Why no one minds Kobe's sting
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
From the archives:
Kobe Bryant absolutely, must be traded. Staying with the team is an "impossibility," says his agent.
Last fall, before the Lakers morphed into contenders?
Hardly.
(And shouldn't you be ready for our fake-outs by now?)
Try 1996 on for size.
As occasionally referenced during today's National Celebration of Beans, Kobe was originally a Charlotte Hornet; the team snatched him at no. 13, the final pick of the 1996 lottery, before swapping him for the Lakers' Vlade Divac. Of course, this is one of those footnotes in NBA history that many fans do know, and imagining a league without the trade--one of the "most lopsided" in history--can be fun. Minus his All-Star wingman, would Shaq have won any rings in L.A.? Might he have wanted to come partner with Kobe, instead of Dwyane?
But forget "What If."
Instead, let's ask "Why"--as in Why has Kobe always gotten a free pass over demanding out of Charlotte? Why does no one question that he forced a trade from a franchise that crumbled a few years later?
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Think about that for a second. We'd bet you've never really considered it a black mark on Kobe's career. And you wouldn't be alone.
Take Kobe's detractors, who are quick to seize on any anti-Mamba ammunition; unfairly or not, here's their common criticism from across the 'net:
1. Kobe's selfish.
2. And phony.
3. He'll cheat during the game.
4. And on his wife.
5. Bah--who needs a reason to hate Kobe? It's just fun.
Of course, Kobe doesn't have a stranglehold on labels like "selfish", "phony," and "philandering" among professional athletes; however, while many fans hate draft-dodgers--especially those who mess up a franchise's fortunes--even Kobe's worst enemies won't bring up the Charlotte trade demand. Note that other star athletes, like the following three, still take considerably more criticism for asking out on draft day; just look at any blog post about Steve Francis's flagging career--at least one commenter always connects karma to Canada.
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Naturally, each draft-day trade demand plays out differently, leading to varying degrees of acrimony and fan grumbling, although players can mend fences with time and actions. Consider Yi Jianlian; once he recanted his desire to escape Milwaukee and started the year strong, he became a fan favorite. Meanwhile, Danny Ferry--a top prospect himself, so many years ago--stuck to his guns when drafted by the Clippers and postponed the NBA; while Ferry burned many bridges, he eventually became a respected player in his late career and was hired as Cleveland's GM.
In Kobe's case, he's never needed to apologize to the Hornets, and the intervening years aren't the reason why--he wasn't grilled much to begin with. Instead, here are the five key reasons why Bryant's rejection of Charlotte didn't draw much eyre then or now.
1. Because Charlotte didn't want him, anyway.
It seems ludicrous in retrospect, but the Hornets felt they were set on the perimeter, with swingmen Glen Rice, Larry Johnson, and Kendall Gill, and guards Kenny Anderson and Dell Curry. Instead, the team was desperately looking for size, and hoping that...drum roll, please...Todd Fuller or Vitaly Potapenko would fall to them in the draft.
According to then-Hornets Coach Dave Cowens, if the team couldn't select either of these franchise-changing players, "I don't know what we'll do...[probably] take some Maalox."
Action shot of Fuller. Or Potapenko. Or maybe both. Now that we think about it, they were never seen shuffling down the same basketball court at the same time...
The Hornets also worried about projecting a high school player's development on the NBA level, given that only three preps-to-pros were selected between 1975 and 1995; with few comparisons, it was difficult to predict if an 18-year-old was the next Bill Willoughby or Kevin Garnett, and it was even harder to project the transition for a high school guard. Moreover, the Hornets feared that they'd spend several years teaching and cultivating an under-prepared teenager...just in time for another team to swoop in, when the player's rookie contract expired.
As a result--and with Fuller and Potapenko sadly off the board at nos. 11 and 12--Charlotte was merely picking for Lakers GM Jerry West, who'd eyed Bryant as a piece for a new-look in L.A.
2. Because the trade demand only mattered for a few days.
Kobe's Hollywood dreams didn't go public until after the draft, when Divac said he'd rather retire than leave L.A.--forcing Charlotte to explore other trade possibilities. (Whoops). Arn Tellem, Bryant's agent, immediately insisted that Kobe "is going to be a Laker, and that's the only team he's playing for"; this kept with Tellem's secret pre-draft strategy, when he'd warned other lottery teams not to pick Kobe, since he would only play for the Lakers. Scared away, the New Jersey Nets used their no. 8 draft pick on shooting guard Kerry Kittles instead. In retrospect, maybe they lost that game of chicken?
