Finally, Kobe Bryant playing on the United Center floor.
Not, though, as many here had hoped and many in the media had forecast. Bryant, in Chicago to play the Bulls on Tuesday night, remains in the Lakers’ purple and gold. And while almost everybody was figuring out trade scenarios for Bryant and the Bulls, the Lakers have quietly started to become one of the Western Conference’s better teams.
Look, no one among the Bulls ever said they didn’t want Bryant. There was a distinction: It became clear they couldn’t get him.
It was never about not trading Luol Deng. It was about not trading Deng, Kirk Hinrich, Ben Wallace, Joakim Noah and draft picks, or trading Ben Gordon and Tyrus Thomas to get an All-Star once the Lakers started telling teams they’d need at least one All-Star in any deal. And the receiving team would have to take back some bad contracts, like Vladimir Radmanovic’s.
And then, assuming Bryant would have dropped his no-trade and opt-out clauses, which was doubtful, the Bulls would have offered him a two-year, $55 million extension that kicked in when he was 33. And then Bryant would have to be satisfied playing with Aaron Gray, Viktor Khryapa, Chris Duhon and Thabo Sefolosha?
The Lakers are 14-9 and 2 1/2 games out of first place in the Pacific Division. They seem to have stumbled into being a team that can finish in the top four in the Western Conference and perhaps make a run at a championship.
One could argue the Bulls don’t have two players to rival 20-year-old Lakers center Andrew Bynum, averaging a double-double with 11.1 points and 10.0 rebounds, plus 2.1 blocks per game, and Lamar Odom, averaging a double-double this month. There’s also coaching stability with Phil Jackson agreeing to a two-year extension.
Suddenly it’s the Lakers who seem to be the well-grounded team. The Bulls are among the early disappointments, joining the Cavs, Heat, Nets and Rockets. Each of those teams is either overrated, enmeshed in internal difficulties that will be revealed later or just off to a slow start and will recover.
What’s intriguing is that can also be said of the Mavericks and Suns, who have good records but don’t seem to be championship contenders, perhaps because of internal issues. The window of opportunity seems to have closed on them.
No team in the West other than the Spurs appears strong and certain. The Jazz and the Nuggets, both with major defensive deficiencies, are also sliding.
One of the supposed reasons for a Bryant trade to the Bulls was the state of the East. After the Cavaliers reached the Finals last season, there was widespread belief that Bryant and any four men under 50 and not in wheelchairs could get there.
Now that has changed as well.
With off-season deals bringing players like Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Zach Randolph to the East, the margin between East and West is just 69-65 for Western Conference teams this season after being nearly 2-1 for the previous few years.
And the balance of power could rest with Jason Kidd.
Though both teams continue to deny it vehemently, a rival general manager said last week he’s still hearing talk of a Nets-Mavs deal involving Kidd.
It’s not hard to believe, with the Nets an ongoing mess. They had the most pathetic excuse of the year Saturday, complaining about fatigue after a loss to the Knicks in the second game of a back-to-back. They played Friday night at home, about 8 miles from Madison Square Garden. The Knicks had played in Chicago.
Kidd is said to be upset that Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson have better contracts than he does.
Dallas remains Kidd’s most likely destination, but the Lakers are frequently mentioned. The Lakers’ refusal to give up Bynum for Kidd last winter now looks awfully smart. The Lakers have Kwame Brown’s $9 million expiring contract and some young pieces and draft picks that might make sense for the Nets. And, the Mavs have plenty in reserve to make a deal as well.
Dallas certainly is not the same team despite a little surge recently, and Dirk Nowitzki is at eight-year lows in scoring and rebounding. He could use some help. It seems he and the team need a shakeup after consecutive playoff shockers. Same goes for the Suns after getting close for three playoffs. Steve Nash was uncharacteristically upset after a loss in New Orleans on Saturday.
“I wish I could come up with a way to make sure each guy is ready to play,” Nash said. “What do you do? Have an interview with each guy before each game to make sure he understands?
“When we play with energy defensively, we’re one of the best defensive teams. When we don’t, which is quite frequently, we’re one of the worst.”
The Suns have been arguing on the court and on the bench, and there has been outspoken criticism of Boris Diaw, who seems a likely trade possibility. Ron Artest remains with a Sacramento team going nowhere and with an opt-out. He has long been on the Lakers’ radar. Maybe somebody latches onto Andre Miller for young players and cap relief from the rebuilding 76ers.
And so coming east again are the Lakers: harmonious, confident, controversy-free, playing well and with possibilities.
Just Kobe and his happy band of brothers. Ain’t NBA life grand?
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Kobe Bryant’s supporting cast
The Lakers are 14-9 and a threat in the Western Conference? How?
Aren’t they Kobe Bryant and a bunch of nobodies? Well, meet the nobodies:
G Derek Fisher
6-1, 11th year
11.5
2.9 APG
F Luke Walton
6-8, 4th year
7.7 PPG
3.7 RPG
F Lamar Odom
6-10, 8th year
13.4 PPG
8.2 RPG
C Andrew Bynum
7-0, 2nd year
11.1 PPG
10.0 RPG
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sasmith@tribune.com
