What if the Bulls had traded for Kobe in 2007?

[celts10]

If Kobe gotten traded to the Bulls during the Big Three's first year, how do you think we would have fared regarding NBA Championships? Would Kobe and the Bulls have been our main Eastern Conference rival instead of LeBron and the Cavs/Heat? Would the Bulls have built their own little dynasty?

[jambr380]

Yeah, it's easy to say that we would have won two championships, but I guess it's also possible that we wouldn't have won any.

No matter what, I am still totally bummed about losing in the 2010 NBA Finals and am just as bummed about the 2007 Pats. When Boston loses, they lose to the extreme.

[Roy H.]

Supposedly, the Bulls would have given up Ben Gordon and Joakim Noah, with Luol Deng being the sticking point.  (The Bulls may have been willing to trade him, but Kobe wouldn't have gone to Chicago without him).

If Deng is included, the Bulls don't have a chance to contend.  Let's assume the Lakers take Tyrus Thomas, instead (which they were unwilling to do).

That leaves them with a team of:

Ben Wallace
Drew Gooden
Luol Deng
Kobe Bryant
Kirk Hinrich

I think we could have beat that team.  I don't think it's as strong as the 2008 Lakers team we beat. 

It's also a weaker team than the 2010 Lakers, meaning we would have had a pretty good shot at adding another title.

[Moranis]

Here is a scary thought, say instead of Chicago getting Rose, Miami got Rose (they had the 2nd pick that year and yes I know it doesn't work like that with the lottery, but just throwing it out there).  Imagine if Miami somehow still could have added James and Bosh while keeping Rose and Wade.  That team would have rivaled any team in history.

[Enzzo]

Here is a scary thought, say instead of Chicago getting Rose, Miami got Rose (they had the 2nd pick that year and yes I know it doesn't work like that with the lottery, but just throwing it out there).  Imagine if Miami somehow still could have added James and Bosh while keeping Rose and Wade.  That team would have rivaled any team in history.

Just thinking about that roster makes me mad. That's just too good, assuming Rose is healthy.

[Moranis]

Here is a scary thought, say instead of Chicago getting Rose, Miami got Rose (they had the 2nd pick that year and yes I know it doesn't work like that with the lottery, but just throwing it out there).  Imagine if Miami somehow still could have added James and Bosh while keeping Rose and Wade.  That team would have rivaled any team in history.

Just thinking about that roster makes me mad. That's just too good, assuming Rose is healthy.

Yep and the thing is, with Rose there I think Wade gets saved some of the abuse he took in the couple of years before James and Bosh showed up and especially thereafter.

[Fafnir]

I wonder how Rose would have developed with Wade? He might have become a different player.

[manl_lui]

Here is a scary thought, say instead of Chicago getting Rose, Miami got Rose (they had the 2nd pick that year and yes I know it doesn't work like that with the lottery, but just throwing it out there).  Imagine if Miami somehow still could have added James and Bosh while keeping Rose and Wade.  That team would have rivaled any team in history.

Just thinking about that roster makes me mad. That's just too good, assuming Rose is healthy.

Yep and the thing is, with Rose there I think Wade gets saved some of the abuse he took in the couple of years before James and Bosh showed up and especially thereafter.

I think it would help, Rose in his rookie contract, and Wade being beat up left. You will have a healthy lineup of Rose/Wade/James/Bosh

that does sound kind of unfair

[bdm860]

Here is a scary thought, say instead of Chicago getting Rose, Miami got Rose (they had the 2nd pick that year and yes I know it doesn't work like that with the lottery, but just throwing it out there).  Imagine if Miami somehow still could have added James and Bosh while keeping Rose and Wade.  That team would have rivaled any team in history.

The thing is Miami had to basically give Beasley (and his $5m salary) away for nothing just to be able to sign James and Bosh.  And after only 2 seasons, he still looked like he had promise, and had just put up some respectable numbers for a 2nd year #2 pick.  Though clearly not performing as well as Rose, it's not like he was putting up Anthony Bennett numbers.

I know we're dealing with hypotheticals here, but I don't think Miami would be able to sign James and Bosh if they held onto their #2 pick from 2008, unless they took even bigger pay cuts than they did (which I don't see happening)

While Rose fits bests (and that would be an awesome team), picking Love or Westbrook at #2 (and keeping them) is fun to think about too!  Just not Beasley or Mayo.

[Fafnir]

Given that they used some cap room to sign Mike Miller and Haslem I think they'd have just lost a role player instead of missing out on Bosh/James

[pearljammer10]

What if the Hornets never traded Kobe when they drafted him....

Would he have won any rings?

[Moranis]

Given that they used some cap room to sign Mike Miller and Haslem I think they'd have just lost a role player instead of missing out on Bosh/James

Yep.  They traded Beasley so they could sign James/Bosh/Wade and still keep Haslem and Miller (and since Beasley was a knucklehead they wanted no part of, they choose to move him).  And let's not forget they actually traded for both James and Bosh at the end of the day so they could have moved a bit of salary in one of those trades if absolutely necessary.

[Enzzo]

What if the Hornets never traded Kobe when they drafted him....

Would he have won any rings?

That is a great question, I would love to hear some thoughts on it. Would he have the impact to bring the Shaq's and other players to Charlotte? Would they have been as dominant? Would Jackson have gone to coach in LA?  my head hurts

[Fafnir]

Given that they used some cap room to sign Mike Miller and Haslem I think they'd have just lost a role player instead of missing out on Bosh/James

Yep.  They traded Beasley so they could sign James/Bosh/Wade and still keep Haslem and Miller (and since Beasley was a knucklehead they wanted no part of, they choose to move him).  And let's not forget they actually traded for both James and Bosh at the end of the day so they could have moved a bit of salary in one of those trades if absolutely necessary.

I don't see how Cleveland/Toronto take any salary back in those deals ever.

They were doing it for the low picks and the TE, salary would have killed it for them unless it was for a good player whom Miami wouldn't have given up.

[Moranis]

Given that they used some cap room to sign Mike Miller and Haslem I think they'd have just lost a role player instead of missing out on Bosh/James

Yep.  They traded Beasley so they could sign James/Bosh/Wade and still keep Haslem and Miller (and since Beasley was a knucklehead they wanted no part of, they choose to move him).  And let's not forget they actually traded for both James and Bosh at the end of the day so they could have moved a bit of salary in one of those trades if absolutely necessary.

I don't see how Cleveland/Toronto take any salary back in those deals ever.

They were doing it for the low picks and the TE, salary would have killed it for them unless it was for a good player whom Miami wouldn't have given up.

I was thinking something Carlos Arroyo (yee of 1.2 million, 1 year) with the Heat sending 3 million in cash.  Thus the Cavs or Raptors take on Arroyo and gain 1.8 million in cash for their troubles.  You know things like that where a million here or there actually matters.

Either way it would not have been necessary because when Bosh and James agreed to come on board Beasley had not yet been traded.  They only traded him to sign Haslem and Miller.