re: Is Paul Pierce doing what Kobe should have done?

Kobe is gonna be making bank even after the NBA doing something, so I say yes he should have went the Paul Pierce route. Imagine Kobe on a younger talented team like New Orleans or Toronto

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Imagine Kobe on a younger talented team like New Orleans or Toronto

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Ew.

o snap

yea, kobe isnt even a HOF!!!!

Another thing, when Kobe signed his latest extension he was coming off a pretty damn good season. Even though he was almost 35 he didn't look like he was really slowing down. He had reason to believe he didn't really have to take a backseat. It was pretty obvious after last season that this was the best case scenario for Pierce

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But some of that is a fluke. Did Magic ever demand to be traded?

I will admit that I am biased here though. Magic is one of my favorite players before my time. I wrote papers about him at school when I was a kid, I've read his autobiography, his biography, etc.

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Yes, Magic demanded to be traded & you & others here obviously don't know what he'll you are talking about,.


Magic Johnson demanding a trade & getting Paul Westhead fired is well known.

Early 1982 season & Magic frustrated with Westhead:


"I can't play here anymore. I want to leave. I want to be traded". Magic


Asked was it about Westhead's new offense Magic said:

"Yes it has a lot to do with this(Lakers struggling) & we (Westward) don't see eye to eye ......I'm not having fun & its nothing to do with teammates... I don't want to leave , but with the situation right now I just can't stay . I'm just NOT happy". -Magic Johnson



Less than a day or so later Paul Westhead was fired . Jerry West was offered the job(even announced as the new Head Coach ) but declined & assistant Pat Riley took the job.



Magic Johnson was booed around the League in arenas for the remainder of the season by fans because of Magic's perceived arrogance(Prima Donna ).


I even personally remember Magic having Westhead fired after demanding a trade being a jeopardy question . I'm paraphrasing the Jeopardy question:

"This NBA legend like 'magic' made his Head Coach Paul Westhead disappear"

Answer: "Who is Magic Johnson".


What biographies have you read?


How can Magic be your favorite player & you not know this?

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no, but i dont hold that against kobe

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You like Swaggercopter don't really know what are talking about . This Kobe hate goes beyond reason.



Magic Whined & demanded a trade with a roster consisting of Kareem, Bob McAdoo, Norm Nixon, Jamaal Wilkes & blue collar guys like Michael Cooper & Rambis.



Kobe on the other hand was subjected to a starting lineup of.

Smush Parker

Kwame Brown

Luke Walton

Odom

And forget about the bench


Kobe deserved a freaking medal for actually showing up to play with these guys for 2 seasons during his absolute peak.



The Buss family was enamored with Andrew Bynum whom they refused to trade & get Kobe some help to win NOW. Instead they wanted to wait on the great Andrew Bynum to develop.


They turned down a potential Bynum /Odom for Kevin Garnett deal & another Bynum for Jason Kidd(don't know how Kidd deal would have worked).


After hearing about the Lakers refusal to trade Bynum Kobe was busted on video saying "trade his arse'(referring to Bynum).


They had a great trade piece in Bynum , but refused to trade him & allowed to Kobe waste his peak years playing with Smush Parker, Luke Walton & Kwame Brown.

I would be pissed as well after being lied to about trying to win now, but obviously the Lakers were waiting on Bynum to develop .

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Do you think he's the greatest Laker of all-time? I do and it's not a knock on Magic or Kareem. I think he's the best player in Laker history. JMHO.

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with a name like

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WeBeezYoSuperBowl

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, I fully expect you to think Kobe is the greatest Laker in history. At best, he's number #3 and that's saying more about the Lakers(and their history of great players) than Kobe. Kobe is a top 10 player, but he is no Kareem or Magic, and I think the consensus of NBA writers,broadcasters, players,coaches,etc. would agree with me.

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Imagine Kobe on a younger talented team like New Orleans

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Do you think he's compatible with a young team being successful tho? At this point I think he's a little like Jordan on the Wizards. When he's healthy you can see flashes of what you fondly remember being so cool... but he just wouldn't let another player like a Dwight Howard or Anthony Davis be the #1 option and team leader on a team he plays for (even at this stage).

He wanted the money - esp to pass Garnett for the most salaried money made. So he just wasn't going to do the Pierce route with another team OR take a back seat during the year IMO. The team success is important to him at some level - but he won't sacrifice being the #1 option on his team to be part of a team that wins more. That's just something his ego won't allow.