However, Kobe's demand only stood for a few days before Divac relented and agreed to be dealt; unlike Francis visibly sulking through the 1999 NBA Draft, Elway calling his own press conference to demand out, or even the messy circus last year, Kobe's "get me to L.A." demand was handled reasonably quickly and by proxy. Plus, when pressed by reporters, Kobe successfully deployed the "I'm just 17 years-old--what could I possibly know about where to play?" defense--in retrospect, the best defense that he played all rookie season.
3. Because the Hornets were immediately successful.
Unlike the similarly scorned Colts or Grizzlies, which languished for years after being rejected by potential franchise-changers, the Hornets promptly improved after dealing their wayward draft pick. While no superstar, Divac was a nice upgrade over incumbent center Matt Geiger, as he and fellow acquisition Anthony Mason gave the Hornets one of the great-passing frontcourts of recent years.
In fact, the Hornets were much better at exceeding short-term expectations than the Lakers, who had championship aspirations after adding Shaq to replace Divac. Despite preseason predictions that the Hornets were lottery-bound again, the 1996-1997 squad rolled to 54-28, the best record* in the franchise's 20-year history, and won another 51 games the next season.
* Until next month.
4. Because Kobe quickly had success elsewhere.
Unlike Francis, whose career appears to be winding down and will never escape the shadow of Vancouver, Kobe obviously bloomed in Los Angeles. Sure, the first few years had some rough moments--several playoff airballs against the Jazz stand out--but Kobe got so good, so fast, and won three titles before he turned 24.
Just as Eli no longer has to answer questions regarding his forced deal to the NY Giants, Kobe proved he was worthy of special accommodations long ago.
5. Because the Hornets didn't fail in Charlotte because of him.
It would take an incredibly evil and conniving athlete to force a trade simply to destroy a franchise--and even Mamba's biggest detractors wouldn't say he's that Machiavellian. Instead, most of the blame rests with owner George Shinn, whose personal scandals ruined the Hive's sweet thing; by 2001, local hatred of Shinn had helped drop average Hornet attendance to under 12,000, with some games dipping into the four digits.
Of course, having a draw like Bryant in his prime could have boosted the Hornets at the gate. But when Kobe asked out in 1996, the team was selling out at home--even during a .500 season--and how could he foresee Shinn's coming troubles? Bryant can do many things, but as the Bynum and Kupchak brouhaha proved, predicting the future isn't among his skills.
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See--you didn't have to worry, Kobe Bryant fans; for today's national Wagyu Cattle Holiday, even potentially critical blog posts of Mamba are gently explained away.
Of course, this whole post broaches on an even-deeper question: Should professional athletes be able to demand their way out of a league's entry draft?
...
You know what? We'll save that one for Leon Wood Day.
Labels: Charlotte Hornets, Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Hornets
posted by Crucifictorious @ 02:55,
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Getting real: NBA Southwest Division preview
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
If you've somehow missed all the NBA previews--or are simply jonesin' for more--top bloggers helped We Rite Goode boil the season down to a few catchy soundbites that can be used to impress at cocktail parties or keggers. After you've read our methodology here, get acquainted with the league's strongest division below.
Forget what they need to do; here's what they will do: They will go 96-3. It's a lock, baby. You heard it here first. They will lose the first three games of the season and then win 96 straight. Tim Duncan will be elected President of the Solar System and Manu Ginobilli will get me pregnant. Oh yeah.
Reasoning: Once again, because they rock tits, hardcore. And it would be dope if I was the first guy to get pregnant. Manu and I would have some type of hybrid super basketball baby. He would have two times the amount of necessary chromosomes which means two times the amount of ass-kickery. I mean, it's science.
2. Dallas Mavericks
Wes, Mavs Moneyball
Forget what they need to do; here's what they will do: 59 wins, lose in the conference finals.
Reasoning: Dallas will take it a little bit easier in the regular season this year. As a result, they'll make it further in the postseason, but once again the lack of post presence on offense will come back to haunt them.
3. Houston Rockets
Trey Jones, I Ball For Real
Forget what they need to do; here's what they will do: Finally get past the Dallas-choke zone (first round), push DAL/SA/PHX to 7 games in the semis or the finals, get every Houstonian's hopes up, and lose (followed by a tearful McGrady press conference).
