By John Garces/sports editor
The hot topic around NBA circles as the season begins is the on-going soap opera involving the potential, and quite possibly imminent, trade of the game’s biggest superstar.
Kobe Bryant, the supremely talented, but also supremely egocentric Los Angeles Lakers superstar, continues to claim that he’s unhappy in L.A.
At the top of his wish list, allegedly, are the Mavericks.
Locally, there have been “trade Dirk for Kobe” whispers every time Nowitzki, the face of the Mavs, comes up short in the playoffs.
Coming off a season in which the Mavericks became the first top-seeded team to lose in the first round of the playoffs, those whispers grew into a roar, especially with Bryant taking such a harsh stance against the Lakers’ organization.
What would it really take, though, to pull the trigger and make the deal?
One would think that any deal for Bryant would have to include Nowitzki, even though Mavs owner Mark Cuban continues to staunchly support his star, saying he’s “untouchable” in any potential trade.
So, if trading Dirk is not an option, what is?
The popular rumor has the Mavericks offering up Josh Howard and Jason Terry, two popular players who are the second and third offensive options for the team, in a trade for Bryant.
While losing the gritty, tough defense of Howard would be a blow, the argument could be made that Bryant’s offense would make up for it.
What I would be most concerned about is the attitudinal baggage Kobe would bring.
In all honesty, he never seems happy about his situation.
Many believe the Lakers shipped Shaquille O’Neal to the Miami Heat as a way to appease Bryant by making him “the man” in Hollywood.
Yet, he seems intent on being traded or driving the franchise into the ground with his selfish threats if he isn’t.
Yes, the basketball abilities of Bryant are top rated, and there’s no denying that.
It’s the other distractions he would bring off the floor that would threaten the chemistry of a team that is still a title contender despite last year’s flame out.
The trade may be one move that Cuban, known for making a splash, shouldn’t bother with.
