It's not that the Bulls—or any other team in the NBA—don't need Kobe Bryant. It's the cost required, and the serious doubt among many in the NBA that the Lakers have any real intention of trading Bryant. If you have the best player, why give him up when he has nowhere to go?
Already, Kobe's people are looking farther East in Kobe's Go East, Young Man program. ESPN writer Ric Bucher, who is close with Bryant, said in an ESPN radio interview: "… there's one other team floating out there that I'm waiting to get in the mix and that's the Detroit Pistons. Rip Hamilton is going to have to be in the mix because that's the spot Kobe would take. ... I'd be surprised if Kobe's not somewhere else by Thanksgiving."
Pistons President Joe Dumars was said to be furious when he heard the suggestion and has told people he's not going to allow his players to be tossed around in alleged trade talks, as occurred with the Bulls. That makes Bryant's leaving in the next few months even more unlikely.
Yet there are a few interesting names quietly under the radar. Brand, Jermaine O'Neal, Baron Davis, Gilbert Arenas and Allen Iverson all have clauses in their contracts that enable them to become free agents after this season. Bryant's similar clause doesn't allow free agency until after the 2008-09 season.
Most players, like Vince Carter last summer, end up re-signing with their own team because few teams can get far enough under the salary cap to make a significant offer. Orlando did with Rashard Lewis, so it can happen.
The intriguing name is Brand. He's out now after Achilles' tendon surgery but should be back later this season. Though he's probably not a first team all-NBA player, he's a legitimate All-Star. His trade for Brian Skinner and the rights to Tyson Chandler effectively meant the end for Jerry Krause with the Bulls. I frequently get mail asking if the Bulls could get Brand back and always say no. But I wonder.
The Clippers' playoff window turned out to be open only one year. Brand has been in the playoffs twice in eight seasons. He's seriously into the movie business, so maybe he wants to stay in Los Angeles. But if he wants a chance to have a playoff run before his career ends, maybe he'll come East.
I also believe the Miami Heat is quietly in the picture. Brand's current contract was the result of an offer from Miami, which the Clippers matched. Pat Riley admires Brand, and if Riley is to get any use out of Shaquille O'Neal with three seasons left on his contract, Miami needs a scoring power forward next to him.
Like the Bulls, Miami is well over the salary cap and in no position to make a big offer. But maybe Brand is willing to play a little poker with the Clippers. They don't seem to be going anywhere with Corey Maggette also a free agent after this season, Shaun Livingston recovering from serious knee surgery and Sam Cassell about done. They could use an infusion of talent. Perhaps Miami puts together a package around Udonis Haslem, who could complement Chris Kaman, and prospects such as Dorell Wright.
But that's where the Bulls should have an edge. Brand is really what they need, an inside scorer and a career 20-and-10 player whom you might be able to get without gutting your team. With Ben Gordon, Tyrus Thomas, Joakim Noah and Andres Nocioni, the Bulls have some young players who might interest the Clippers, and they wouldn't have to give up all of them. But it would be up to Brand to push them.
"If they decide to opt out, they opt out and it comes down to what the market will bear," Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said of Brand and Maggette. "If they don't opt out, then they are under contract."
I have long doubted the Bryant-to-the-Bulls connection. When Bryant was a free agent and the Bulls recruited him, they were over the salary cap. But if Bryant had pushed for a sign-and-trade by threatening to leave or play for the neighboring Clippers, the Lakers might have made a deal. Bryant didn't and took the Lakers' maximum deal. Deep down he may know the beaches in Wilmette and Winnetka aren't quite like those in Santa Monica, Venice and Redondo.
Early returns
Here are some observations after the first week of the season:
•Shaquille O'Neal is done. I wouldn't be surprised if he sought a buyout after this season, his 16th. There comes a time for all the great ones. Michael Jordan played 16 seasons, including the two awful ones in Washington. Wilt Chamberlain played 14. Bill Russell played 13. David Robinson played 14. Hakeem Olajuwon played 18 but was a shadow of himself in his 16th, barely averaging 10 points. Moses Malone played 19, but was in Milwaukee for his 16th season. Anyone remember that?
Perhaps the only great big man not to have major injuries who was effective beyond 16 seasons was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and he was noteworthy for his conditioning. O'Neal has been noteworthy for being out of shape. It's more difficult for big men because they play (or are supposed to play) 94 feet. Guards go mostly foul line to foul line.
O'Neal didn't reach double figures in any category in his first two games, shooting 40 percent from the field and 14 percent on free throws. Scouts have commented on his lack of mobility.
"I did what I was supposed to," O'Neal said of passing out of double-teams.
No. Good big men can move and beat double-teams. O'Neal doesn't seem able to do that anymore. Miami, by the way, lost again Sunday to Charlotte and is on a 16-game losing streak that includes the last two last season, a playoff sweep by the Bulls, an 0-7 mark in exhibitions and an 0-3 to start the season. Dwyane Wade had better be a combination of Jordan and Scottie Pippen when he returns.
