Goodbye Kobe, Hello LeBron?

Written by Daniel Buerge on 01/20/2010 in Editorials, News - 46 Comments

Kobe Bryant has been a cornerstone for the Lakers ever since he was acquired on draft day way back in 1996 from Charlotte. He has given the fans of Los Angeles a reason to show up every single night, even when teams like the Toronto Raptors come to town (see January 22, 2006). Is it even possible for Los Angeles to cast him aside the second an upgrade appears? And if they do, what does that say about the organization for other potential free agents? If other NBA free agents see the Lakers as a cutthroat organization that is willing to cast aside its stars on a whim will they be more or less willing to come to L.A. in the future? Another question is the Lakers feelings towards Bryant, has he not done a great job of earning their trust and loyalty? Even though he has given the Lakers unbelievable support on the court, has he not put the Lakers through numerous headaches over the years? He gave Kupchak, Buss, and the Lakers the runaround in 2004 with the Clippers bluff, and even demanded to be traded before his MVP year of 2007. Although, even after all these disputes he has always managed to perform admirably on the floor, and has never let personal quarrels get in the way of his performance.

Now, parting ways with Bryant is only a possibility if the Lakers can ensure the acquisition of LeBron James. Otherwise, not re-signing Kobe would be a disaster of astronomical proportions. Kobe Bryant is still the best player in the NBA, and he needs to be treated as such. The Lakers are still poised to make several more title runs before Bryant calls it a career, and the Lakers are certainly more than happy to go along for the ride.

The Lakers front office needs to make this decision based on the future, not the past. Of course Bryant has become a historic part of Lakers lore and tradition, but an obvious upgrade is available right now. When next season begins Kobe Bryant will be 32, James still only 25, so isn’t simple arithmetic enough to make this decision? Maybe a ruthless dumping of Bryant is heartless and cruel, but isn’t that a part of the business? Isn’t that what businessmen are often applauded for? Making the tough decisions is never easy, but if the results are positive then those decisions are always justified. The firestorm facing Lakers front office representatives is almost apocalyptic if they make a cold-blooded decision like this, but bringing in James would be a very good way to douse the flames. If there is anything we have learned from sports fans in the past, winning cures all ills, and LeBron James could win a lot of games for the Los Angeles Lakers.

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About the Author

Daniel is the editor-in-chief for Lakers Nation. He's always doing his best to keep you informed and entertained. Follow Daniel on Twitter - @DanielBuerge_LA.

Comments

comments

SK

Are you kidding me! No way!!
SK

Are you kidding me! No way!!
Wade

LeBron’s stats are extremely misleading, the only reason he has better stats than Kobe is because the Cavs offense runs entirely around him, but the triangle offense gives Kobe’s supporting cast opportunities to make plays, and on some possessions Kobe does not even touch the ball. Why would the Lakers do this when Kobe is at the top of his game? We should worry about the present and not the future,LA will always be a place where star players want to play, there will be life after Kobe, but for now we should just worry about winning as many championships with this group as we can. Kobe is the best playoff performer by far,he simply has the will to win that LeBron will never have and this is why Kobe will go down as one of the all-time greats, and LeBron will be a flash in the pan once he loses his athleticism and has to rely on his awful mid range shooting.
Wade

LeBron’s stats are extremely misleading, the only reason he has better stats than Kobe is because the Cavs offense runs entirely around him, but the triangle offense gives Kobe’s supporting cast opportunities to make plays, and on some possessions Kobe does not even touch the ball. Why would the Lakers do this when Kobe is at the top of his game? We should worry about the present and not the future,LA will always be a place where star players want to play, there will be life after Kobe, but for now we should just worry about winning as many championships with this group as we can. Kobe is the best playoff performer by far,he simply has the will to win that LeBron will never have and this is why Kobe will go down as one of the all-time greats, and LeBron will be a flash in the pan once he loses his athleticism and has to rely on his awful mid range shooting.
Kobe24..

no thanks lebronx!!! Kobe 4 life!
Kobe24..

no thanks lebronx!!! Kobe 4 life!
http://twitter.com/joshuwagarcia Joshuwa Garcia

