Roughly a week into the new season and the NBA is surprisingly flooded already with trade speculations. And there's no bigger trade rumor out there than the deal involving Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant, who is being linked to a possible jump to the East Coast with the New York Knicks.
In an article by ESPN NBA insider Chad Ford, he suggested that the Lakers should now begin to consider rebuilding the franchise by trading away Bryant to a contender in exchange for assets.
He cited the Dallas Mavericks, Charlotte Hornets and the Brooklyn Nets as potential trade suitors. However, the Knickerbockers seem to be the most ideal team because of their ability to absorb Kobe's huge $23M contract and give away quality assets like the expiring contracts of Amar'e Stoudemire, Andrea Bargnani along with their youngsters like Iman Shumpert and Tim Hardaway Jr.
Moreover, Kobe's connection with former teammate Derek Fisher, Team USA Carmelo Anthony and president for basketball operations Phil Jackson is another reason to believe this deal is not much of a stretch.
"The Knicks are an especially interesting possibility due to his connection to Phil Jackson, Derek Fisher and Carmelo Anthony. The Knicks could include young players like Iman Shumpert and/or Tim Hardaway Jr., along with a 2015 first rounder and they also have the expiring contracts of Amar'e Stoudemire and Andrea Bargnani," according to Ford.
But Bryant immediately shut down that trade speculation, telling Yahoo Sports NBA correspondent Marc J. Spears that he bleeds purple and gold and he never wants to end his legendary NBA career with another ball club.
"I hear the chatter of Kobe should ask out and he should go and play for a contender in this latter stage of his career," Bryant told Yahoo Sports. "But that's not what I do. I'm extremely loyal to the Lakers. I bleed purple and gold."
In his 19th NBA season and after coming off two major surgeries, the 36-year old Bryant is averaging a team-best 24.8 points, 3.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds in 32 minutes per game. Then again, despite his monster numbers, the Lakers succumbed to their worst start in franchise's history as they dropped their first four games of the season.
