He also had a career-high five assists.

Amir Johnson (three points, four rebounds, two assists and one blocked shot) and rookie Arron Afflalo (four points in nine minutes) gave the Pistons a lift with their play off the bench.

Winning the way they did sets a great example for the younger players.

"That's just letting them know, no matter how much you down, still keep on fighting," said Wallace, who scored 13 of his team-high 22 points in the fourth quarter. "You can't just give up and just start jacking up shots, taking b.s. shots. The young guys, Afflalo, Max, Amir, (Rodney) Stuckey and Cheikh (Samb), they saw (on Wednesday) where we didn't give up."

For Billups, whose right hip and left knee injuries kept him out of the lineup against Golden State, beating the Warriors the way they did also validates Dumars' reluctance to break up his core group of players to pursue a talent such as Bryant.

"You look at us coming in (to Golden State) very short-handed against a team that we haven't even been within 20 points of (recently) ... it was a great game and great validation for what we're trying to do around here," Billups said.

IT IS WHAT IT IS? AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

It really isn't what it is. It could be what it was if it would have been, but it wasn't so it can't be, really. I guess you could make a case for it isn't what it could have been, but more of a shoulda woulda coulda thing.

I got excited when i read the headline as well

I can completely confirm that more than one Piston player is going to be playing in LA very soon. More details later.

"It Happened", "It's about to happen", and "It's officially happened"?

But I think we can look to Kenny 'The Jet' Smith for words of understanding.



"Because of the uncertanty of 'why' theres a lot of speculation going on, of whats going on and what isn't, makes it, I think, a sad situation because it should be somethin definative, and something that everyone knows and we all just kind of move on with"


India? We've got philosophy right here.

I like the new Kenny Smith schtick, Tahoe.

Ernie Johnson totally carries TNT's NBA coverage.

btw...thats a quote...word for word. It can applied to ANY situation in life.

Does KTJS ever EVER say something just once? "You know they'll be fired up. You know they'll be fired up" STFU Kenny, I heard you the first time.

TNT power rankings for me:
1. Ernie
2. Kevin Harlan
3. Doug Collins
4. Kenny
5. Marv Albert (sodomy? yesss!)
6. Reggie
7. The Czar
7. Barkley
8. Steve Kerr


What a lineup! This is what makes TNT's coverage SO much better than ESPN's!

TNT power rankings for me:
1. Barkley
Come on, you've got to love any network that would put an obviously insane person on television.

Hey, I did put Marv at 5...

Charles doesn't give the Pistons props they deserve but if it wasn't for him, imo, that show would have folded up and went away.

I still can't look at Marv without LMAO

First off all Tahoe...

Maybe I really am severely depressed, but the only good thing I see about Barkley is the fact D-Wade isn't in his Fav 5.

just noticed 3498 3478
tahoe>TMM

May 07
Feb 06

Don't wet the bed tonight.

Nefi has Charles in his fav 5.

I took a hiatus

Neifi is in my fav five.

Someone go dig up the power rankings thread.

I took a hiatus

It really should be taken as a compliment. I'm basically telling you I have no life.

It really should be taken as a compliment. I'm basically telling you I have no life.

LOL, gotcha.

Me either, I feel like I'm babysitting but its an elderly person. I have to be around the house and that sucks.

I can completely confirm that more than one Piston player is going to be playing in LA very soon. More details later.
Come on, I get no laffs for this? What am I, Schindler's List?

lgIB9XRaj0E

Dumars says he wasn't interested in deal either:


...The rumors certainly bothered Joe Dumars, Detroit's president of basketball operations. He took exception to multiple media reports that alluded to the Pistons having made a trade offer for Bryant that the Lakers star rebuffed.

Bryant's salary, coupled with his trade kicker, totals about $23 million.

"We would have to include two or three starters," Dumars said. "I'm not ready to give up on my core guys."...

Full Article from Mlive (http://www.mlive.com/pistons/index.ssf/2007/11/dumars_prefers_current_core_to.html)

What could've been...

What could've been...
watching this silly bastard bitch all night like a 13 year old about what he deserves. yea ok.

I'm not sure if I got your post or not, but:

http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/basketball/knicks/blog/kobe-frustrated.jpg

I can completely confirm that more than one Piston player is going to be playing in LA very soon. More details later.

