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Kobe Denies He Called Dwight

Despite reports in the Los Angeles Times, HoopsWorld and RealGM, Kobe Bryant denies to Peter Vecsey that he told Dwight Howard he'd be the third option with the Lakers, a story often cited this weekend to suggest that the Nets are firmly in the lead for Howard's services.

After a series of exchanges where Bryant's responses sounded a lot like non-denial denials, Bryant finally offered, "It's not true."

While Vecsey attempts to downplay the story, dismissing it as "an internet report", the story first broke in the Los Angeles Times almost three weeks ago. Veteran Laker beat reporters MIke Bresnahan and Broderick Turner wrote that "Bryant had at least one in-depth phone conversation with Howard recently" and that Howard "came away feeling as if he wouldn't be the Lakers' top option ... it's Bryant's team."

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ok fine so kobe didnt call dwight

dwight called kobe. Better now?

by num1netsnut on Feb 7, 2012 7:18 AM EST via mobile reply actions   1 recs

some how the Nets are gonna be made the bad guys in this story and that we are spreading rumors to land Dwight Howard

with that said …. what’s the next rumor we can spread NI?

The Hardest thing for some men to do is .... Believe what they see!

by Benz Zito on Feb 7, 2012 7:25 AM EST reply actions  

as noted, for the third time in this space...

the story emanated from the Los Angeles Times, where it certainly wasn’t planted by the Nets.

Might it have been planted by Howard’s agent? Who knows.

Howard’s agent, by the way, is also Stevie Jackson’s agent and Keith Bogans’ agent.

"It's as sweet as it ever was, I'll tell you. Now, hopefully, we started something and we can win some more championships, but we're going to enjoy this one right now. Have a little champagne." --Julius Erving, May 12, 1976, ABA champion Nets locker room.

by Net Income on Feb 7, 2012 7:39 AM EST up reply actions  

I don't think the story is false that they talked

It’s all the embellishments like third wheel and Howard is offended that were added by the internet dregs this week.

Stars talk to each other when considering joining forces and it makes perfect sense given Kobe’s past actions (see: Shaq) for him to behave in this manner.

WE WANT LOPEZ! clap clap clap clap clap

by BrooklynNets on Feb 7, 2012 8:47 AM EST up reply actions  

By "in this manner"

I mean telling Dwight it’s his team.

WE WANT LOPEZ! clap clap clap clap clap

by BrooklynNets on Feb 7, 2012 8:48 AM EST up reply actions  

"at my age"?

No way Kobe would use that term, let alone twice. Poppycock! I’m surprised he didn’t say “young whipper snapper” !

Plan A all the way: Brook, Brooks, Dwill, Dwight and MKG

by John at the Jersey Shore on Feb 7, 2012 7:25 AM EST via iPhone app reply actions  

"too old"+"at my age" = B.S.

Plan A all the way: Brook, Brooks, Dwill, Dwight and MKG

by John at the Jersey Shore on Feb 7, 2012 7:29 AM EST via iPhone app up reply actions  

he's 68. Not that old

"It's as sweet as it ever was, I'll tell you. Now, hopefully, we started something and we can win some more championships, but we're going to enjoy this one right now. Have a little champagne." --Julius Erving, May 12, 1976, ABA champion Nets locker room.

by Net Income on Feb 7, 2012 7:37 AM EST up reply actions  

it"s Vecsey saying he's old, not Kobe

"It's as sweet as it ever was, I'll tell you. Now, hopefully, we started something and we can win some more championships, but we're going to enjoy this one right now. Have a little champagne." --Julius Erving, May 12, 1976, ABA champion Nets locker room.

by Net Income on Feb 7, 2012 8:13 AM EST up reply actions  

Ok "at my age" was Vescey, but...

"omg! I’m not getting mixed up in this kiddy drama spit, bro. too old for that spit," Bryant responded via email.

Plan A all the way: Brook, Brooks, Dwill, Dwight and MKG

by John at the Jersey Shore on Feb 7, 2012 9:48 AM EST up reply actions  

Based on this article...

It’s clear he said SOMETHING. He went from deflection … to a very short response of it’s untrue. Did you see what Shaq said yesterday? How Kobe wanted to be known as the best Laker ever when he joined the league. If that is truly the case, bringing in Dwight to win two championships just puts a big asterisk on his name and he knows it. It basically says he needs the best center to win… not that great

by anothernetsfan on Feb 7, 2012 8:03 AM EST reply actions  

it still is a bit odd

that none of the la media had asked kobe about this yet especially if it was originally from the la times.

by num1netsnut on Feb 7, 2012 8:04 AM EST via mobile reply actions  

Why should the LA times

Which broke the story have to ask if it’s trie based on what two bloggers wrote.

