Rumor: Pierce for Kobe

[DERRENMATTS]

This is going on over at Celticsblog. Apparently, Ric Bucher was either on Collin Cowherd's radion show (ESPN radio), or Collin read a quote from Bucher that said there was a rumor that Pierce and fillers for Kobe.

I do think Kobe is a better player than Pierce, but I just don't see this happening.

First of all, Kobe is a dreaded Laker--a sworn enemy. Secondly, I think Pierce, KG, and RAllen have a beautiful relationship blossoming, and I certainly don't want to touch that. They seem to really respect one another.

But of course, if this is more than a rumor, and it does actually go down, I will find a way to accept Kobe in a Celtics uniform. But from where I stand now, I DO NOT MAKE THIS MOVE.

[cfoo]

Yeah Kobe has issues. That would be extremely cruel to pierce as well. I dont think Kobe is much better a player than Pierce, and I think he is not even close as far as a person..... It's not worth the trouble. Why mess with a good thing?

[DERRENMATTS]

Right, that would be so unfair for Pierce. He endured all the hardships of being a Celtic during our lean years, and when we finally assemble a team that may win a title, we ship him off for a darn LAKER!!! That's a slap in the face.

But this is a business and who knows what Ainge is feeling.

[birdie]

that will never happen, we don't need this muthaf**** around. He only bring trouble and he
will do that everywhere he goes. Pierce is the leader of our team for 6-7 years and he must
retire a Celtic, and he's jersey with the number 34 must go above the Garden with the
title banners

[eja117]

Here is a list of people I'd rather have traded Paul Pierce for than Kobe

OJ
Magic
Misguided political idealists like Hitler
Have a world wide search to find the worst basketball player on Earth and trade for him
Christopher Reeves
Yao or Yi or Yo or You and you all know how I hate those guys
Ron Artest
Benedict Arnold
Caligula
Find the evilest person on Earth and trade for him
Henry Kissinger
a French guy (yes I hate Kobe that much)
George Steinbrener or anyone associated with the Yankees
a genetic combo of all the above in any proportion

[eja117]

I really don't know how I'd react to this. The entire concept bothers me more than pretty much any rumor I ever heard. It would be an insult

[cfoo]

You have to admit Kobe as a player is tempting...... I can't blame the rumor really and Aigne for even considering it. But still do we need Kobe? It's a risk as well. I understand he's an awesome player. You can't really play favorites.

[cfoo]

If you are putting Kobe vs Pierce head to head Kobe>Pierce and from that perspective if its truly a business and we are trying to improve the team still.... I just think loyalty has to come into play at some point. That can pay off as well and Pierce is a guy that ahs been loyal to the C's and is no slouch.... It's not like Kobe is that much better. Pierce you know is going to give 110%. We are basically talking a top 5 player vs a top 15 player.

Ray Allen and Filler might be something else to consider. I would offer that in a heartbeat. Kobe, Pierce and GArnett lol... If Kobe really wants out and really wants to come to a winner, the lakers hands may be tied and they might be forced to rebuild.

[eja117]

Why on Earth would we ever trade for the only player in the modern era who single handedly destroyed a championship dynasty, then destroyed his name and image? He makes Artest look like a choir boy.

Here's some more news. Kobe aint that good. He is able to win when he has a young Shaq on his team. When he doesn't he cries like a little (censored). Cause that's all he is. He is a spoiled brat punk of a (censored). The man wouldn't know leadership if Larry Bird smacked him in the face and took a dump on him. He is a psychlogical and emotinal headcase.

[cfoo]

I dont disagree. I also thinking having Pierce and Kobe on the same team is counterproductive because they do the same kind of things. But my only reason for considering is Kobe is a better defensive player than Pierce. He is also a better fastbreak player. It would make sense from a talent standpoint. Kobe might be a (censored) but he is driven. He does want to win. He might cry like a little (censored) but he does want to win. Whether he is driven by his own image and whether he is a team player is another story.

[cfoo]

You put Kobe, RAy Allen and Garnett on teh same team and thats a better team from a talent standpoint. That's the only point. All 3 are motivated to win regardless of what their motives are.

The reason for not considering is Kobe might cause a lot of strife. just knowing RAy Allen and GArnett and the type of characters they are i tend to think they'd end up hating KObe, when I think they get along great with Pierce.

[cfoo]

An argument could also be made that Allen and Garnett are only going to be here for 3 or 4 years. We basically have a 4 year window, so who cares if Kobe is a (censored). He'd basically have to come here and put up or shut up anyways.

Take Randy Moss for example. he's a (censored). If we are becoming like the pats and just getting the best players we can and if they are going to come here and want to win and are going to shut up and get their ring while they are here and play all out, who cares what their motive is. I know its hard to root for someone like that but sports are a changing.....

Loyalty and personal differences kind of take a back seat when its a professional game.

[eja117]

If Kobe was so driven to win he wouldn't have kicked his teammate off the team.

Also Randy Moss is totally different. He had motivation and attitude problems but he didn't ever try to kick off teammates or purposely make his team worse so he could be the man and put up meaningless inflated stats that just served to get him a bigger contract

[cfoo]

I know what you are saying eja, but I have to honest here that Garnett, Kobe and Allen would be pretty incredible is kind of hard to pass up. I'm kind of the idea that who cares if Kobe has an ego and has no concept of team or leadership. He's a great player. We aren't talking stephon marbury here. Kobe is an upgrade over pierce imo and is a great defensive and a great fastbreak player as well. This is not a long term thing either. We have a 4 year window and if we can put a team out there like that, it's something you have to consider regardless of your personal hate for kobe as a person.

Garnett and Kobe are really good friends as well to my knowledge. Do you really think Kobe would come here and drive KG and Ray out of town? That's a ridiculous argument. AS long as kobe isnt raping people and driving kg out of town and is putting up huge numbers and winning championships, noone is going to care. I know thats a sad reality but it's the truth.

If you are all about gold medal guys.. Hello kobe... Byebye Pierce. And Pierce is my favorite player on the planet.

[eja117]

The second the team faced any adverstity at all Kobe and KG wouldn't be such good friends any more. There is no way on Earth kobe would take any responsibility for it.

Plus Doc, KG, Ray, Scala, and Pollard aren't exactly like Belicheck, Brady, Bruschi, Vrable, Seymore, and Harrison. It's not the same at all. Kobe isn't going to fall in line like a Randy Moss. In fact Kobe would show off his rings and expect everyone to get in line behind him and cry when they didn't. Doc would have NO idea what to do. There wouldn't be anything to do except watch the season fall down the toilet.

Kobe would need to be humbled. Maybe if some team coacjed by Wooden consisting of Bill Russell, Havlichek, Larry, MJ, Pippen, Isiah, Stockton, Duncan, Moses Malone, Dr J, Laetner, Bobby Hurley, Shane Battier, Joakim Noah, Al Horford, Tony Delk, Corey Brewer, Zo, and that dog whisperer guy combined might be able to get him to realize he is a paper champion who got lucky playing with Shaq