Reasoning: This is the first year with this team as a whole, so a championship might be a slight stretch. Plus, Rick Adelman is coaching, so a playoff collapse is always imminent.
Forget what they need to do; here's what they will do: 42 wins, 8th seed, first round knockout. Chris Paul makes the All-Star game.
Reasoning: Peja is looking like Shaq out there, he might never fully recover from his back surgery. It is inevitable that Paul or someone else important will get injured, and it reamins to be seen how many fans will show up to games in New Orleans.
2. Dallas Mavericks
Wes, Mavs Moneyball
Forget what they need to do; here's what they will do: 59 wins, lose in the conference finals.
Reasoning: Dallas will take it a little bit easier in the regular season this year. As a result, they'll make it further in the postseason, but once again the lack of post presence on offense will come back to haunt them.
3. Houston Rockets
Trey Jones, I Ball For Real
Forget what they need to do; here's what they will do: Finally get past the Dallas-choke zone (first round), push DAL/SA/PHX to 7 games in the semis or the finals, get every Houstonian's hopes up, and lose (followed by a tearful McGrady press conference).
Reasoning: This is the first year with this team as a whole, so a championship might be a slight stretch. Plus, Rick Adelman is coaching, so a playoff collapse is always imminent.
4. New Orleans (Formerly New Orleans/Oklahoma City) (Formerly Formerly Charlotte) Hornets
Zeb Benbrook, AdonalObsessedForget what they need to do; here's what they will do: 42 wins, 8th seed, first round knockout. Chris Paul makes the All-Star game.
Reasoning: Peja is looking like Shaq out there, he might never fully recover from his back surgery. It is inevitable that Paul or someone else important will get injured, and it reamins to be seen how many fans will show up to games in New Orleans.
5. The Boys from Beale Street – The Memphis Grizzlies
Spartacus, Shades of Blue
Forget what they need to do; here's what they will do: Win 37 games, lose enough close games to miss the playoffs and wind up 9th or 10th in the West. Gasol will make the All-Star team as a reserve and actually score a point this time, unlike his last appearance. They’ll also trade Damon Stoudamire mid-season once Kyle Lowry and Mike Conley Jr. prove that they are capable of leading the team.
Reasoning: There are a few teams that are evidently worse off than Memphis (Minnesota, Portland, Seattle, L.A. Clippers) and a couple of more that don’t appear to be much, if any, better than the Grizzlies (Sacramento, L.A. Lakers, Golden State, New Orleans). Because of that, I think the 7th – 11th spots in the West will be separated by only 5 or 6 games, which means that if the Grizzlies step up, find a go-to scorer and come together as a new team under a new coach, they could be in the thick of things. Their attention to defense will be one of the main keys to their success, since they neglected to play any last year.
Labels: AdonalObsessed, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, I Ball For Real, Introducing Liston, Mavs Moneyball, Memphis Grizzlies, NBA preview, New Orleans Hornets, San Antonio Spurs, Shades of Blue
posted by Crucifictorious @ 16:22,
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Wishful thinking: NBA Southwest Division preview
If you've somehow missed all the NBA previews--or are simply jonesin' for more--top bloggers helped We Rite Goode boil the season down to a few catchy soundbites that can be used to impress at cocktail parties or keggers. After you've read our methodology here, get acquainted with the league's strongest division below.
1. San Antonio Spurs
Liston Von Culbertson, Introducing Liston/Epic Carnival
What they need to do to make me happy: They need to go 98-0. Tony Parker needs to not be French anymore. Manu Ginobilli needs to continue being so super bad ass. It'd also be cool if I ran into Tim Duncan while I was riding the bus to work. I wouldn't try to get his autograph because I would be too nervous, but I would try to brush up against his balls with the back of my hand. I'm not gay, but I'd do that, big time.
Liston Von Culbertson, Introducing Liston/Epic Carnival
What they need to do to make me happy: They need to go 98-0. Tony Parker needs to not be French anymore. Manu Ginobilli needs to continue being so super bad ass. It'd also be cool if I ran into Tim Duncan while I was riding the bus to work. I wouldn't try to get his autograph because I would be too nervous, but I would try to brush up against his balls with the back of my hand. I'm not gay, but I'd do that, big time.
