Where could Kobe Bryant go to get that final championship ring?

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Where could Kobe Bryant go to get that final championship ring? image

Should Kobe Bryant jump ship from the Lakers, and if so, where could he go to find that final Championship ring?

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Answer by Jason Lancaster, I inhale NBA news and analysis like it's air

Kobe Bryant should quietly — yet urgently — request a trade that sends him to the New York Knicks.

First, understand that Kobe has nothing left to prove in Lakerland. Like Kareem, Jerry West, and Magic Johnson, Kobe will go down in history as one of the greatest Lakers ever. Nothing will change Kobe's legacy as a Laker, as nothing can erase his five championships.

What's more, Kobe's legacy isn't about loyalty to Los Angeles, his likable personality, or any other subjective quality. Kobe's legacy is about winning. It's about his tireless work ethic and dedication, his ability to single-handedly control a game, his uncompromising nature, etc. 

Kobe's greatest fans — most of whom are also Laker fans — expect him to keepwinning. If Kobe were to place loyalty to the Lakers above winning one more ring, it would surely be a disappointment. If Bryant sought to leave the Lakers in pursuit of one more ring, his greatest fans would understand his decision. Heck, they might even applaud him for it.

After all, this year's Laker squad is going nowhere. While Kobe is a potential All-Star, the rest of the team is decidedly average. And as much as I enjoy watching Ed Davis, Wes Johnson, and Jeremy Lin salvage their once promising careers, the Lakers are not a championship team as constructed. They're not even a playoff team, barring a collapse of 3 or 4 elite Western Conference teams.

If Kobe were to quietly and respectfully request a trade, who could begrduge him?

As for the Knicks, trading for Kobe makes sense. Bryant brings championship experience and leadership to a team sorely lacking in both.Carmelo Anthony can not lead a team. His single best playoff performance came with the Nuggets in 2008-2009, playing on a team led by Chauncey Billups. Melo can't be the loudest voice in the locker room if the Knicks are going to have a chance.

In addition to leading Melo, Kobe could help reign in JR Smith (and relegate him to the bench where he belongs). Bryant could instill toughness in Bargnani, challenge Dalembert and Calderon to play at their highest levels, etc. Kobe could also echo the voice of the wisest voice in the Knicks locker room, Derek Fisher.

Speaking of Derek Fisher, he is undoubtedly "The Kobe Whisperer." Fisher knows how to speak to Bryant in a way that Kobe understands, as witnessed by their championship success together. Not to mention Phil Jackson, who's history and relationship with Bryant would undoubtedly go a long ways towards facilitating good performance.

How Far Could A Kobe-led Knicks Team Go?

When we look at the Eastern Conference, the Kobe-led Knicks would have a potential chance at making the Finals. Cleveland will probably figure out how to play team basketball by the time the playoffs come around, but that's not guaranteed. Chicago's Derrick Rose seems less concerned about winning a championship than he does about attending PTA meetings in 2025. Toronto, Miami, and the Wizards all look to be formidable playoff teams, but there's nothing about these teams that makes them unbeatable.

For the Knicks, trading for Kobe would basically cost nothing. LA is sure to go for a trade that brings back Stoudemire (an expiring contract) and Shumpert (a nice young player), especially if LA could unload the contract of Steve Nash in the process and eliminate their luxury tax bill. A trade of Kobe and Nash for Stoudemire, Shumpert, and Quincy Acy would reduce the Laker's payroll more than $6 million, dropping them below the luxury tax line and saving millions in repeater taxes.

And if the trade fails to put the Knicks into contention, the cost is low. The Knicks only lose Amare (a player that's one injury away from retirement), Shumpert (a player that doesn't really fit their system anyways), and some cap space in 2016-2017. It's not ideal, but it's a low risk, high reward trade.

The Lakers, on the other hand, would probably trade Kobe trade just to remove his salary from the 2015-2016 salary cap. The Lakers could have $40 million+ in cap space going into next summer's free agency period, when Marc Gasol, Rajon Rondo, and a dozen other All-Star caliber players will all be available.

It says here that Kobe deserves to finish his career in contention, and that the Knicks are by far the best place for Kobe to try and get his 6th ring. Kobe's strong leadership can whip Melo' into shape, the Knicks coach and front office know how to extract Kobe's best, and the top teams in the Eastern Conference look more vulnerable now than ever. LA and NY need to make this deal — the sooner the better.

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