"Bucher reports SOME GM's expect a trade to be completed before the draft"
some GM's. do you really think mitch kupcheck is on the level with danny ainge or colangelo or whichever GM said that. If they really believed it, there name would be attached. That's just a writer toyin with you.
I know the lakers haven't discussed trading Kobe because i've read so, in which article i'm not sure of now. Jerry Buss doesn't want to trade Kobe. Phil doesn't want to trade Kobe. Anybody who's been following the situation knows this. I'm not sure about kupcheck but i'm willing to bet he's gonna do what the boss says.
do you really think the lakers are going to rush through trading the best player in the league or take their time and try and find the most value possible?
maybe you should think first bro.
and have you guys heard the reports from nyknicks126's boy Ric Bucher about a new short list: Dallas, Phoenix, and Chicago. Marc Stein mentions it in this article.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&page=KobeKG-FAQ
The last MVP who didn't make it to the second round of the playoffs was Moses Malone. he was traded the following offseason. I don't think history will repeat in Dirk's case, especially after Cuban's speech when Dirk won the award, but it's interesting. and wouldn't that be the best value the lakers could get? Plus it gives the mavs a chance to rebuild on the fly after their embarrasments the last two years.