The Chicago Bulls had better be careful about what you're wishing for.

 

Don't pretend to be confounded by the wishing reference. The Kobe Bryant trade-me rollercoaster has reached another "weee!" point and unless you're a platinum-card-carrying Los Angeles Lakers fan you want to see him in Chicago.

It's the same combustion-potential philosophy that has you rooting for someone to put beer in the break-room vending machine.

 

There are myriad reasons why a Kobe-to-Chicago deal is a long shot, but we don't care about those. We only care that Kobe in Bulls work clothes would be quite a bit like Eric Cartman switching cartoons and taking over for Bart Simpson.

 

With apologies to Vince Carter and Harold Miner, Bryant is the only human who has worn the Michael Jordan comparison without provoking a spit-take within the basketball community. Kobe has had the ups, the skill, the Phil and the will to survive this scrutiny without completely buckling under the pressure.

 

 

Living up to Jordan in Chicago would be tough, even for Kobe. (Juan Ocampo / Getty Images)

 

But could he handle this comparison in Chicago, where MJ's statue presides like a mistreated watchdog flanking the United Center? What a hayride this could be. OK, it may be more like a runaway-train ride and that's what makes the possibility so compelling.

 

Anyway, despite Kobe's considerable skill and credentials, suiting up for the Bulls as their first post-Jordan superstar playing the same position seems as dicey as lining up next to Einstein at the science fair.

 

For the record, MJ is the greatest team-sport athlete in history. During two alleged closing runs in Chicago, Jordan willed the Bulls to a pair of NBA Finals three-peats (how much do we owe Pat Riley for typing three-peat?). He was the Finals MVP each time, not once surrendering the spotlight to a young Frenchman on the cusp of marrying some older network TV actress.

 

With the possible exceptions of Tiger Woods, Babe Ruth, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis and Mickey Mouse, MJ has spawned the most "next" talent searches in American iconic history.

 

Unfortunately, something that smells like screaming fun for us to contemplate could turn into a deep Chicago mess. Please note that I have an extremely high regard for Kobe on the court. While team-related value is difficult to quantify outside of Tim Duncan, Bryant still checks in as the game's best end-to-end perimeter player.

 

But separating him from the Lakers would require the Bulls to nearly gut a squad which rivals the Cleveland Cavaliers as the best young team in a down Eastern Conference. According to the trade-speculation sharpies, Chicago would have to wave bye-bye to small forward Luol Deng, shooting guard Ben Gordon, someone else with a big contract (they wouldn't mind if it's expensive offensive liability Ben Wallace) and the ninth pick in this month's draft to acquire Bryant.

 

In Bryant, they would satisfy the biggest requirement on my flow chart of becoming an NBA champion the legitimate superstar. With the exceptions being the 2004 Detroit Pistons and 1979 Seattle SuperSonics, each NBA championship team in the leather-sneaker era has been dragged to triumph by at least one surefire Hall of Famer.

 

Kobe certainly is a lock for Springfield but has been unable to coax the Lakers anywhere near title glory since Shaquille O'Neal pouted his way out of Los Angeles.

 

This failure, of course, has been dropped on the Lakers' doorstep by Bryant, whose public reminder that he feels like a contestant in the Iditarod has made this a hot topic and created an almost impossible situation if he stays in L.A.

 

With a trade in place, the Lakers could take the floor with Gordon and Deng on the wings, Lamar Odom at the four and untouchable Andrew Bynum, Ben Wallace or Benny the Bull (hey, if you can move Kobe, you can move a mascot like Jack Nicholson) at center. They'd still be relatively light at point guard, unless foolish NBA general managers allow Mike Conley to still be available at nine in the draft (the Bulls may have to include GM John Paxson for GM Mitch Kupchak in the deal just to make sure the Lakers don't blow the pick).

 

That lineup's not bad, but hardly a threat to eclipse the prevailing bullies in the Western Conference. It may not even be enough to handle the rise in Portland, where Greg Oden figures to join Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge.

 

Meanwhile, the Bulls would have the requisite superstar in Bryant to march through the East, but his cast of playmates may have Chicago marching in quicksand. The survivors of this purge would include All-Star-caliber point guard Kirk Hinrich, unrepentant gunner Andres Nocioni at the three and bouncy power forward Tyrus Thomas.

 

At least Hinrich and Nocioni would make more jumpers through attention paid to Kobe than his cronies did in L.A. But the Bulls still would lack anyone (Bryant excepted) who can score on the block.