ROTFLMAO

Sombitch, thats funny I don't care who you are

Come on, I get no laffs for this? What am I, Schindler's List?
I just read it, wanted to finish the thread to see if it went somewhere, cried a little on the inside. Then decided to carve some words in my wrist, write poetry that starts with the lines "Dear diary: " and buy girl pants.
:emo kid:




Sorry, went to a concert last night, saw a few emo kids, got very annoyed. Here's a hint: don't do karate at a concert, fags.

:mccosky:


Media must stick with facts

LOS ANGELES -- This is what I am talking about.

Scrolling through the NBA sites on the Web the other day, I come across this on Real GM:

"According to radio station 1270-AM in Detroit, the Lakers and Pistons came to an agreement to trade (Kobe) Bryant to the Pistons. However, Bryant used his no-trade clause to veto the trade. The report claims the deal was completed late Tuesday night. Detroit would have sent Tayshaun Prince, Rip Hamilton, Amir Johnson and a first-round pick to the Lakers."

Thank goodness I didn't hear that live while driving my car. I would have run off the road. There isn't a speck of truth in that report. Yet, from what I heard, the pros and cons of the "trade" were debated on the airwaves most of the day.

Imagine devoting that much time and advertising revenue to something completely fictitious.

Pistons president Joe Dumars hasn't had a conversation with the Lakers about Kobe Bryant since before training camp. Dumars made a call to the Lakers when he first heard that Bryant might be available. Any president or general manager that didn't do at least that should be fired. It's what they call due diligence -- something certain radio stations might want to invest in.

Dumars was told -- remember now, this was in September -- that Bryant would not waive his no-trade clause for the Pistons, and that was the end of the discussion. No players were mentioned, no trade parameters were defined.

Nevertheless, ESPN's Ric Bucher, who had been scolded publicly by Dumars two weeks ago for throwing his players into unfounded rumors, went on the air with this old scrap of news earlier this week. The radio station pounced on it, embellished it and created a mini-media frenzy for itself.

Is that what it's come down to now? Is that how far sports radio shows are going to go to get some attention? Is it really worth losing that much credibility to gain a few points in the ratings?

Heck, if the station wants to start throwing out hoaxes, why not go all "War of the Worlds" on us. Don't low-ball us with made-up trade stories. Give us the supermarket tabloid stuff:

"Former Piston Bison Dele is alive, spotted at a Kalamazoo McDonald's."

"Sam Cassell really is an alien."

"Stephon Marbury and Isiah Thomas to wed."

"Phil Jackson to star in 'Brokeback Mountain' sequel."

I mean, if you are going to entertain us with bogus stories, entertain us.

Seriously, though, this stuff does damage throughout our industry. Dumars is disgusted by it, I can tell you that. Why should he trust the media when stuff like this happens? Why should he give his time to the media if the truth is ignored and he has to defend himself against bogus reports?

And what about the listeners, the fans? What are they supposed to think? Who are they supposed to trust? It's back to that ever-shrinking line between journalism and entertainment media I wrote about a couple weeks ago. The radio station, from all reports, never presented the trade rumor as anything but a fact. They weren't discussing a hypothetical situation. They were talking about a trade that they thought came within one nod of Bryant's head of going through.

Just utter freaking nonsense. Who's going to hold the station accountable? Who's going to demand a retraction? Who's going to demand an apology to the listeners, especially those who believed the report. They have to feel like they were punked, right?

Maybe not.

Of course, my phone line burns and my e-mail basket floods with people wanting to know what's going on and why I haven't written about this. Never mind that I did write about it, way back when it actually happened, and I repeated it the other day, writing exactly what I wrote earlier in this column.

But, as per usual, nobody wants to hear that. The made-up story is sexier, juicier; the truth is boring.

Whatever. I prefer to live in the real world. It's less crowded.

According to Chris, Dumars never spoke to ATL about Rasheed either.

I love how he writes like its his knowledge. As though he isn't totally dependent on others feeding him infor (which they clearly don't). Not "the people I'm talking to are denying this" but "Nope. Didn't happen."

How the hell can Joe say that he talked to the Lakers, HE CANT...that would just cause trouble inside the organization. How would it look to fans and the players if Joe said..

Yeah I tried to dump RIP and Tay for Kobe but he denied it because our city is garbage.dammit we are screwed now