It is crazy to think about Kobe in LA but also makes alot of sense to let him go and bring in a young hot shot. But I seriously don’t think it will happen.
http://twitter.com/joshuwagarcia Joshuwa Garcia

It is crazy to think about Kobe in LA but also makes alot of sense to let him go and bring in a young hot shot. But I seriously don’t think it will happen.
http://www.richardsonshops.com RockitD

Heck to the NAW!!! Kobe is by far the best closer in the game. He is a true champion who fights through injury and has proven himself to be a leader for this team and city. 4 rings prove it. What has LeBron won?!?
http://www.richardsonshops.com RockitD

Heck to the NAW!!! Kobe is by far the best closer in the game. He is a true champion who fights through injury and has proven himself to be a leader for this team and city. 4 rings prove it. What has LeBron won?!?
Haddonfield

To get LeBron, the Lakers will have to gut the team like they did to sign Shaq in 1996. No way the Lakers will go through that kind of rebuilding now.
Haddonfield

To get LeBron, the Lakers will have to gut the team like they did to sign Shaq in 1996. No way the Lakers will go through that kind of rebuilding now.
Daniel

Even when the Lakers offense was nothing but Kobe he didn’t put up as good of numbers as LeBron, at least not all around. James averages much more in terms of assists, and he does it with a very dismal supporting cast. While I don’t think the Lakers would ever do this to Kobe, it is certainly something to consider. Of course Kobe has carried the Lakers for years, but wouldn’t LeBron be able to carry them as well?
Daniel

Even when the Lakers offense was nothing but Kobe he didn’t put up as good of numbers as LeBron, at least not all around. James averages much more in terms of assists, and he does it with a very dismal supporting cast. While I don’t think the Lakers would ever do this to Kobe, it is certainly something to consider. Of course Kobe has carried the Lakers for years, but wouldn’t LeBron be able to carry them as well?
Wade

Dismal supporting cast? I’d take Mo Williams and Big Z over Smush and Kwame any day. How could Kobe get assists in that era when Kwame couldn’t even catch the ball? Would LeBron be able to hit the big shots that Kobe has in the playoffs? Is LeBron the leader that Kobe is? Both answers are a resounding no
Wade

Dismal supporting cast? I’d take Mo Williams and Big Z over Smush and Kwame any day. How could Kobe get assists in that era when Kwame couldn’t even catch the ball? Would LeBron be able to hit the big shots that Kobe has in the playoffs? Is LeBron the leader that Kobe is? Both answers are a resounding no
Daniel

LeBron got to the finals without Mo Williams. When LeBron took Cleveland to the Finals against the Spurs his best players were Eric Snow, Larry Hughes and Big Z. Kobe had Lamar Odom, Caron Butler (albeit for only a season), and Vladimir Radmanovic. While that is not very much talent, it is about as much as LeBron had in Cleveland. Also, big shots in the playoffs, how about Game 2 against Orlando last season? Sure they lost the series, but so did the Lakers the year Kobe hit the game winner against Phoenix.
Daniel

LeBron got to the finals without Mo Williams. When LeBron took Cleveland to the Finals against the Spurs his best players were Eric Snow, Larry Hughes and Big Z. Kobe had Lamar Odom, Caron Butler (albeit for only a season), and Vladimir Radmanovic. While that is not very much talent, it is about as much as LeBron had in Cleveland. Also, big shots in the playoffs, how about Game 2 against Orlando last season? Sure they lost the series, but so did the Lakers the year Kobe hit the game winner against Phoenix.
Eric

Sure you can kinda say thats an equal amount of surrounding talent, but Lebron plays in the East, which is still rather weak aside from the top 3 teams, and was MUCH MUCH worse when Lebron made it to the Finals. So…sure he made it there, but he faced no real competition on his way there and then got demolished by the Spurs haha. not too much of an amazing accomplishment if you ask me
Eric

Sure you can kinda say thats an equal amount of surrounding talent, but Lebron plays in the East, which is still rather weak aside from the top 3 teams, and was MUCH MUCH worse when Lebron made it to the Finals. So…sure he made it there, but he faced no real competition on his way there and then got demolished by the Spurs haha. not too much of an amazing accomplishment if you ask me
Wade

