The Mavs Don't Need Kobe!

Recently, rumors have started floating, again, that Kobe is demanding to be traded from the Lakers. He did this earlier this year when he came out on a radio talk show with Screamin' A Smith of ESPN and said that there was nothing the Lakers could do to get him to stay (later that same day, it was reported that he reversed what he said on this talk show). Now, Kobe is back at it with Lakers management and it has been reported that Dallas is on a short list of teams he would like to play for (Kobe basically can name the team he is traded to b/c he has a "no trade clause" in his contract). And while many talking heads on sports radio, ESPN, etc. think that the Mavs should trade the farm for Kobe, I say tap the brakes on that.

First, let me say that Kobe is probably the best player in the league and no one really comes close except maybe LeBron. But what has Kobe shown of himself? Kobe was the one that pretty much told the Lakers a few years ago that he couldn't play with Shaq anymore so they traded Shaq to appease Kobe. And how did Kobe repay them? By getting involved in that rape case in Colorado, which was a massive distraction to the whole team. Now, he is pulling yet another power play to get his way just like a petulant child. And the Mavs, for the most part, have not had to deal with this kind of crap before so bringing Kobe into this mix may not be the wisest idea.

Next, I'm not sure what the Mavs would have to give up for Kobe but it certainly wouldn't be cheap. Dirk for Kobe, straight up, would work but I'm not so sure I would do that seeing as Dirk is still young and will only get better in time. Kobe is not really old but is older and, in my opinion, has maxed out his game (even though his game is mind blowing at times). But the idea, for the Mavs, would be to get Kobe and Dirk on the floor at the same time. And while that intrigues me, in order for that to work, Dallas would probably need to give up Devin Harris, Josh Howard and Jet Terry, plus draft pick(s) to the Lakers. So what you would have is Dirk, Kobe and and bunch of guys, which would probably be championship caliber. My question to that is, what do you have if Kobe or Dirk go down? We all know Dirk has weak ankles and rolls/sprains them more frequently than we would like to see. If that happens, or even if Kobe goes down with some ailment, then the Mavs go from championship caliber to above average...just as the Lakers were last year.

And finally, let's not forget what the Mavs have done the past 2 seasons. I know they have performed 2 of the BIGGEST choke jobs in NBA history in back to back post seasons (I try not to think about either because they both sting). Dallas was on the cusp of winning the championship 2 years ago when they were up 2 games to 0 on the Miami Heat when Miami, with the help of Dwayne Wade, reeled off 4 straight wins to steal the championship from Dallas. Then last year, Dallas wins 67 out of 82 games during the regular season and goes into the playoffs the #1 seed in the NBA only to be the first team in NBA history to get bounced in the first round (in a 7 game series) by an #8 seed in Golden State Warriors (I STILL can't believe that happened...stinkin' Nellie). But, and it is a BIG BUT, the Mavs still got to the NBA finals AND still won 67 games with, primarily, the same crew they have now. And I think they can do it again. They may not win 67 games (few teams in NBA history have won that many) but I truly believe they have what it takes to get back to the NBA finals. So, let's not blow the team up just to get a mal-content in here in hopes that it will work out. And if Kobe and Shaq couldn't get along, what is there to say that Kobe and Dirk could coexist? Dirk would probably acquiesce to Kobe but you never know what Kobe would do with another super star on the floor. He is a knuckle head, that's for sure.

The Mavs will win a title. It may not be this year, but it will happen. And they can do it WITHOUT Kobe.