It's Getting Legs

The Kobe to the Knicks speculation is gaining steam.

But Kobe holds a lot of cards. His no-trade clause means he can veto any deal, and the Lakers will not trade him to a West team.

That leaves the 15 teams in the East, and only two of them - Chicago and New York - are comparable in market size to Los Angeles. Kobe won't downsize his market, with the possible exception of Chicago.

Once the Bulls cobbled together enough salary to match Bryant's ($17.7 million plus a 15-percent trade kicker if he's dealt before July 1), Kobe wouldn't be any closer to contending for a championship than if he'd stayed in L.A.

The Knicks could offer young players (Channing Frye, David Lee, Nate Robinson, for example), the 23rd pick, and a starting point guard in Stephon Marbury. The Lakers would have to include one other contract to make the numbers match.

Right now, the deal-killer for the Lakers would be Marbury, whom Jackson would not take. But if the Lakers traded Bryant, do you think Jackson would come back next season?

"New York should be on the phone right now," the Eastern Conference assistant said.

The Knicks could offer Bryant the only media market bigger than Los Angeles, plus an elite post scorer in Eddy Curry. Last time I checked, Kobe won three championships with an elite post scorer.

As for Bryant's trade kicker, which would scare almost every other team in the league? Jim Dolan would have three words for that: "Cash or check?"

A long shot? Yes, in every sense. But if the Knicks want to go from ordinary to elite with one move, this would be it. It would mean the kind of basketball being played in Cleveland, Detroit and San Antonio these days would return to the Garden again. Only better.

I'm okay with a Kobe trade but I have to ask if he's not all done?