•Kevin Durant: Wow! After scoring 24 on Sunday, he is averaging 23 per game. He is shooting just 43.8 percent, but averaging 21.3 shots is more impressive. Despite intense defensive scrutiny with Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis gone, he isn't hesitant and has just blown by good defenders like Raja Bell. Plus, he's just a kid. As he stood next to the Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony on opening night, Durant asked Anthony if he was wearing his new shoes. "I was about to say, 'Can I have you sign them and give them to me after the game?' But I stopped myself right in the middle because I've got an NBA jersey on, too, so I couldn't ask him that," Durant said.
•Don't discount the Pistons. They had two impressive, grind-it-out wins in Florida to open the season with Hamilton out. They're in Chicago on Thursday, and while observers always are looking for something new, the Pistons don't appear to be going away.
"We've been together so long now and in today's game you don't see that," Chauncey Billups said. "It's like, 'What are they still doing together?' We're going to have a chance of winning it every single year. I don't care who comes into the East."
•Jim O'Brien might be the most underrated coach. The much discounted Pacers, picked 15th in some preseason polls, are 3-0, opening up the game by shooting threes and defending without stalling.
"[Team President] Larry [Bird] did a great job getting us some quality depth," O'Brien said.
Players have rebelled, at times, at O'Brien's no-nonsense ways. But he led Boston to the conference finals in 2001-02 for the first time in 14 years and the Celtics haven't been better since, and the 76ers haven't had a .500 record since he was fired after one 43-39 season.
The KG File
Too bad he never felt that way about the Bulls. Kevin Garnett told the Boston Globe his love for Chicago after coming to play at Farragut High School made him the player he is.
"Chicago embraced me when they didn't have to," he said. "That's why I have a rubber band that says, 'Embrace change.' Chicago gave me attitude and swagger and confidence, like, 'This is how you have to be out here on the court. Someone's always looking to embarrass you or say that they kicked your [butt] or something.' It was definitely a grow-up kind of year for me."
And here's why getting a player like Garnett means so much: He calls Bill Russell "Mr. Russell," and he has sought out Russell, K.C. Jones, Jo Jo White, Bob Cousy, Tom Heinsohn and John Havlicek to talk about being a member of the Celtics.
"There's a lot of history and responsibility that comes with this jersey and with this franchise," Garnett said.
Wizardry?
The Wizards are an 0-3 team with more trouble than the Bulls. It looks as if their three-year playoff run might be done.
Antawn Jamison, a free agent at season's end, says he doesn't expect to be back, and coach Eddie Jordan remains in the hottest seat, his biggest issue being the edging-out-of-control Gilbert Arenas, who reminds you of the old "Honeymooners" and Ralph Kramden with that BIG MOUTH.
Arenas was once refreshing, but his antics continue to upstage the team. In his blog, he guaranteed a win over Boston on Friday and the Wizards were blown out. And he hasn't ruled out opting out of his contract after this season.
"What if [the Wizards] decide they want to rebuild? I don't want to be stuck in a rebuilding situation in my prime years," he said.
Around the league
Maybe Al Jefferson will come to be worth it. Jefferson had a double-double in Minnesota's opener, and he seems to get it: Jefferson rejected his agent's advice and signed a five-year contract extension estimated at $65 million, some $15 million less than the maximum deal so many young players now seek. ... Look for the Kings to be the latest team to begin restocking other teams, like the Timberwolves have done, after a predictably bad start. "At some point you start to re-evaluate the situation," general manager Geoff Petrie told the Sacramento Bee. "We were moving into that [rebuilding] mode anyway." Figure Ron Artest, Mike Bibby, Brad Miller, Kenny Thomas and Shareef Abdur-Rahim will be auctioned off for expiring contracts.
Mike ConleyJr., the No. 4 overall pick, didn't play in Memphis' first two games, both losses. Surprisingly, DePaul's Andre Brown, from Leo High School, has been in the Grizzlies' rotation ... Pau Gasol doesn't sound like he's going anywhere this time. He's trying to make up with fans and gave away 500 tickets to opening night. "I'm proud to call Memphis home," Gasol said.
A mini-gladiator
LeBron James says his favorite movie is "Gladiator" and his son's middle name is Maximus. "I am a great leader and I believe our team is going to win games because of who I am," James told Cleveland reporters before the Cavs were blown out on opening night. ... The Cavs declined the option on Proviso East's Shannon Brown, Danny Ferry's initial first-round pick as general manager. He'll become a free agent but is expected to be traded. ... The Suns' Mike D'Antoni after Phil Jackson took a timeout late in the Lakers' blowout of the Suns right after a D'Antoni timeout: "He likes to play the mind games. That's fine. He might want to try it in playoff time when we bust them every time."
The last word
The San Francisco Chronicle reported on a Golden State Warriors book club run by Baron Davis. "I'm just tryin' to strengthen our minds, get us strong," Davis said as the Warriors opened 0-3. "This is going to be a tough year for us." The idea came from former Warrior Adonal Foyle, who led discussion groups and is a speaker on democracy issues. "My club isn't as organized as Adonal's," Davis said. "Mine is a little thugged out."
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