Is Kobe Worth It?

by Stephen Hsu

July 10th, 2004

The Lakers are on the verge of trading Shaquille O'Neal to the Miami Heat for a package deal that includes Brian Grant, Lamar Odom and Caron Butler in an attempt to lure Kobe Bryant back to Los Angeles. Everybody can see that Miami is getting a steal by giving up an overthehill overrated and undersized center, a drug addicted malcontent and an unknown commodity for the biggest and most dominant player in the league, but Jerry Buss is insistent on Kobe's bright future(if he even has a future after this summer) and feels getting rid of Shaq is the next step in re-signing Kobe. Jerry Buss has done everything imaginable to get Kobe back(such as fire Phil Jackson, sign Coach K and trade Shaq), because he feels that Kobe is the future and will eventually be able to carry a team like Jordan did. But will he? Can he?

An important aspect of Jordan was his ability to listen to his coach and to trust his teammates. Both of these aspects are Kobe's weaknesses. I suppose it is a good omen that he is actually looking out for coaches as he did with Coach K but it seems like he's looking for coaches that will give him the freedom and leverage of the team. On the bright side for him, Rudy T is known as a player's coach and will definitely let Kobe run wild if he chooses to come back. Whether that is a good thing or not is still up for discussion. The second aspect of Jordan's success, trusting his teammates, is probably Kobe's biggest weakness. If Kobe can't trust the biggest and most dominant player in the NBA in Shaq, how can he possibly trust Lamar Odom or Brian Grant? If this does come to fruition, the starting lineup of the Lakers is going to look like Gary Payton, Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Karl Malone or maybe a free agent signing(hopefully not Medvedenko), and Brian Grant. I agree that it gives the Lakers some depth on the bench with Butler, George and hopefully Fisher on the bench, but still there is that huge gaping hole in the center position. As a result, Kobe won't have the freedom that he used to. Teams will treat him as they treated Shaq(double and triple teams) and I think that will make Kobe even more reckless than he used to be and will attempt to do everything on his own. We all know Kobe is the best at getting out of trouble but even being the best doesn't guarantee anything.

Now lets say Kobe leaves and Shaq returns. They'll spot a lineup of Payton, Rush, George, Malone and Shaq. Rush showed vast improvements and could fit into that Fisher role of spot up 3-point shooter well. What do the Lakers lack though in this lineup? Kobe's biggest strength: his determination. Nobody in the league has the same determination and mindset that Kobe has that allows him to block everything out and still be able to take on all the responsibility of a win or loss. Shaq's biggest weakness is admitting defeat and knowing when he's wrong. Payton is too old to even be a #2 now. Malone is even older than Payton. Therefore, if you size up the teams, I believe that the Lakers would have the better team with the Shaq trade just because of the depth and youth. The Shaq team is essentially last years team with Kobe replaced with Rush so I can't possibly see that as a good thing. Maybe change is the best option, even if it does mean hard times. Despite all this uncertainty, there is still one thing for certain. No matter what Kobe does in this offseason, the Lakers are in for a drought period.