"It's as sweet as it ever was, I'll tell you. Now, hopefully, we started something and we can win some more championships, but we're going to enjoy this one right now. Have a little champagne." --Julius Erving, May 12, 1976, ABA champion Nets locker room.

by Net Income on Feb 7, 2012 8:58 AM EST up reply actions  

All along I was thinking that the Tyson Chandlet refenrence was a bit over the top.

I took the whole thing as how Howard interpreted a conversation or conversations he he had with Kobe.

I don’t think there is any question that they have talked but it doesn’t necessarily mean that kobe was trying to recruit dwight.

There were also those reports after Kobe had those 40 pt games that howard told kobe that he didn’t think he could do it anymore, so I think at the very least they communicate with each other. Also this whole thing was reported by people in their canmp before it became a big deal recently.

by sipitioking on Feb 7, 2012 8:06 AM EST reply actions  

I love these " X denies story " headlines.

95% of the time it means the story is true

When can i get my Dwight Howard Brooklyn Nets Jersey?

by AmbassadorAmeer on Feb 7, 2012 8:12 AM EST reply actions  

in sports it does

NO ONE lies like sports figures…not even pols.

"It's as sweet as it ever was, I'll tell you. Now, hopefully, we started something and we can win some more championships, but we're going to enjoy this one right now. Have a little champagne." --Julius Erving, May 12, 1976, ABA champion Nets locker room.

by Net Income on Feb 7, 2012 8:13 AM EST up reply actions  

Yeah Agreed.

" Roger Clemens denies taking any drugs "

" Brett Farve denies sending pictures of his – - – - "

When can i get my Dwight Howard Brooklyn Nets Jersey?

by AmbassadorAmeer on Feb 7, 2012 8:16 AM EST up reply actions   2 recs

?

When can i get my Dwight Howard Brooklyn Nets Jersey?

by AmbassadorAmeer on Feb 7, 2012 8:43 AM EST up reply actions  

Just having a little fun.

Can’t make it down to the parade today, so I have to stick it to the Pats whenever I get the chance

by Chakroot on Feb 7, 2012 8:55 AM EST up reply actions  

All just stories

I remember a comment by Thorn a few years back when he said something like: when I read the rumors and the statements about who we are going to trade or get, it makes me laugh. The news reports are so far from what really happens. This is all just made up stuff with maybe a shed of truth. Why would Kobe say 3rd option. Foolish.

by oman8 on Feb 7, 2012 8:14 AM EST reply actions  

I think D12 wants BK for more money and most attention.

All this he said she said don’t really matter nitriles reporters blowing big things out of it.

by Aidar Berlinbayev on Feb 7, 2012 8:21 AM EST reply actions  

Kobe called

Dwight and told him not go to jersey because of “michael” Jordan farmar

by fabol0us16 on Feb 7, 2012 8:47 AM EST via mobile reply actions  

Vescey has always been my all-time least favorits sports reporter

He’s like reading a gossip columnist. His little email exchange with Kobe is not going to the source. All he made Kobe do was write ’It’s not true.’ Oh really Kobe? What exactly is not true?

Hey what do you expect from the Post?

WE WANT LOPEZ! clap clap clap clap clap

by BrooklynNets on Feb 7, 2012 9:00 AM EST reply actions   1 recs

This

The Hardest thing for some men to do is .... Believe what they see!

by Benz Zito on Feb 7, 2012 1:07 PM EST up reply actions  

there might not have been a phone call but

Everyone knows the reality
Kobe is a ball hog
Kobe is a snitch
Kobe is a no nonsense guy
Kobe is and alpha and so is Dwight. During the interview on BSPN this morning Kobe said that 2 alpha males on a team eventually fails. Also he said he won’t just hang around scoring 20pts a game just to be playing. Kobe will never take a back seat to anyone.
Kobes hometown hates him
If Kobe can’t. Pass the ball to his 2 7footers now, why would he pass to a less offensively skilled Dwight Howard
Going to LA is a bad move for Dwight and Orlando. For many reasons besides Kobe. No PG, no bench, no cap space, no young players, questionable coach, and the Clips are a better team

by DJ HeavyDuty on Feb 7, 2012 9:03 AM EST reply actions  

I agree with the last part
Going to LA is a bad move for Dwight and Orlando. For many reasons besides Kobe. No PG, no bench, no cap space, no young players, questionable coach, and the Clips are a better team

I really expect Kobe to ask for a trade out of LA. He’s not going to be able to win again there unless they overhaul that team.

