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Could this Kobe East team win a championship
Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2025 10:00 pm
by SlimShady83
Amazing just from Kobe staying on the Hornets on how much this changes history. I'm at the start of writing a thread, just doing a short version of it to see the results
This Hornets team will be.
C) Elden Campbell via trade
PF) Lamar Odom, 99 Draft - Yes I know they selected B.Davis will explain in full version maybe lols
SF) Kobe Bryant, 96 draft - due to trade for Jones, Kobe moves to SF
SG) Eddie Jones, via trade
PG) Ricky Davis, 98 draft more a SG/SF but using him as PG
6th man = Anthony Mason
* With Shaq still going to the Lakers and Jordan retiring the East becomes wide open
Lakers instead of trading Vlade for Kobe in 96, go for someone else <who knows lols.
99 season they miss the playoffs, but in 00,01,02 is where it all begins.
I might do longer version of this, we will see.
Enjoy lols.
Re: Could this Kobe East team win a championship
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2025 2:55 am
by carlquincy
Kobe wont be a Hornet. He would be a Net.
Re: Could this Kobe East team win a championship
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2025 3:47 am
by An Unbiased Fan
carlquincy wrote:Kobe wont be a Hornet. He would be a Net.
Kobe would have ended up a Laker within a couple years even if not drafted.
Re: Could this Kobe East team win a championship
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2025 3:50 am
by One_and_Done
An Unbiased Fan wrote:carlquincy wrote:Kobe wont be a Hornet. He would be a Net.
Kobe would have ended up a Laker within a couple years even if not drafted.
And then we could have heard him criticised for forming a super team by joining Shaq. Unfortunately not every team gets drafted on a team with prime Shaq.
To answer the OP; no. No titles.
Re: Could this Kobe East team win a championship
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2025 3:54 am
by An Unbiased Fan
One_and_Done wrote:An Unbiased Fan wrote:carlquincy wrote:Kobe wont be a Hornet. He would be a Net.
Kobe would have ended up a Laker within a couple years even if not drafted.
And then we could have heard him criticised for forming a super team by joining Shaq. Unfortunately not every team gets drafted on a team with prime Shaq.
To answer the OP; no. No titles.
Two star isn't a super team, and Kobe was a teenager at the time.
As for OP and titles, I don't see any on the 90s, since the Bulls were stacked. If Kobe for some reason stayed in Charlotte, then they definitely could win some in the 00s.They would have drawn in a 2d star at some point
Re: Could this Kobe East team win a championship
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2025 4:02 am
by One_and_Done
An Unbiased Fan wrote:One_and_Done wrote:An Unbiased Fan wrote:Kobe would have ended up a Laker within a couple years even if not drafted.
And then we could have heard him criticised for forming a super team by joining Shaq. Unfortunately not every team gets drafted on a team with prime Shaq.
To answer the OP; no. No titles.
Two star isn't a super team, and Kobe was a teenager at the time.
As for OP and titles, I don't see any on the 90s, since the Bulls were stacked. If Kobe for some reason stayed in Charlotte, then they definitely could win some in the 00s.They would have drawn in a 2d star at some point
The point remains. By the time Kobe was enough of a star to actually team up with stars, he didn't need to because he was prime Shaq's sidekick.
As soon as the going got tough, he demanded a trade. Thankfully for him, the Lakers were then gifted Pau in one of the worst trades of all-time, so he could stay in LA.
Re: Could this Kobe East team win a championship
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2025 4:25 am
by An Unbiased Fan
One_and_Done wrote:An Unbiased Fan wrote:One_and_Done wrote:And then we could have heard him criticised for forming a super team by joining Shaq. Unfortunately not every team gets drafted on a team with prime Shaq.
To answer the OP; no. No titles.
Two star isn't a super team, and Kobe was a teenager at the time.
As for OP and titles, I don't see any on the 90s, since the Bulls were stacked. If Kobe for some reason stayed in Charlotte, then they definitely could win some in the 00s.They would have drawn in a 2d star at some point
The point remains. By the time Kobe was enough of a star to actually team up with stars, he didn't need to because he was prime Shaq's sidekick.
As soon as the going got tough, he demanded a trade. Thankfully for him, the Lakers were then gifted Pau in one of the worst trades of all-time, so he could stay in LA.
Kobe was All-NBA during the 3peat years. He was the best perimeter player in the NBA.
You can do the fake "he was a sidekick meme, but like give it up dude. Kobe + any decent big = contender. Even with Bynum before he got hurt in 08 they were a top seed. On Charlotte he would have gotten someone since the 2000s was a stacked era for PFs.
