Ten burning questions about a possible Kobe trade

What is Bryant's contract situation?

He signed a seven-year, $136.4 million contract in 2004. He can
terminate it and become an unrestricted free agent after the 2008-09
season (leaving $47.8 million on the table). He earned $17.7 million
last season and is owed $88.6 million over the next four years.

There is a no-trade clause in his contract. Just what does that mean?

It means he has the final say whether he is traded and to whom. By
requesting a trade, he would waive his no-trade clause. But any team
acquiring him would have to pay an additional $13 million to Bryant,
although that would be treated like a signing bonus and not counted
against the team's salary cap.

What are the Los Angeles Lakers' options?

They could refuse the trade request and make Bryant play out his
contract; they could work out the best deal possible for them and then
hope he goes for it or they can get a list of teams from Bryant that
he will agree to go to and then work out a deal with one of them.

What are Bryant's options?

He can waive the no-trade clause and be moved, or he can stay with the
Lakers. If he sits out, he will still be the property of the Lakers
when he returns. The NBA has an agreement with FIBA, so Bryant can't
be signed by any European team unless the Lakers release him from his
contract.

What could the Lakers expect to get in return in a trade for Bryant?

They'd have to get two young stars and a first-round pick, at least.
Not since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was traded to the Lakers from the
Milwaukee Bucks in 1975 has a player of Bryant's magnitude been traded
in his prime.

Why haven't the Lakers made any major moves since trading Shaquille
O'Neal to Miami?

They have had nothing of real value to offer — no lottery picks and no
players anyone was really interested in except 19-year-old center
Andrew Bynum. He is their future, and they have been hesitant to deal
him. They have also been over the salary cap, so all they could offer
a free agent was the midlevel exception.

What other stars could be on the trading block this offseason that
might make a trade for Bryant work?

The biggest names are Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves,
Jason Kidd of the New Jersey Nets and Shawn Marion of the Phoenix
Suns. Vince Carter of the Nets could also exercise an option in his
contract and become a free agent July 1 and could possibly work out a
sign-and-trade deal between the Nets and Lakers.

Who are the top free agents the Lakers might be able to go after to
try to make Bryant happy?

Detroit's Chauncey Billups can also exercise an option in his contract
and become a free agent. Seattle's Rashard Lewis has told the
SuperSonics he will exercise the option to get out of his contract.
The only other big-name possible free agents are Gerald Wallace of the
Charlotte Bobcats and Grant Hill of the Orlando Magic. Hill would
probably take the midlevel exception (expected to be between $5
million and $6 million next season), but it's going to take a lot more
to sign any of the others as free agents, and with the Lakers being
over the salary cap, they'd be out of the running for any of them.

Why would a team want to acquire Bryant in the first place?

Because he is perhaps the best all-around perimeter player in the game
and one of its fiercest competitors. He'll put people in the seats,
then bring them out of their seats once the game starts. He's the
NBA's biggest star.

What does all this drama do to Lakers owner Jerry Buss and general
manager Mitch Kupchak?

It puts a lot of pressure on them to either trade Bryant and get real
value in return or go to him with hat in hand and do whatever it takes
to get him some help.

"Apple Eater" <Apple Eater.TakeThisOut@abc.com> wrote in message
news:hvp263lf71du8c7uui67fn7seso5inbo9j@4ax.com...
>
> What is Bryant's contract situation?
>
> He signed a seven-year, $136.4 million contract in 2004. He can
> terminate it and become an unrestricted free agent after the 2008-09
> season (leaving $47.8 million on the table). He earned $17.7 million
> last season and is owed $88.6 million over the next four years.
>
> There is a no-trade clause in his contract. Just what does that mean?
>
> It means he has the final say whether he is traded and to whom. By
> requesting a trade, he would waive his no-trade clause. But any team
> acquiring him would have to pay an additional $13 million to Bryant,
> although that would be treated like a signing bonus and not counted
> against the team's salary cap.
>
> What are the Los Angeles Lakers' options?
>
> They could refuse the trade request and make Bryant play out his
> contract; they could work out the best deal possible for them and then
> hope he goes for it or they can get a list of teams from Bryant that
> he will agree to go to and then work out a deal with one of them.
>
> What are Bryant's options?
>
> He can waive the no-trade clause and be moved, or he can stay with the
> Lakers. If he sits out, he will still be the property of the Lakers
> when he returns. The NBA has an agreement with FIBA, so Bryant can't
> be signed by any European team unless the Lakers release him from his
> contract.
>
> What could the Lakers expect to get in return in a trade for Bryant?
>
> They'd have to get two young stars and a first-round pick, at least.
> Not since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was traded to the Lakers from the
> Milwaukee Bucks in 1975 has a player of Bryant's magnitude been traded
> in his prime.
>
> Why haven't the Lakers made any major moves since trading Shaquille
> O'Neal to Miami?
>
> They have had nothing of real value to offer - no lottery picks and no
> players anyone was really interested in except 19-year-old center
> Andrew Bynum. He is their future, and they have been hesitant to deal
> him. They have also been over the salary cap, so all they could offer
> a free agent was the midlevel exception.
>
> What other stars could be on the trading block this offseason that
> might make a trade for Bryant work?
>
> The biggest names are Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves,
> Jason Kidd of the New Jersey Nets and Shawn Marion of the Phoenix
> Suns. Vince Carter of the Nets could also exercise an option in his
> contract and become a free agent July 1 and could possibly work out a
> sign-and-trade deal between the Nets and Lakers.
>
> Who are the top free agents the Lakers might be able to go after to
> try to make Bryant happy?
>
> Detroit's Chauncey Billups can also exercise an option in his contract
> and become a free agent. Seattle's Rashard Lewis has told the
> SuperSonics he will exercise the option to get out of his contract.
> The only other big-name possible free agents are Gerald Wallace of the
> Charlotte Bobcats and Grant Hill of the Orlando Magic. Hill would
> probably take the midlevel exception (expected to be between $5
> million and $6 million next season), but it's going to take a lot more
> to sign any of the others as free agents, and with the Lakers being
> over the salary cap, they'd be out of the running for any of them.
>
> Why would a team want to acquire Bryant in the first place?
>
> Because he is perhaps the best all-around perimeter player in the game
> and one of its fiercest competitors. He'll put people in the seats,
> then bring them out of their seats once the game starts. He's the
> NBA's biggest star.
>
> What does all this drama do to Lakers owner Jerry Buss and general
> manager Mitch Kupchak?
>
> It puts a lot of pressure on them to either trade Bryant and get real
> value in return or go to him with hat in hand and do whatever it takes
> to get him some help.
>
>

Would the Lakers take:

Vince Carter
Nenad Kristic
Draft picks/money/anyone else on the NETS roster except for Kidd/Jefferson

for

Kobe Bryant
Andrew Bynum

TC