 

There's another decent piece or two under contract, but Bryant's early Chicago supporting cast certainly would draw favorable comparisons to MJ's. And that's too bad, because Jordan didn't reach the league's success summit until several years of talent auditions had been executed.

 

Another potential mine field could be Kobe's relationship with Bulls coach Scott Skiles, who isn't exactly a free-spirited, karma-acknowledging sideline boss who happens to be dating the owner's daughter and rockin' a soul patch. No, instead of a hipster genius, Skiles looks more like a bulldog with a Tae Bo addiction.

 

 

Despite the presence of the Cubs and Blackhawks, expectations always are considerable in Chicago, which may be America's finest sports city. The passion for a Bulls revival under the watch of a Jordanesque hero may be too much for Bryant to deal with.

 

Windy City trash-talk hosts and print columnists also figure to be far less forgiving than their peers in L.A.

 

As suggested previously, the peripheral contretemps may be overwhelmed by Kobe's on-court challenges.

 

Hinrich may be a swell sidekick, but he's no Scottie Pippen. Perhaps the Lakers would throw in Kwame Brown, who given the MJ parallels could be Kobe's answer to Luc Longley.

 

I'd love to see how each situation would unfold, even if pretending that anyone could be Michael Jordan's equal seems like a colossal waste of time.

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/6933696

 

http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_22362.shtml

 

Recently Basketball News was approached with the opportunity to purchase video footage featuring Los Angeles Lakers All-Star Kobe Bryant. In what was apparently a chance encounter outside of a Newport Beach deli, Bryant spoke openly about his frustration with the team's personnel decisions.

 

It is outside of our journalistic ethics to obtain a video for money. However, the owners of the clip are committed to making the content public.

 

Having turned away a lucrative offer (by an unknown party) to destroy the tape, the group has put the video on the market to the highest bidder.

 

Whether they make a little bit, or as one of the gentlemen indicated, "more than a little bit," eventually it will make headlines.

 

I have seen the video. Bryant is wearing a red shirt and sunglasses. Apparently the videographer and Bryant frequent the same establishment and are on general speaking terms.

 

While the conversation was purported to have lasted approximately 15 minutes, the video is brief. It was taken with a digital camera and leaves no doubt that it is in fact Bryant.

 

Interspersed with numerous cuss words, Bryant discusses the Lakers' decision not to trade Andrew Bynum to the New Jersey Nets at the trade deadline in February.

 

"Ship his [rear end] out. We're talking Jason Kidd," said Bryant. "They didn't want to do that. That's why we're in this [messed up] position."

 

The footage was shot in early June, close to the date when Bryant went on numerous radio stations to express his unhappiness in the team's direction . . . and ultimately demand a trade.

 

In addition to the video the group has an audio clip captured on a cell phone on June 10th.

 

Bryant is approached with the query, "Please tell us you're staying!"

 

His response: "Get a [Chicago] Bulls uniform fellas."

 

The "Kobe Video Guys", as they wish to be called, feel the "public has a right to know." Justifying their individual pursuit, they feel Bryant has no reasonable expectation of privacy. He was speaking openly in front of a camera without any request of confidentiality.

 

This is a difficult subject to breach as I'm not a fan of sensationalist journalism. The bottom line is that these quotes (and/or clips) will end up on sites like TMZ.com and ESPN.com within a week's time.

 

Laker spokesman John Black declined comment Sunday.

 

Having covered the Los Angeles Lakers for some time now, there is no question that it is Bryant on the video.

 

While an audio clip can be doctored, based on my experience interviewing Bryant numerous times . . . I am confident it is his voice.

 

In the meantime, the administrator of his website (kb24.com) is under explicit instructions from Bryant to keep the Laker All-Star's "farewell" message current. The Associated Press recently reported it as a new statement, but it was just Bryant reiterating his commitment to leaving the Lakers.

 

Team owner Dr. Jerry Buss recently met with Kobe in Barcelona to discuss Bryant's future. As reported by Basketball News on Saturday, Bryant has not backed off his trade demand.

 

It's difficult to tell how Buss will respond to Bryant's request or if this new information will have any impact on that decision.

 

Ultimately the team has Bryant under contract until at least 2009. While he can use the media to pressure the team, he cannot force the Lakers to deal him.

 

Buss reportedly plans on meeting again with Bryant, but with the NBA Draft approaching quickly, decisions need to be made . . . and soon.

That article was a whole lot of hot air.

 

Look back at what F_M said, the Lakers are in no position to hold any team ransom, its going to be the other way around.