Kobe Bryant, whose name surprisingly being mentioned as one of the possible trade targets this season, made an appearance in a New York Knicks uniform in a nicely edited photo by VN Design.
In a surprising turn of event, the 36-year old Bryant has become a major subject of trade speculations following an article by veteran NBA analyst Chad Ford of ESPN that detailed a potential blockbuster trade involving the Los Angeles Lakers superstar.
Ford believe the struggling Lakers should now concentrate on the future by making key moves on the trading front. For the ESPN analyst, there's no better deal for general manager Mitch Kupchack and the Buss family out there than trading Bryant to a contender in exchange for quality assets.
The Dallas Mavericks, Charlotte Hornets and Brooklyn Nets were cited as potential suitors for the Black Mamba, but Ford stressed the Knickerbockers appear to be the best landing spot for Bryant because of his association with former teammate Derek Fisher and head coach Phil Jackson, who is now serving for the Knicks organization as the team's head coach and top executive, respectively.
"The Knicks are an especially interesting possibility due to his connection to Phil Jackson, Derek Fisher and Carmelo Anthony. The Knicks could include young players like Iman Shumpert and/or Tim Hardaway Jr., along with a 2015 first rounder and they also have the expiring contracts of Amar'e Stoudemire and Andrea Bargnani," Ford stressed in his article.
As expected, Bryant immediately downplayed the crazy trade rumors circulating this past week, as he made it clear that he wants to end his NBA career as a member of the Lakers.
"I hear the chatter of Kobe should ask out and he should go and play for a contender in this latter stage of his career," Bryant told Yahoo Sports NBA insider Marc J. Spears. "But that's not what I do. I'm extremely loyal to the Lakers. I bleed purple and gold."
Bryant, who will receive a whopping $48.5 million over the next two season, has a no-trade clause in his current deal. Thus, the veteran shooting guard cannot be shipped to another team without his consent.
Then again, despite the impossibility of a Kobe trade to the Knicks, there are already some who wonders how Bryant's partnership with Carmelo Anthony would look like. Well, VN Design just elaborated in a nice photo the exact look of Kobe and Melo working together as a member of the Knicks.
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