Kobe for Dirk? It Works

Is Jerry Buss a complete moron?  He’s known for five months that he had to make a move to keep Kobe happy, and instead he sat back and waited for this situation to implode.  When you have the best player alive, you have to do what it takes to please him.  It’s like dating a supermodel.  First and foremost, if you want to keep her you do whatever it takes to make her smile.  If that means maxing out all of your credit cards or taking out a loan, that’s what you do.  She hates your parents?  They’re dead to you.  If you have to pull out your old Huffy so she can have a Acura parked in the driveway, so be it.  Why?  Because how many chances do you get to parade around with Petra Nemcova on your arm?  Well, unless you’re Tom Brady, but for the rest of us it’s a one in a life-time shot. 

I won’t blame Buss for losing Shaq, but all he had to do with Bryant is sign a couple impact players, even one would have sufficed.  At least then he could have pointed to Rashard Lewis or Chauncey Billups and say I’m trying.  You never heard their name come up in discussions, well except during the first round of the Kevin Garnett sweepstakes, but besides that they weren’t involved in any rumors.  Did Buss think everyone was bluffing as he was off touring Europe?

The Lakers had no intentions of dealing Bryant and have made it obvious they would prefer to hang onto him, but they aren’t willing to do what it takes.  Deal Andrew Bynum, shop Lamar Odom.  At least give the impression you are putting forth some type of effort, don’t disrespect this guy after all he has done for this organization.  Unfortunately it’s too late for that.  There’s no time for charades.  With each practice Bryant sits out it becomes more apparent that something must be done. The problem is, even if they did want to trade him, how do you get a fair return?  By my count there are three players that would provide a fair exhange:  LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Dwight Howard. 

The situation grows worst because Kobe has the only active no-trade clause in the NBA. As we all know he wants to go to Dallas or Chicago.  If I’m Buss or GM Mitch Kupchak, Chicago’s out.  They have a talented roster, but lack individual talent.  That leaves Dallas and Dirk Nowitzki as the only feasible option.  Which raises the question: why are Mark Cuban and Donnie Nelson dragging their feet?  They have a nice squad, but they’ve went as far as they can with the players they have.  Let’s be real for a minute, Dirk is talented, but he’s not even in the same realm as Kobe.  Don’t they realize that they have the upper-hand here and could potentially high-jack the NBA title from the Spurs? 

Nowitzki is a great player, unique would probably be the best adjective, but he’s not Kobe.  It’s the best situation for the Lakers, and even better for the Mavs.  The numbers even work, Kobe is scheduled to make about $17 million this year while Dirk comes in about $2 million shy of that.  We all know that Cuban has an emotional attachment to Nowitzki, but this is business, and he should be able to see this is what will be best for it.  There’s no room for emotions.

The seven-footer has great work ethic, talent, and he led the Mavericks from their darkest era into a perennial contender.  What’s not to love?  I don’t blame Cuban, this guy symbolizes everything that he worked for, but this is as far as the train goes.  It’s time to move on and take it to the next level.  Bryant is that guy.  He won’t disappear in the big moments or even be accused of being soft.  He certainly won’t get outplayed in the Finals or let his team disappear against an 8-seed.  Sure, he’s never won an MVP like Dirk, but do we really need the league to confirm what our eyes tell us on a night-to-night basis? 

How many chances do you get to acquire the best player alive, in his prime, at a discount?  It doesn’t happen very often.  Everyone in the league should be jumping from behind their desks to get this guy, he’s a once in a lifetime talent and the closest answer to Jordan.  He packs stadiums, sells jerseys, and more importantly he’s a winner.  Sure, he’s been in the league forever, but he’s only 29-years-old.  By my estimation that leaves about eight good years, maybe even more if he can adjust as legs begin to go.  Remember MJ was 34 when he retired the second time and was still at the top of his game.  He took four years off and still averaged 22.9 and 20 when he came back.  It’s hard to know if that lay-off helped or hurt him physically, but he could still play. 

It’s the only move that can work.  The Lakers get an MVP to fill the void, someone to build around in the mean-time, and the Mavs get their trophy.  It’s 75% off, but at least Buss isn’t getting took to the cleaners.  Well, at least not completely.