You have to remember though Big Z was an all star before LeBron got their and Larry Hughes was putting up very good numbers in Washington before he went to Cleveland. Also the season you are talking about the Lakers did get off to a nice start despite all of the roster moves, but injuries to Kobe and Lamar, plus Rudy T having to step down led to a poor season. LeBron made the finals in an era in which the east was pitiful at best, all they had to beat were the Pistons and that season was the beginning of the end for them. Hell you put Kobe in the east, even with Kwame and Smush and I am sure that he could get to the Finals, and I guarantee he wouldn’t have gotten swept like LeBron did. If you want to come up with a plan for life after Kobe, here is a more sensible one. Play it out with this team and try to collect as many rings as you can, then when Kobe calls it quits make a play at the likes of Carmelo, OJ Mayo, ect. . . LeBron doesn’t have what it takes to lead a team to a championship and he is far from a good leader. When he’s winning he tries to show the other team up by dancing like an idiot and he gets offended when people call him out for it. Yet when he loses he refuses to shake hands and refuses to talk to the media like a baby. Also, we have seen Kobe’s athleticism drop to a degree, yet he still works endless hours in the off season and becomes a better player, can you see LeBron doing that? I don’t. I think I can speak for many Lakers fans when I say that the idea of getting rid of someone who may go down as the greatest Laker or even greatest player ever for a classless asshole like LeBron is a terrible idea.
Wade

You have to remember though Big Z was an all star before LeBron got their and Larry Hughes was putting up very good numbers in Washington before he went to Cleveland. Also the season you are talking about the Lakers did get off to a nice start despite all of the roster moves, but injuries to Kobe and Lamar, plus Rudy T having to step down led to a poor season. LeBron made the finals in an era in which the east was pitiful at best, all they had to beat were the Pistons and that season was the beginning of the end for them. Hell you put Kobe in the east, even with Kwame and Smush and I am sure that he could get to the Finals, and I guarantee he wouldn’t have gotten swept like LeBron did. If you want to come up with a plan for life after Kobe, here is a more sensible one. Play it out with this team and try to collect as many rings as you can, then when Kobe calls it quits make a play at the likes of Carmelo, OJ Mayo, ect. . . LeBron doesn’t have what it takes to lead a team to a championship and he is far from a good leader. When he’s winning he tries to show the other team up by dancing like an idiot and he gets offended when people call him out for it. Yet when he loses he refuses to shake hands and refuses to talk to the media like a baby. Also, we have seen Kobe’s athleticism drop to a degree, yet he still works endless hours in the off season and becomes a better player, can you see LeBron doing that? I don’t. I think I can speak for many Lakers fans when I say that the idea of getting rid of someone who may go down as the greatest Laker or even greatest player ever for a classless asshole like LeBron is a terrible idea.
WAZ

HEEEELLLLL NAW!!!!!
WAZ

HEEEELLLLL NAW!!!!!
Facebook User

Sorry Dan, but the year Lebron made it to the finals was when the East was extremely weak. Nothing like what Kobe faced in the West.
Facebook User

Sorry Dan, but the year Lebron made it to the finals was when the East was extremely weak. Nothing like what Kobe faced in the West.
brian

Even with all the talent on team usa. lebron couldnt lead them to a gold until kobe came. kobe has that killer instinct that lebron doesnt have.
all that talk that lebron would win if he was on the lakers is trash. 24 over 23 anyday.
also i hate how everyone makes lebron to be this basketball god. he hasnt proved anything.
brian

Even with all the talent on team usa. lebron couldnt lead them to a gold until kobe came. kobe has that killer instinct that lebron doesnt have.
all that talk that lebron would win if he was on the lakers is trash. 24 over 23 anyday.
also i hate how everyone makes lebron to be this basketball god. he hasnt proved anything.
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Robert

I don’t know what the right word to use but we should not pull off an NBC on Kobe. American people are supposed to be the most compassionate and people’s reaction to NBC’s late night fiasco backs that up. Look, if we have to rebuild after Kobe retires then so be it but we will not sell our souls to the devil. Kobe has meant so much to this franchise and the city of Los Angeles and dropping him in favor of Lebron is a totally heartless and sell out of our collective souls. It’s like letting Magic go for Larry Bird, dropping our hero for years for an enemy who is much much younger seems like the greatest betrayal in the Legend of the Lakers.
Robert

