What would have been if Kobe Signed with the Clippers in 04?

[braves81]

5. Kobe almost signing with the Clippers in 04.

The Skinny:
The Lakers had just had it handed to them by the pistons, being destroyed in the finals in just 5 games, winning a single game on a buzzer-beater from none other than Mr. Bryant himself.

The Bryant-O’Neal fiasco had reached its peak and the franchise recognised that one of them was going to go. Kobe could finally sign with another team, it seemed inevitable that he would be nabbed by the rival Clips and leave the Lakers in the lurch.

Of course, Dr.Buss choose the younger of the dynamic duo and ended the latest Lakers Dynasty by shipping O’Neal to Florida. Phil Jackson had already left, leaving simply Kobe, and the Clips with nothing.

What would have been:
If Kobe had signed on the dotted line four years ago, things would be very different in this league.

Firstly, Shaq’s entire career would be very different. He would not have won a ring in Miami, Dwayne Wade legendary finals performance would have never existed, Pat Riley probably wouldn’t have coached again. The big diesel wouldn’t be in the desert now. Could Shaq have carried the Lakers alone? Would they have been able to attract another top player?

And then there is Kobe himself, though he didn’t have to leave his own L.A, he would have been the franchise’s main man, and he would have been teamed with Elton Brand. Could this duo have been any better than Kobe-Shaq? Could Kobe have possibly made the clips relevant?

Personally, I think that certain players are just supposed to play for a specific franchise. And I always think its a shame when they get traded away. Allen Iverson and KG were some of these players, Michael Jordan will be remembered as a Bull. Tim Duncan is a Spur. Paul Pierce is a Celtic. Lebron might not always be a cavalier. Maybe Chris Paul will always be a hornet.

Kobe Bryant should be a Laker. He’s this decade’s Magic. He’s ShowTime. He’s the best. I’m glad it stayed that way.

http://www.hoops4life.com/home/Overtime ... ecade.html

Just wondering what you Lakers fans think about that?

I am not a Lakers fan but I like Kobe as a player, if he signed with the Clips, I don't think he'll have a status he has right now, all the hypes, all the fans world wide.

my 2cent

[crazyeights]

Sounds about right.

[amb1ent]

i could be remembering wrong here, but didn't malone sign with us because he was friends with shaq (and payton followed malone?

so if shaq ended up staying, it's possible we could've had another run with those 3, at least.

[crazyeights]

Those 3 wouldn't have been nearly enough. Payton was pretty washed up by that point.

[dockingsched]

star would be a clippers fan

[slifersd]

Had Kobe signed with Clippers, he probably has at least two more rings on his fingers by now. Think about it, Livingston-Kobe-Maggette-Brand-Kaman will be their starting lineup, how do you stop that? Even the Celtics big three won't be able to match a team that talented. But like the guy who wrote the article said, Kobe is a Laker and he wouldn't want to win a ring anywhere else, that's why he chose to stay here with us.

[Asianiac_24]

i agree with slifersd..the trio of Kobe-Maggette-Brand would have won at least 2 rings by now, and the Lakers would be playing for the lottery right now. a trio of Payton-Malone-Shaq would never win anything. maybe a 1st round exit at best. and Right now we'd be stuck with Shaq's fat contract, with no future to work with. No Bynum, no Kobe, no Gasol, no Odom.

[That Nicka]

Shaq was traded before Kobe made his decision... So we wouldnt have either one of them..

[laduane1]

Kobe a clipper. Just does not sound right. I guess the clips would have won more games and made it to the playoffs, but there roster is not good enough even with Kobe to win the championship. Lakers would have not won as many games, might have had a few higher draft picks and a little more money to spend on free agents. So they would have the better player, but I think the lakers would still have the better winning record.

[Erik Eleven]

Sterling's narrow minded leadership and penny pinching would have doo-dooed all over such a team. He's so cheap he cries every time he takes a dump. How would he possibly manage to not go crazy over an $85-$95M payroll? How many millions would he put up for a big name coach if Kobe wasn't happy with Dunleavy's coaching? Forget it. It wouldn't have worked. Here's my guess at the outcome: No more rings for Kobe. No more rings for Shaq.

Just like the author claims that some players are bound to be with certain teams, some teams are bound to be without banners and rings. Unfortunately, the Clippers are such a team. I feel for Clippers fans. They were so close to becoming the real deal a few years ago. I guess it isn't over yet, but somehow, I think Sterling will piss off the bearded one within a year or two.

[TonyMontana]

star would be a clippers fan

[Cracked Fingers]

Shaq would have still been traded. I cannot believe people think he would have stayed in LA since he was traded BEFORE Buss knew Kobe was re-signing.

Even if Shaq stayed the team was still in salary cap hell with Shaq's old contract. Remember he refused to sign for less money with LA when the extension talk was going on.

Payton wanted nothing to do with Phil Jackson and only picked up his player option once Phil was gone. Phil stays and Payton leaves.

Fisher would have still been sent packing due to his price.

Shaq
Malone/Slava/Cook
Fox/Walton/George
Rush
?

The team would have been awful with little money to spend.

If they knew for sure that Kobe was leaving the wise decision would have been to dump Shaq for cap space.

[hermes]

gas would probably be at $10 a gallon right now
Los Angeles probably would turn into Gotham from the Dark Knight without Batman there
basically society would have regressed back to the Middle Ages

[iamworthy]

Clippers would be playing half of their games at the Honda Center.

[DEEP3CL]

Tic Toc Tic Toc....................................turning the clock back again.

[Luxury]

If that would have happened, this thread wouldn't have existed then.