Deep Sixer

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- There was plenty of buzz at the NBA pre-draft camp and it had nothing to do with the 62 prospects trying to impress talent evaluators. The news that Kobe Bryant's desire to get traded, then his retraction hours later, had everybody confused. The e-mailers were in full force wondering if the 76ers could get in the Bryant sweepstakes - prior to his announcement that he now wants to be a Laker for life.
While Sixers president and general manager Billy King wouldn't comment, there is little chance for Bryant to return to his home town. The main reason is the NBA salary cap. Bryant makes $17.1 million. Salaries in a trade must be within 25 percent of each other. Even if the Lakers were willing to make a deal, they would likely ask for Andre Iguodala, Kyle Korver and for salary sake, Samuel Dalembert.
If the Sixers made that trade, Bryant would be going to a team that is now worse than the current Lakers, who were ousted in the first round of the playoffs by Phoenix. Bryant has a no-trade clause which means he has to approve any deal and he would only approve going to a team that is currently better than the Lakers, not worse.
Now that Bryant has kissed and made up with the Lakers, what will likely happen is that Los Angeles will try to make a trade with center Andrew Bynum as the bargaining chip. Remember, the Lakers wouldn't trade Bynum for Jason Kidd at the trade deadline. Bynum might be a dominating center some day, but Bryant doesn't have time to wait.
Look look for the Lakers to try to acquire another proven player with Bynum as the bargaining chip.Just don't expect it to come from the Sixers.