Re: Could this Kobe East team win a championship
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2025 4:49 am
by Note30
Not following, is this in the modern era?
Re: Could this Kobe East team win a championship
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2025 5:28 am
by One_and_Done
An Unbiased Fan wrote:One_and_Done wrote:An Unbiased Fan wrote:Two star isn't a super team, and Kobe was a teenager at the time.
As for OP and titles, I don't see any on the 90s, since the Bulls were stacked. If Kobe for some reason stayed in Charlotte, then they definitely could win some in the 00s.They would have drawn in a 2d star at some point
The point remains. By the time Kobe was enough of a star to actually team up with stars, he didn't need to because he was prime Shaq's sidekick.
As soon as the going got tough, he demanded a trade. Thankfully for him, the Lakers were then gifted Pau in one of the worst trades of all-time, so he could stay in LA.
Kobe was All-NBA during the 3peat years. He was the best perimeter player in the NBA.
You can do the fake "he was a sidekick meme, but like give it up dude. Kobe + any decent big = contender. Even with Bynum before he got hurt in 08 they were a top seed. On Charlotte he would have gotten someone since the 2000s was a stacked era for PFs.
135-137. That's the Lakers win record from 00 to 07 with Kobe, but without Shaq. In games Kobe missed from 00-04, but which Shaq played, they played at a 60+ win pace. It's objectively true that Kobe was Shaq's sidekick.
He was a very good sidekick though. Not many sidekicks can finish 12th, 9th, and 5th in the years your team wins a title while you are 1st, 3rd, and 3rd in MVP. He did more than carry Shaq's luggage for sure.
Re: Could this Kobe East team win a championship
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2025 8:14 am
by SlimShady83
One_and_Done wrote:To answer the OP; no. No titles.
I'd be shocked if you'd say anything else LOL.
Note30 wrote:Not following, is this in the modern era?
Short answer No, LOL.
An Unbiased Fan wrote:As for OP and titles, I don't see any on the 90s, since the Bulls were stacked. If Kobe for some reason stayed in Charlotte, then they definitely could win some in the 00s.They would have drawn in a 2d star at some point
This team doesn't get fully done until 99 as they trade for Campbell/Jones (the Rice trade was either 98/99) and draft Odom instead of B.Davis, lock out season begins so they miss the playoffs, but being extra motivated Kobe stays with Hornets after them making trade and selecting Odom who Kobe wanted (part of where I was going with it lol).
The full version a lot more complicated then this, so not sure I'll post it lol still haven't finished yet either.
Re: Could this Kobe East team win a championship
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2025 11:46 am
by Elpolo_14
He wouldn't even reach the conference finals
Re: Could this Kobe East team win a championship
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2025 3:42 pm
by tsherkin
SlimShady83 wrote:Amazing just from Kobe staying on the Hornets on how much this changes history. I'm at the start of writing a thread, just doing a short version of it to see the results
This Hornets team will be.
C) Elden Campbell via trade
PF) Lamar Odom, 99 Draft - Yes I know they selected B.Davis will explain in full version maybe lols
SF) Kobe Bryant, 96 draft - due to trade for Jones, Kobe moves to SF
SG) Eddie Jones, via trade
PG) Ricky Davis, 98 draft more a SG/SF but using him as PG
6th man = Anthony Mason
* With Shaq still going to the Lakers and Jordan retiring the East becomes wide open
Lakers instead of trading Vlade for Kobe in 96, go for someone else <who knows lols.
99 season they miss the playoffs, but in 00,01,02 is where it all begins.
Kobe probably would have left by that point. I vaguely recall him not enjoying playing the 3 that much, heh.
But that aside, I struggle to see them beating anyone from the West in that period, and Kobe wasn't fully into his prime at that point anyway. The Lakers probably still make it in 2000 and wipe that team, but even if they didn't, the Spurs/Kings/Mavs get it done. Maybe the Blazers. Anyway, the champ was coming out of the west. And there's still the chance that these Hornets wouldn't even beat the Pacers, who were quite good.
01, it's not even clear that they'd definitely beat the Raptors, Bucks or Sixers. Pretty sure one of them takes out these Hornets, and then the same story from the West. In 02, it's unclear that they'd beat the Nets.
Not feeling any titles in this period of time, even taking the Lakers out of the equation.
Re: Could this Kobe East team win a championship
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2025 9:34 pm
by SlimShady83
tsherkin wrote:SlimShady83 wrote:Kobe probably would have left by that point.
probably lol, but let's see he doesn't leave.
