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http://sports.yahoo.com/news/could-andr ... --nba.html

The article is manufactured garbage, but poses an interesting question: Bynum's deal expires after the 2012-2013 season - next year. What happens if Kobe struggles next year, noticeably declines, and Bynum pulls the "It's either Kobe, or it's me" ultimatum with Kupchak? It's the same situation Kobe put the organization in in 2004. Kobe's signed through 2013-2014.

So, if you are Kupchak and Bynum drops the "him or me" ultimatum next year, who do you choose - Bynum, or Bryant?

Me? I choose Kobe. No doubt. No question.

Its pretty obvious Bynum looks up to Kobe Bryant, they get along really good, bonded during the All Star game. This article is a piece of crap like the rest of the crap that goes up in the media.

Didn't read the article but to answer for real, I don't think it's gonna be quite Kobe/Shaq... but I really, really hope for the Lakers sake that Kobe is man enough to one day admit Bynum>him and let Bynum be in control. I really pray for that, or Bynum will be out. We need him. Can't do it with an aging Kobe.

<~~~ See my avatar

No problam mon

the kobe/shaq battle played out in the presses. shaq turns up to camp fat, overweight and generally goofs around

kobe will always lead by example, its up to bynum if he wants to adopt that attitude to practise, off-seasons and eventually as top dog.

until bynum starts acting the professional, kobe will be the lakers' leader and hopefully lakers management stays true to their values and sticks with the more professional harder worker.

if not, then if bynum pulls the ultimatum, then bynum's shipped out for a more positive influence

Aki wrote:the kobe/shaq battle played out in the presses. shaq turns up to camp fat, overweight and generally goofs around

kobe will always lead by example, its up to bynum if he wants to adopt that attitude to practise, off-seasons and eventually as top dog.

until bynum starts acting the professional, kobe will be the lakers' leader and hopefully lakers management stays true to their values and sticks with the more professional harder worker.

if not, then if bynum pulls the ultimatum, then bynum's shipped out for a more positive influence

i think bynums actions of late are that of a knucklhead, but he is also being a kid, and some of that maturity , or lack of can occur when youve been on the road since the age of 17, he is coming in to his own at 24, not really all that unusual, and is very smart kid...i think his antics , while unfortunate, are really overblown...remember were the lakers, we are underneath a damned microscope all the time...

and kobe is a smart guy too, he isnt going to let a tiff with andrew be the end of him, or let shaq part deux happen..

OP, did u write that?

manufactured garbage that you want to talk about. Get outta here.

nah too many indicators that they respect each other:

Drew calls Kobe the leader (something i don't think Kobe ever calle Shaq)
Kobe is uber tollerant of Bynum's limit testing

In the end there is really only one important point in this discusssion- Kobe's contract.
So no trade clause and ridiculous, even for the best player in the game, contract leaves really only a few options (one of which I can't recall in the NBA so might be impossible):

1-amnesty Kobe (snowballs chance in hell)
2-Kobe voluntarily reworks his contract (is that possible?)
3-Kobe retires
4-the lakers eat the full contract waiting to honor Kobe, proving they are good to players, and also suffering for it.


Drew vs Kobe not really interesting to me right now. What do we do long term with Kobe? yeeesh that's the tough call.

nah, it's as clear as swamp water. Bynum respects Kobe. now if Kobe pulls a Shaq as Aki mentioned (which has a probability of 0.0000000000000000000000000000000000000001%) and Bynum works his ass off, I can see Bynum doing the "him or me".

Kobe will always be Andrew's mentor, even in the twilight of his career. that Bynum will be that damn scary. imagine a dominant center with Kobe-ish or MJ-esque killer mentality. wow.

Trash article. Looks like the people in the comment section agrees also.

Imadogg wrote:Didn't read the article but to answer for real, I don't think it's gonna be quite Kobe/Shaq... but I really, really hope for the Lakers sake that Kobe is man enough to one day admit Bynum>him and let Bynum be in control. I really pray for that, or Bynum will be out. We need him. Can't do it with an aging Kobe.

What indications has Kobe given to believe that to be a distinct possibility? Not many... I'm not even referring to comments made in parking lots to a random guy with a camera phone pointed at his face.

Don't think so. By 03 Kobe was a top 3 player in the world and a guy u could build around.

Bynum? Not so much.

Hypothetically speaking, if it comes to that - trade Bynum to the highest bidder.

Undergo a few more years in being an average playoff caliber team (so horrible, right?), sell tickets, wait for Kobe to retire and then look for that next guy. Bynum isn't worth the price of having Kobe retire else where.

OOO wrote:Trash article. Looks like the people in the comment section agrees also.

its not an article, its a fan piece.

Highly doubt this happens. People just want theatre...the situation and the people arent even the same.

Bynum respects Kobe, problem is he doesn't respect anybody else in the organization

Kobe is handling the situation a lot different than how Shaq handled it in the past. Hopefully as the years progress they're able to continue this sort of communication and have a healthy relationship to win more championships.

ill choose bynum easily, but theres no problem thats for sure

There's no beef between Drew and Kobe, they actually get along fine...Kobe has even said he sees alot of Drew in him at his age.