Phil Jackson resigned as coach of the L.A. Lakers on Friday, setting off a chain of events in which Kobe Bryant filed for free agency and Shaquille O’Neal demanded a trade. This is indeed looking a lot like the Bulls in ’99; perhaps LA should draft two underdeveloped high school kids, and hire Tim Floyd as coach.
Over/under on how soon a New York Post columnist demands that the Knicks fulfill their former glory by hiring Jackson as coach: Tuesday or Wednesday.
Over/under on how many times this idea is mentioned in the pages of the Post between now and the end of next season: About 500.
And one last question about this: Kobe is a free agent. His trial will likely coincide with the free agent signing period, and end sometime around the start of next year. So… will he sign with a team before his legal status has been determined? If so, will the contract contain a clause that it’s null and void in the event of a Kobe prison term? If one team offers $100 million with that clause, won’t another team try to outbid them with the same $100 million, only without the provision?
It’ll be a fun offseason- and the fact that Garnett already re-signed with the Wolves a year ago makes it even MORE fun.
Posted by Stephen Silver at June 21, 2004 01:42 AMTuesday.
The Daily News will probably do the same thing.
Posted by: Bill McCabe at June 21, 2004 07:45 PM