ItsTheBlog™
ITL: The blog itself is designed to serve as a means of entertainment to the public as well as to provide some insight into what we are all about here at ITL. ItsTheBlog stems from the website dedicated to all things sports, www.itstheleague.com. We love sports and we're always looking to make improvements and build on what we have, so feel free to leave us some feedback.Thursday, January 31, 2008
No Kidd-ing
Jason Kidd rumors are the latest to be swirling around the NBA just weeks before the NBA's trading deadline. In what has seemed like an incredibly boring trade-season thus far, it's hard not to remember what happened just before the season started. Let me remind you.
Kobe asked to be traded. Kobe backed off. Kobe asked to be traded again. Kobe backed off, but didn't rescind his demand. Rumors were hot. Nothing happened, just as I predicted. And, at this point, everyone would be incredibly surprised if anything did happen, especially in light of the Lakers' early season success.
Another hot topic suggested that Jermaine O'neal would be moved. It's February, and J-O is still a Pacer. Similar rumbles surrounded the Phoenix Suns and their desire to move Shawn Marion and the Utah Jazz with Andrei Kirilenko. No such move.
But Kidd's name has perhaps been being dangled around the longest. Last year about this time, the big news was that Jason Kidd was being offered to the Lakers in exchange for relatively unknown Andrew Bynum.
What looked like an incredible offer back then for the Lakers to jump on, Mitch Kupchak and Co. refused, holding Bynum as part of the the Lakers future. Kobe criticized in the now infamous video in the parking lot of a random strip mall. Now, you know the story. Bynum breaks out. Lakers have early success, and everyone (including Kobe) seems happy. Unfortunately, a Bynum injury has the excitement back on hold for a while.
Fast forward to this season, and the Kidd to the Lakers rumors are still running. At least one ESPN blogger thinks that the Lakers could (or should) still be a player in the sweepstakes, this time with Lamar Odom as the centerpiece of the deal. The LA Times suggests that the Lakers won't be a player in the negotiations.
Instead, it's the Mavericks, ironically the team that drafted Kidd, who are looking to acquire the 34-year old point guard. Several strange packages have been mentioned, the most popular involving the help of a third team--the Portland Trail Blazers. Young guys like Channing Frye, Jarrett Jack, and Travis Outlaw are likely to be sent to New Jersey, while the Nets send Kidd to the Mavs, who send Devin Harris and likely Brandon Bass to the Blazers. Jerry Stackhouse could also be involved.
The other kink in the chain in LeBron James, who is quietly lobbying for Kidd to come to the Cavs. Neither situation sounds half bad for Kidd. Playing with Dirk or playing with LeBron.
My thoughts? I hope he's moved. Kidd deserves another chance at success, and unfortunately it's not going to happen in New Jersey. After taking to the Nets to the Finals twice, they've dropped off severely.
But, it seems that Kidd in Dallas, Cleveland, or even Los Angeles would turn any of those teams into an instant contender. I'm going to guess that Mark Cuban sees this and tries pretty hard to get Kidd as much as he can, if Kidd moves at all.
Lakers are out and the Cavs are a long-shot. Expect it to take a week or two, but I'm going to guess that Kidd moves to Dallas before the deadline.
Kobe asked to be traded. Kobe backed off. Kobe asked to be traded again. Kobe backed off, but didn't rescind his demand. Rumors were hot. Nothing happened, just as I predicted. And, at this point, everyone would be incredibly surprised if anything did happen, especially in light of the Lakers' early season success.Another hot topic suggested that Jermaine O'neal would be moved. It's February, and J-O is still a Pacer. Similar rumbles surrounded the Phoenix Suns and their desire to move Shawn Marion and the Utah Jazz with Andrei Kirilenko. No such move.
But Kidd's name has perhaps been being dangled around the longest. Last year about this time, the big news was that Jason Kidd was being offered to the Lakers in exchange for relatively unknown Andrew Bynum.
What looked like an incredible offer back then for the Lakers to jump on, Mitch Kupchak and Co. refused, holding Bynum as part of the the Lakers future. Kobe criticized in the now infamous video in the parking lot of a random strip mall. Now, you know the story. Bynum breaks out. Lakers have early success, and everyone (including Kobe) seems happy. Unfortunately, a Bynum injury has the excitement back on hold for a while.