I don’t know what the right word to use but we should not pull off an NBC on Kobe. American people are supposed to be the most compassionate and people’s reaction to NBC’s late night fiasco backs that up. Look, if we have to rebuild after Kobe retires then so be it but we will not sell our souls to the devil. Kobe has meant so much to this franchise and the city of Los Angeles and dropping him in favor of Lebron is a totally heartless and sell out of our collective souls. It’s like letting Magic go for Larry Bird, dropping our hero for years for an enemy who is much much younger seems like the greatest betrayal in the Legend of the Lakers.
TK28

I hear you SK!!!…….This is the most dumbest thing I’ve heard yet!!….I’m sure even La Bron is laughin’ at this one!!!
TK28

I hear you SK!!!…….This is the most dumbest thing I’ve heard yet!!….I’m sure even La Bron is laughin’ at this one!!!
Jojo

I can just see Kobe torching the Lakers for 82 the very next season if they ever let him go.
Jojo

I can just see Kobe torching the Lakers for 82 the very next season if they ever let him go.
http://www.facebook.com/people/DaVion-Lee/676335694 DaVion Lee

Am I the only one who understands that the Western Conference is much tougher than the Eastern Conference? The East is lucky to have 5 teams above .500 in a season, while the West has at least 10 teams battling all year. So its much easier for LeBron to reach the finals in the East. I feel like that debate is misleading when not considering the levels of competitiveness within both conferences.
http://www.facebook.com/people/DaVion-Lee/676335694 DaVion Lee

Am I the only one who understands that the Western Conference is much tougher than the Eastern Conference? The East is lucky to have 5 teams above .500 in a season, while the West has at least 10 teams battling all year. So its much easier for LeBron to reach the finals in the East. I feel like that debate is misleading when not considering the levels of competitiveness within both conferences.
Jeff

You can’t make the case that Lebron is better than Kobe because he took Cleveland to the Finals in 2007 when Kobe lost in the first round. Let’s be real, the Lakers lost to the Phoenix Suns, a team head and shoulders better than every team in the East.
Jeff

You can’t make the case that Lebron is better than Kobe because he took Cleveland to the Finals in 2007 when Kobe lost in the first round. Let’s be real, the Lakers lost to the Phoenix Suns, a team head and shoulders better than every team in the East.
http://bernardcaballero.com dem_kab

Amen, it’s been like this for quite some time. It’s pretty sad when you know going into the season in the Eastern Conference that as a team you have about 20-25 guaranteed wins as long as you show up and are breathing. Basically the top teams have to play .500 ball to get 50-55 wins in the East. How can the Raptors be a 5 seed? Them the Bulls, Bobcats and Heat are really below average teams.
http://bernardcaballero.com dem_kab

Amen, it’s been like this for quite some time. It’s pretty sad when you know going into the season in the Eastern Conference that as a team you have about 20-25 guaranteed wins as long as you show up and are breathing. Basically the top teams have to play .500 ball to get 50-55 wins in the East. How can the Raptors be a 5 seed? Them the Bulls, Bobcats and Heat are really below average teams.
Daniel

LeBron single-handedly beat the Pistons though, and that Pistons team beat Kobe, Shaq, and the rest of the Lakers in the Finals. While the lower end of the East was definitely garbage, that Detroit team certainly wasn’t.
Daniel

LeBron single-handedly beat the Pistons though, and that Pistons team beat Kobe, Shaq, and the rest of the Lakers in the Finals. While the lower end of the East was definitely garbage, that Detroit team certainly wasn’t.
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derrick A

its cause lebron played a weak eatern conference division…trust me lebron wouldnt have made it pass the suns either. they probably would have been swept, cause for sure lebron would have missed that shot kobe made.
derrick A

its cause lebron played a weak eatern conference division…trust me lebron wouldnt have made it pass the suns either. they probably would have been swept, cause for sure lebron would have missed that shot kobe made.