What Would You Do? (Good Read)

[The_Trade_Seer]

Tomorrow's Headline: Jerry West Involved in Shocking Trade that Sends Kobe Bryant to Golden State

In a shocking development, even by Hollywood standards, the new look, brash and bold Golden State Warriors, led by new head coach and New York playground legend Mark Jackson as well as Jerry West, a man known to many as "the logo" have just pulled off one of the most shocking trades in NBA history.

Not since June of 93’ when the Philadelphia 76'ers traded Charles Barkley to the Phoenix Suns for Jeff Hornacek, Andrew Lang and Tim Perry almost 19 years ago to the day has the NBA seen such a shocking post-season, pre-draft trade.

"I'm shocked. I mean, what can I say, we're talking about one of the greatest players to ever play the game being traded and not just traded, but traded to a division rival. I feel like I just lost a brother and honestly I’m sort of confused right now." said Derrick Fisher.

"This is really unbelieveable. I honestly thought I might be traded before the season started and I never thought in a million years that it would be Kobe. I owe him almost everything and will always be thankful I got to play with the great Kobe Bryant" said Pau Gasol.

"I'm at a loss for words really. Kobe was the heart and soul of this team for the past 15 years and I wouldn't have these two rings on my fingers without him. I'm sad but at the same time I'm excited, excited for the opportunity to lead this Lakers team into a new era" said Andrew Bynum.

The bay area Golden State Warriors sent the high scoring and promising young combo guard Monta Ellis, hustler and rebounder extraordinaire David Lee, 2010 breakout wingman Dorell Wright, the #6 pick in the 2010 NBA draft Ekpe Udoh and the #11 pick in this June’s draft to the Los Angeles Lakers for Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Ron Artest, Steve Blake and the #41 and #46 picks in this June’s draft.

“Kobe is Kobe, period. However we are ecstatic to add the multi-dimensional talents of Lamar Odom, the toughness of Ron Artest and the veteran leadership and defensive aggressiveness of Steve Blake to this new Warriors squad” said Warriors coach Jackson.

When asked if Lamar Odom would start or come off the bench next season Jackson emphatically stated, “Lamar’s our starting PF, period. I have loved Lamar’s game for years and I truly believe he will make his first all-star game next year and be the glue man for this team.”

When asked why he sanction a trade for the mercurial Ron Artest, coach Jackson laughed and replied, “Are you kidding me? Ron is a beast, an old school, hard-nosed, defense first warrior who is a great teammate and person. I want Ron to bring the hood to the bay area, bring Queensbridge to Oakland and Ron is ready to do that.”

Pressed for further comment on Kobe Bryant, coach Jackson had this to say when asked if Kobe Bryant and not Lebron James, as Scottie Pippen recently stated, could be the greatest basketball player of all time, “Listen, my thoughts on that topic are part of the public record. I’m on the record as saying I believe when it’s all said and done and Kobe Bryant hang up his basketball shoes for good, he will be regarded as the greatest player to have ever played the game of basketball. Now, I fully understand that in order to be regarded that highly he is probably going to win at least seven rings, so, I would tell Warriors fans to get ready to win at least two titles in the near future.”

The trade leaves the Lakers looking like the 2000 Portland Trail Blazers, a team stacked with talent but with an unknown identity as well. The Lakers will now almost assuredly draft Jimmer Fredette if he is available with the #11 pick in this year’s draft and feature a team with high scoring guards, a loaded frontcourt and a pair of young, athletic small forwards in Dorel Wright and second year player Devin Ebanks. The Warriors on the other hand instantly become a team with a sure fire identity, that of a defense first, veteran team that is built to win now and win big. The only hole on their roster at this point in time would seem to be at the center position, where Andris Biedrins will be challenged for his starting position by a soon to be signed to the midlevel exception free agent center, rumored to be Greg Oden.

How this trade will impact the fates of the proud Lakers and hopeful Clippers is anybody’s guess, but the tides of the Pacific division seem to have changed and the entire league has been put on notice. The Golden State Warriors are legitimate NBA title contenders.

[NOODLESTYLE]

This got locked on the GB board.

[The_Trade_Seer]

That's cause the mods are related to Roger Goodell, hahaha ... it's a good little article and asks a serious question, namely, what would Laker or even NBA fans do if Kobe was traded to a division rival at this stage in his career.

[TyCobb]

He has a full no-trade clause.

[Slava]

There's a good chance a team of

Biedrins/Odom/Artest/Kobe/Curry would beat the crap out of us so no thanks!

[The_Trade_Seer]

Kobe is way, way, way to proud to stay where he is not wanted. If the Lakers were shopping him, you better believe he would okay a trade to a team that he felt he could win a title with.

A Warriors starting 5 of Curry/Kobe/Artest/Odom/Biedrins is at least on par and probably BETTER than a Lakers starting 5 of Fisher/Kobe/Artest/Gasol/Bynum, especially considering Bynum only plays half the year anyways. Even a back-up 7 of Blake/Williams/Barnes/Amundsun/MLE/Thornton/Bell is BETTER than the Lakers back-up 7.

[snaquille oatmeal]

I would lock this crap!