Lakers Finally Admit Kobe Is Useless

The LA Lakers made a bold move to improve their team on Friday, by trading for Memphis center/forward Pau Gasol. This trade will greatly strengthen the Lakers, as the Triangle offense depends upon having someone big who can score down low (and Kwame Brown or Andrew Bynum aren't those guys). And, I think it's the Lakers' way of finally saying that Kobe Bryant is completely useless to them winning any championships.

Kobe is probably the best player out there right now. Guy can beat you in so many ways. Last year, he had a string of four games where he didn't score any fewer than 50 points, and a couple of those were for 60+. Yet the Lakers only finished two games over .500. Kobe could average 60 points a game, and the Lakers would still suck. You take Kobe off that team and the Lakers might, might win two games, and that would only be if the other teams forfeited.

"But if Kobe is so great, why can't the Lakers win?" Because the Lakers got rid of what Kobe needed to win.

When Shaq was still with the Lakers, he and Kobe won three straight championships. When Shaq got exiled to Miami, he found a suitable Kobe substitute in Dwanye Wade and won another championship. The Lakers replaced Shaq with Chris Mihm, and haven't been past the first round of the playoffs since. Go back and look at when Kobe and Shaq still played together. Kobe + Shaq = wins. Kobe - Shaq = not wins.

Basically, it's impossible for one player to single-handedly drag his team to a championship. Not even the incredible Michael Jordan could win a championship until the rest of his team stepped up their games. (Look at his famous 63 point game against the Celtics for a perfect example of how not to win.) Jordan couldn't do it, Iverson couldn't do it, and Kobe can't do it. Every great team built around a superstar needs another player to pick up the slack. Kareem had Magic (who, in turn, had Worthy), Bird had McHale, Jordan had Pippen, Thomas had Dumars, and Shaq had...uh, Kobe.

Is Pau Gasol that guy? Well, considering the Lakers offense that won those championships consisted of a little guy throwing the ball to a big guy or vice versa, having a big guy that can actually score might just be what the Lakers need. Or, Kobe will continue to hog the ball and the Lakers will still suck.

We'll see how it pans out in the coming weeks.