Visions of Kobe? - 紐約尼克 New York Knicks

Kobe Bryant's three-week temper tantrum has created league-wide speculation
regarding the future of one of the NBA's top players. Will Bryant land at
Madison Square Garden? What about Chicago or Phoenix?

小飛俠選擇降落何處?!

It makes for interesting debate, and the rumors started flying after Bryant
met with Dr. Jerry Buss last Friday in Barcelona and reportedly told the
Lakers owner that he wanted out.

一時間謠言四起。

Still, the feeling among Lakers insiders is that Buss has no intention of
trading Bryant. In fact, Phil Jackson sent an e-mail to a Los Angeles Times
reporter on Monday in which the Lakers coach said, "It's my unshakeable
feeling that Kobe will be a Laker next October . . . when training camp
opens."

禪師說：當KOBE下一季出現在湖人季前訓練營時，他一點都不驚訝。這不是理所當然的嘛?!

Despite an amateur video in which Bryant is said to viciously criticize
Lakers management and center Andrew Bynum, the odds of Bryant being dealt are
remote for several reasons. The Lakers have leverage because he is under
contract for at least two more seasons. Bryant, who turns 29 in August, is
arguably the league's best player and it would be difficult for the Lakers to
get something close to equal value. Plus, the team still hasn't recovered
from trading Shaquille O'Neal for Lamar Odom, Caron Butler and Brian Grant.

湖人找不到相等的交易，事實上他們從大歐一換三的交易過後，也尚未恢復元氣。

Instead, the Lakers say they are committed to building around Bryant and
adding players who can make them a contender again.

一直以來，湖人試著打造一隻圍繞Kobe而成的球隊。

The Knicks are one of several teams that would be in the market to acquire
Bryant. But at least one team executive questions whether Isiah Thomas has
the goods to make a trade happen. It has been speculated that Thomas would
put together a package featuring Jamal Crawford, Channing Frye and David Lee.

尼克是少數的買家之一。小克、Frye、大衛李將成為三位祭品。

"If the reports are true that Eddy Curry is untouchable then that's your
story," said one executive. "Are you kidding me? If you were allowed to trade
the Knicks entire roster for Kobe, I bet they would still win 33 games next
season with Kobe and a few rookies, young players and veterans.

如果尼克拿整隻球隊換來kobe，下一季還是只能拿33勝。

"The Lakers are not going to trade the best player in the league for three
guys that were not even full-time starters last season."

湖人才不上當。

Since the Knicks lack a superstar they can deal, Thomas must find other means
to acquire players. His three biggest moves as president have been acquiring
Stephon Marbury, Crawford and Curry in trades. In all three deals, the Knicks
traded away expiring contracts and draft picks to complete the transactions.
In the Marbury deal, Phoenix used the expiring contracts to create salary cap
space to sign Steve Nash. In the Curry move, the Bulls eventually received
two lottery picks. Chicago has the ninth pick in next week's NBA draft,
compliments of the Knicks.

老湯得想想別的辦法。過去的交易中，他總是用到期的合約和選秀權換來球員。

The contracts of Marbury and Steve Francis expire following the 2008-09
season, which is also when Bryant can opt out of his deal. The Lakers,
according to sources, would trade Bryant if and when they become convinced
that he would not re-sign with them. Even if all those scenarios play out,
such a deal would not take place until next summer or right before the Feb.
'09 trading deadline.

後場雙衛的約到08-09球季，kobe也有可能在這年跳脫合約。就算事情照著劇本走，湖
人在那之前也不會有動作。

The Knicks are also hindered by the fact that they have a young, unproven
roster. Had they reached the playoffs last season with Curry and Crawford
performing well, those two players would have increased their value. Instead,
they continued their streak of playing for a losing team. Crawford is coming
off ankle surgery, Lee missed the last two months of the season due to injury
and Frye regressed in his second season in the league.

事實上，三名球員各有隱憂。小克手術、大衛李缺席去年最後的兩個月、Frye撞牆期。

According to reports, Bryant, who has a no-trade clause in his contract,
would prefer to be traded to a major market. However, people close to Bryant
say that his top priority is winning, and if he were acquired by the Knicks,
Bryant would be leaving a 42-win team for a 33-win team.

kobe想去大城市，他也想贏。

"This is about Phil being concerned about his legacy and Kobe wanting to win
now," said the source. "They don't like how slowly things are moving along
and they want (GM) Mitch Kupchak to do something. They are not concerned with
the future of the Lakers. They want him to make moves that will help the team
win today."

湖人的改變是如此的慢，也看不到未來。他們只希望一些改變可以讓球隊獲勝。

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