Kobe Bryant Trade Rumors

It's no secret that Kobe Bryant wants out of Los Angeles.  Even coach Phil Jackson has made public statements agreeing with Kobe's concern about the direction the team is headed.  More than likely, if a trade were to happen it wouldn't happen for quite a while.  Bryant's contract is very large and it wouldn't be wise for the Lakers to trade him away hastily.  Yet, there are many teams eager to make offers. 
 

The Chicago Bulls might be the frontrunners in the Kobe Bryant sweepstakes, but they have made it abundantly clear that Luol Deng is off the block.  That means that scoring guard Ben Gordon would have to be offered in any deal for Kobe.  A Bryant-Deng combo could be like a Jordan-Pippen resurrection. 

 

Gordon's on the last season of his contract, so a sign-n-trade next summer would make sense.  The Lakers are also pretty high on Andres Nocioni, which could mean the two are packaged together.  Imagine the new lineups:

 

Chicago Bulls
C. Ben Wallace - Joakim Noah

PF. Joe Smith - Tyrus Thomas

SF. Luol Deng - Adrian Griffin
PG. Kirk Hinrich - Chris Duhon

SG. Kobe Bryant - Thabo Sefolosha

 

Los Angeles Lakers

C. Andrew Bynum - Chris Mihm
PF. Lamar Odom - Kwame Brown
SF. Andres Nocioni - Luke Walton

PG. Derek Fisher - Jordan Farmar

SG. Ben Gordon - Javaris Crittenton

 

The Dallas Mavericks are also a possibility for Bryant, but it seems less likely.  They do have Josh Howard to offer, as well as Devin Harris and Jason Terry, but Howard may be untouchable. 
 

There is a chance that Kobe stays in LA.  The Lakers are still reportedly working to bring Jermaine O'Neal to the Lakers.  However, as of right now, the Lakers look to be the Kobe Bryant show.