Reasoning: Well, cause they rock tits, hardcore. Does it get more analytical than that? Also, I have a theory that Tim Duncan's sweat smells like championships and MVPs. Everytime I ride a bus my balls sweat, so that'd probably be the best place to try and test my theory.
2. Dallas Mavericks
Wes, Mavs Moneyball
What they need to do to make me happy: 16 wins - all in the playoffs.
Reasoning: After last season, all Mavs fans are over the regular season. The playoffs are all that matter now.
3. Houston Rockets
Trey Jones, I Ball For Real
What they need to do to make me happy: Win 55-60 games, advance to the second round for the first time since I was 11, vanquish the evil Spurs/Mavericks/Suns, and get to at least the WC finals.
Reasoning: GM Daryl Morey was making moves like he was in Dynasty mode on NBA Live, improving the positions we sorely lacked (sucked?) at, PG and PF, bringing in Luis Scola, Steve Francis, Mike James, and Aaron Brooks (the talented one).
What they need to do to make me happy: Win 50 games, get to Western Conference Semi-Finals, Adam Haluska in Rookie-Sophmore game, Chris Paul in the All-Star game (Playstation skills challenge doesn't count.)
Reasoning: Last year, this team was really poised to do something great. All the pieces fit, we were winning games, and then Peja goes down. And then David West goes down. And then Chris Paul goes down. And then Bobby Jackson goes down. And even Tyson Chandler goes down. Before you knew it, Marc Jackson was starting at Center and Devin Brown was holding it down at Shooting Guard. Yeah, it was bad. So, in truth, the only reason we were out of the playoffs...was injuries. With a quick upgrade at SG (Mo Pete over D-Mase), a replacement for the Ball hogging of Pargo (Haluska), a almost developed Chandler backup (Armstrong) and yet another project in the wings (Wright) we look to get things going.
2. Dallas Mavericks
Wes, Mavs Moneyball
What they need to do to make me happy: 16 wins - all in the playoffs.
Reasoning: After last season, all Mavs fans are over the regular season. The playoffs are all that matter now.
3. Houston Rockets
Trey Jones, I Ball For Real
What they need to do to make me happy: Win 55-60 games, advance to the second round for the first time since I was 11, vanquish the evil Spurs/Mavericks/Suns, and get to at least the WC finals.
Reasoning: GM Daryl Morey was making moves like he was in Dynasty mode on NBA Live, improving the positions we sorely lacked (sucked?) at, PG and PF, bringing in Luis Scola, Steve Francis, Mike James, and Aaron Brooks (the talented one).
4. New Orleans (Formerly New Orleans/Oklahoma City) (Formerly Formerly Charlotte) Hornets
Zeb Benbrook, AdonalObsessedWhat they need to do to make me happy: Win 50 games, get to Western Conference Semi-Finals, Adam Haluska in Rookie-Sophmore game, Chris Paul in the All-Star game (Playstation skills challenge doesn't count.)
Reasoning: Last year, this team was really poised to do something great. All the pieces fit, we were winning games, and then Peja goes down. And then David West goes down. And then Chris Paul goes down. And then Bobby Jackson goes down. And even Tyson Chandler goes down. Before you knew it, Marc Jackson was starting at Center and Devin Brown was holding it down at Shooting Guard. Yeah, it was bad. So, in truth, the only reason we were out of the playoffs...was injuries. With a quick upgrade at SG (Mo Pete over D-Mase), a replacement for the Ball hogging of Pargo (Haluska), a almost developed Chandler backup (Armstrong) and yet another project in the wings (Wright) we look to get things going.
5. The Boys from Beale Street – The Memphis Grizzlies
Spartacus, Shades of Blue
What they need to do to make me happy: Win 35 games, develop chemistry while adapting to Marc Iavaroni’s new system, generate enough positive buzz to bring back some of the disgruntled fan base, make a commitment to developing/nurturing the young talent. Having Rudy Gay display more than just flashes of his unreal talent would make me ecstatic.
Reasoning: The organization suffered through a horrific season last year, so they need to show some progress to the fan base to bring some of them back into the fold. Making significant strides towards returning to the playoffs would be a big step in the direction. Since Rudy is considered a key cog of the future, having him develop would be another big reason to keep hope for the outlook of the franchise.
Labels: AdonalObsessed, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, I Ball For Real, Introducing Liston, Mavs Moneyball, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Hornets, San Antonio Spurs, Shades of Blue
posted by Crucifictorious @ 14:12,
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