Fast forward to this season, and the Kidd to the Lakers rumors are still running. At least one ESPN blogger thinks that the Lakers could (or should) still be a player in the sweepstakes, this time with Lamar Odom as the centerpiece of the deal. The LA Times suggests that the Lakers won't be a player in the negotiations.
Instead, it's the Mavericks, ironically the team that drafted Kidd, who are looking to acquire the 34-year old point guard. Several strange packages have been mentioned, the most popular involving the help of a third team--the Portland Trail Blazers. Young guys like Channing Frye, Jarrett Jack, and Travis Outlaw are likely to be sent to New Jersey, while the Nets send Kidd to the Mavs, who send Devin Harris and likely Brandon Bass to the Blazers. Jerry Stackhouse could also be involved.The other kink in the chain in LeBron James, who is quietly lobbying for Kidd to come to the Cavs. Neither situation sounds half bad for Kidd. Playing with Dirk or playing with LeBron.
My thoughts? I hope he's moved. Kidd deserves another chance at success, and unfortunately it's not going to happen in New Jersey. After taking to the Nets to the Finals twice, they've dropped off severely.
But, it seems that Kidd in Dallas, Cleveland, or even Los Angeles would turn any of those teams into an instant contender. I'm going to guess that Mark Cuban sees this and tries pretty hard to get Kidd as much as he can, if Kidd moves at all.
Lakers are out and the Cavs are a long-shot. Expect it to take a week or two, but I'm going to guess that Kidd moves to Dallas before the deadline.
Labels: Bynum, Jason Kidd, Kevdog, Kobe, LeBron, Mavericks, NBA, New Jersey Nets
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Bynum Time
So how about Andrew Bynum?
After all the issues this summer--from trade rumors galore to the internet video of Kobe bashing the big man in the parking lot of a strip mall--Andrew Bynum is finally coming into his own.
The young center finished with 28 points and 12 rebounds yesterday to play wingman to Kobe's 38 points as the two led the Lakers to a 122-115 Christmas Day Victory over nemesis Phoenix Suns.
Bynum's even earning praises from his opponents. "They've got a legitimate big man," says Shawn Marion. "Bynum killed us," says Coach Mike D'Antoni. "He looks really good and did a great job today," says Raja Bell.
Not bad for the guy who Lakers fans and Kobe wondered why the heck Mitch Kupchak refused to trade him for Jason Kidd.
He's no superstar yet, but he's averaging over 12 points and 10 rebounds per game, and only improving. Alley oops keep coming, and Bynum keeps putting them down. He's cleaning up the glass, dunking it down (I think I saw a stat where he's 2nd in the league in dunks this season), and playing great defense with many blocked shots.
At 18-10, the Lakers are finally looking good. Who would have thought just a two months ago that they'd be mentioned among the West's best? I couldn't be more thrilled.
After all the issues this summer--from trade rumors galore to the internet video of Kobe bashing the big man in the parking lot of a strip mall--Andrew Bynum is finally coming into his own. The young center finished with 28 points and 12 rebounds yesterday to play wingman to Kobe's 38 points as the two led the Lakers to a 122-115 Christmas Day Victory over nemesis Phoenix Suns.
Bynum's even earning praises from his opponents. "They've got a legitimate big man," says Shawn Marion. "Bynum killed us," says Coach Mike D'Antoni. "He looks really good and did a great job today," says Raja Bell.
Not bad for the guy who Lakers fans and Kobe wondered why the heck Mitch Kupchak refused to trade him for Jason Kidd.
He's no superstar yet, but he's averaging over 12 points and 10 rebounds per game, and only improving. Alley oops keep coming, and Bynum keeps putting them down. He's cleaning up the glass, dunking it down (I think I saw a stat where he's 2nd in the league in dunks this season), and playing great defense with many blocked shots.
At 18-10, the Lakers are finally looking good. Who would have thought just a two months ago that they'd be mentioned among the West's best? I couldn't be more thrilled.
Labels: basketball, Bynum, Kevdog, Kobe, Lakers, NBA
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