Kobe Rumored To Be Part of 20 Team Trade

In a trade that would include a record setting 20 teams, the LA Lakers would be able to keep their superstar Kobe Bryant, as well as pick up Minnesota star Kevin Garnett. The Lakers would send Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum to Minnesota for KG, and the other teams would swap various players to start with a 'clean slate'. Teams rumored to be involved were LA Lakers, Minnesota, Boston, Indiana, Orlando, Charlotte, Memphis, LA Clippers, Golden State, Milwaukee, Detroit, New Jersey, New York, Philadephia, Toronto, New Orleans, Houston, Atlanta and Sacramento, Washington and Houston.

The rest of the trade was too complicated to put down on paper, even for some of the teams involved, but it was certain that this would be the largest trade in American sports history.

Isiah Thomas, coach of the New York Knicks, was flashing his trademark smile at the thought. "To be honest with you, I don't know if our part of this trade makes any sense, but nothing I've done up to this point has, so at least it's consistent. Who knows, we may be worse for it, but maybe it'll all work itself out. I figure I've really got nowhere to go but up from here."

Minnesota GM Kevin McHale was also excited at the prospect, remarking that "it would just be great to get Kobe and KG together, wouldn't it?"

Boston Celtic GM and McHale's good friend Danny Ainge, along with coach Doc Rivers, claimed that after not getting the #1 pick in this year's draft, they had given up on their dreams for Boston, and hoped that somebody else could get a really good team together. "I'm not in this trade for us, really, because that ship has sailed," said Ainge. "So, let's make somebody else's wishes come true."

Utah GM Kevin O' Connor said the Jazz begged to get into the mix, but that even though some teams would be interested in a few Jazz players, no other decent players were willing to play in Utah.

"I think, ultimately, all of us would like to be a small part of making Kobe happy and keeping him in LA," said coach Doc Rivers. "I mean, we've all gotta pitch in and do what it takes to keep him there, because he's become synonomous with LA., like Nicholson. If we could get him another ring, that would just be icing on the cake as far as I'm concerned."