But that aside, I struggle to see them beating anyone from the West in that period, and Kobe wasn't fully into his prime at that point anyway. The Lakers probably still make it in 2000 and wipe that team, but even if they didn't, the Spurs/Kings/Mavs get it done. Maybe the Blazers. Anyway, the champ was coming out of the west. And there's still the chance that these Hornets wouldn't even beat the Pacers, who were quite good.
01, it's not even clear that they'd definitely beat the Raptors, Bucks or Sixers. Pretty sure one of them takes out these Hornets, and then the same story from the West. In 02, it's unclear that they'd beat the Nets.
Not feeling any titles in this period of time, even taking the Lakers out of the equation.
For real, the Hornets made it to first round in 2000
facing Iverson's sixers and losing 4-2
Hornets line up was
Campbell, Mason, Colman, Jones, Wesley
Compare that too
Campbell, Odom, Kobe, Jones, R.Davis
Who's the better team? at that point?
For real in 01 the Hornets made it to the Conference semis, facing the Bucks and losing in game 7
There line up was
Campbell, PJ Brown, Mashburn, D, Wesley, B, Davis
You don't think a line up of
Campbell, Odom, Kobe, Jones, R.Davis
is better? Just curious:)
Re: Could this Kobe East team win a championship
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2025 9:41 pm
by tsherkin
SlimShady83 wrote:You don't think a line up of
Campbell, Odom, Kobe, Jones, R.Davis
is better? Just curious:)
Better than they were? Yes. Better enough to title? Absolutely not.
Re: Could this Kobe East team win a championship
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2025 9:44 pm
by SlimShady83
tsherkin wrote:SlimShady83 wrote:You don't think a line up of
Campbell, Odom, Kobe, Jones, R.Davis
is better? Just curious:)
Better than they were? Yes. Better enough to title? Absolutely not.
I was just thinking that even though west was tough, which ever team comes out of the west Lakers/Spurs etc, they'll be extremly tired from the rough west at the time. It wouldn't be Shaq/Kobe Lakers, it would be Shaq less Kobe lakers, who knows who they would of traded Vlade for though lol.
I think 00/01 they would have a shot at finals appearence, whether or not they win the chip that's another storey.
Re: Could this Kobe East team win a championship
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2025 9:47 pm
by tsherkin
SlimShady83 wrote:I was just thinking that even though west was tough, which ever team comes out of the west Lakers/Spurs etc, they'll be extremly tired from the rough west at the time. It wouldn't be Shaq/Kobe Lakers, it would be Shaq less Kobe lakers, who knows who they would of traded Vlade for though lol.
I think 00/01 they would have a shot at finals appearence, whether or not they win the chip that's another storey.
In 01, I don't really see them exiting the East, personally. The Sixers were better defensively and Iverson was on a heater. It's possible, of course, but it just doesn't feel likely. And they might have lost to those Bucks or Raptors as well, who were all similarly good. Carter was playing as well as Kobe ever did that year, too, even if it was only for like 2 seasons. I don't think the fatigue would have mattered. Dallas, for example, would have picked them apart, as would the Kings and the Spurs would have choked them off defensively. Also, Eddie Jones was a bit of a bitch in the playoffs.
Re: Could this Kobe East team win a championship
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2025 10:54 pm
by Fadeaway_J
Not enough top-end talent, too much (i.e. any amount you want to name) Ricky Davis.
Re: Could this Kobe East team win a championship
Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2025 3:01 am
by penbeast0
I think any team that relies on Ricky Davis, especially as a point guard, has zero chance. He was like a poor man's Swaggy P. Maybe give them a healthy Baron Davis with David Wesley as 7th man instead.
I would also use Mason as the starter and Odom as the 6th man as they need the toughness and defense in the starting lineup and scoring off the bench plus Odom proved he could succeed in that role.
Still probably no but it would give them a chance.
Re: Could this Kobe East team win a championship
Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2025 7:25 am
by SlimShady83
penbeast0 wrote:I think any team that relies on Ricky Davis, especially as a point guard, has zero chance. He was like a poor man's Swaggy P. Maybe give them a healthy Baron Davis with David Wesley as 7th man instead.
I would also use Mason as the starter and Odom as the 6th man as they need the toughness and defense in the starting lineup and scoring off the bench plus Odom proved he could succeed in that role.
Still probably no but it would give them a chance.
I was actually thinking of them staying with B.Davis, but thought Odom was solid and Kobe would of prefered Odom over Davis?
Odom as 6th man would of been ok as well - maybe they could of used Odom as point forward?
Re: Could this Kobe East team win a championship
Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2025 1:39 pm
by Amare_1_Knicks
Could they make it out the east? Probably. The early
2000’s weren’t exactly a warzone in the east. I think they’d fall short of winning it all, of course.