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Shaq – ever the clowner, ever the kid. Instant team chemistry. This vid is courtesy of MiamiSportsBlog.com

Shaq left LA where he helped the Lakers to the Finals 4 out of 5 years and collected 3 rings. Why? Because the owner of the Lakers is cheap and Kobe didn’t stand up to it. Fast forward 3 unproductive seasons later and now Kobe wants out. Chad Ford wrote an article about why other teams aren’t lining up for the Kobster.

I spoke to a number of NBA sources who have been engaged in or are familiar with the Bryant trade negotiations. Almost all evidence from these conversations points to this conclusion: Bryant’s trade value isn’t nearly as high as he or the Lakers would like to think…

1. Does Kobe have too much mileage?

Kobe is already 29 years old. When he turns 30 in August, he’ll reach an age at which many players decline… It’s not only the years that concern some teams, but also the minutes. Counting NBA regular-season and playoff games, Bryant has logged 33,576 minutes — 918 games of about 37 minutes each, in just 11-plus seasons. That’s more “mileage” on his legs than on the legs of Ray Allen (age 32) or Allen Iverson (32)… And about the same as Chris Webber (34). More than Alonzo Mourning (37). More than Sam Cassell (37). Further, Kobe has had knee problems the past few seasons, including arthroscopic knee surgery in 2004 and 2006…

2. Is Kobe really the best player in the NBA?

It’s often said, by players, journalists and fans alike, that Bryant is the best player in the league. Without a doubt, he’s one of the greatest offensive forces we’ve ever seen. Indeed, his skill level in all aspects of the game is probably the most advanced we’ve seen since Jordan. But not everyone thinks that makes him the best player in the game… Bryant has never led the league in John Hollinger’s PER (player efficiency rating), which combines a player’s stats and percentages into a single measure. Last season, Bryant was well behind Dirk Nowitzki and Dwyane Wade . To put his numbers into historical perspective, his career-high PER of 27.97 in 2005-06 ranks No. 42 all-time in the league. Several current players have posted a higher PER than Kobe did in his best season… A newer measure from 82games.com, adjusted plus/minus, “reflects the impact of each player on his team’s bottom line (scoring margin), after controlling statistically for the strength of every teammate and every opponent during each minute he’s on the court.” By this measure, Bryant ranked sixth in the NBA last season, behind players such as Jason Kidd and Gilbert Arenas. In one in-depth report, Bryant ranked 21st in the NBA in clutch performance…

3. Is Kobe a winner?

This question probably resonates the most in NBA front offices. Several GMs I’ve spoken with have questioned aloud whether Kobe is really a winner… On the surface, it appears that Kobe is a winner. But dig deeper and there are real questions…The more central questions, according to some observers in the NBA, revolve around Bryant’s approach to the game. His amazing determination, while certainly a key part of his success on the court, does not always translate into leadership or a winning attitude… Certainly Bryant wants to win. But he wants to win his way, according to many who have followed his career. And when you break it down, that translates to this attitude: I would rather lose my way than win your way…

4. Is Kobe worth it?

Those three issues lead up to the ultimate question: Given all the complex considerations, does it make sense to acquire Kobe? First of all, it’s just not that easy to make a deal, especially during the season, when the roster rules make it more difficult to trade many players for one. Second, Bryant makes a lot of money — $19.4 million this season… Third, such a trade would be a gamble, and NBA teams are generally risk-averse, as we saw at the last trade deadline…Fourth, there is the straightforward question of talent: As great as Bryant is, can he replace the talent a team would have to give up? And if a team gives up too much to acquire Kobe, that team would be no more equipped to compete for a championship than the Lakers are, which would potentially start the cycle all over again, with Bryant’s unhappiness dominating the team.

… But if the status quo holds, teams will have to look forward to the summer of 2009, when Bryant can opt out of his contract at the age of 31. By then our eyes and hearts will likely have caught up with what the numbers and logic are already telling us: Kobe Bryant is a great player, but in a team sport like basketball he lacks the ability, on his own, to deliver an NBA championship.

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