WE WANT LOPEZ! clap clap clap clap clap

by BrooklynNets on Feb 7, 2012 9:07 AM EST up reply actions  

thats the thing

They aren’t that bad. If Kobe would get his bigs involved and stop shooting the Lakers would win more. There’s no reason for Kobe to take 25 shots per game when he has 2 20/10 guys that can play inside out

by DJ HeavyDuty on Feb 7, 2012 9:10 AM EST up reply actions  

I whole heartedly agree with everything DJ says right there!

The Hardest thing for some men to do is .... Believe what they see!

by Benz Zito on Feb 7, 2012 1:10 PM EST up reply actions  

there might not have been a phone call but

Everyone knows the reality
Kobe is a ball hog
Kobe is a snitch
Kobe is a no nonsense guy
Kobe is and alpha and so is Dwight. During the interview on BSPN this morning Kobe said that 2 alpha males on a team eventually fails. Also he said he won’t just hang around scoring 20pts a game just to be playing. Kobe will never take a back seat to anyone.
Kobes hometown hates him
If Kobe can’t. Pass the ball to his 2 7footers now, why would he pass to a less offensively skilled Dwight Howard
Going to LA is a bad move for Dwight and Orlando. For many reasons besides Kobe. No PG, no bench, no cap space, no young players, questionable coach, and the Clips are a better team

by DJ HeavyDuty on Feb 7, 2012 9:04 AM EST reply actions  

Look at the beautiful enclosed roof

I don’t know if anyone saw the video and pictures from Patch? The video shows work being done on the interior.

http://prospectheights.patch.com/articles/a-sneak-peek-inside-barclays-center-video

And some more pics:

WE WANT LOPEZ! clap clap clap clap clap

by BrooklynNets on Feb 7, 2012 9:04 AM EST reply actions   1 recs

Is that Madison Square Garden ?? ???????

When can i get my Dwight Howard Brooklyn Nets Jersey?

by AmbassadorAmeer on Feb 7, 2012 9:07 AM EST up reply actions  

No it's Penn Station.

WE WANT LOPEZ! clap clap clap clap clap

by BrooklynNets on Feb 7, 2012 9:09 AM EST up reply actions  

That explains it.

When can i get my Dwight Howard Brooklyn Nets Jersey?

by AmbassadorAmeer on Feb 7, 2012 9:13 AM EST up reply actions  

Or maybe it will become known as...

The house that Deron built???

"The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven"

by aunt-B on Feb 7, 2012 9:16 AM EST up reply actions  

Isn't that the Melo Center?

oh no, that was last year. Now it the Dwight Center.

Plan A all the way: Brook, Brooks, Dwill, Dwight and MKG

by John at the Jersey Shore on Feb 7, 2012 9:51 AM EST up reply actions  

It's the Taj Mahal

A mausoleum to our only good NBA team:

WE WANT LOPEZ! clap clap clap clap clap

by BrooklynNets on Feb 7, 2012 9:54 AM EST up reply actions  

Look at Kittles in that second picture

he looks like Kmart just hit him in the family jewels. Ah!

WE WANT LOPEZ! clap clap clap clap clap

by BrooklynNets on Feb 7, 2012 9:56 AM EST up reply actions  

I miss Rodgers

#54

When can i get my Dwight Howard Brooklyn Nets Jersey?

by AmbassadorAmeer on Feb 7, 2012 9:57 AM EST up reply actions  

Yeah

That accident he suffered was tragic.

WE WANT LOPEZ! clap clap clap clap clap

by BrooklynNets on Feb 7, 2012 10:04 AM EST up reply actions  

Man

those guys could ball. We need to get Dwight and become relevant again.

WE WANT LOPEZ! clap clap clap clap clap

by BrooklynNets on Feb 7, 2012 10:05 AM EST up reply actions  

Take that readers of NetsDaily
Jaclyn Sabol @MagazineJac

Are you inviting me? ;-) RT @ameer1534 @MagazineJac would you go to the Nets opening night in Brooklyn ?

When can i get my Dwight Howard Brooklyn Nets Jersey?

by AmbassadorAmeer on Feb 7, 2012 9:20 AM EST reply actions  

Ameer doesn't realize that has to be a +1 invite

Official Member of DO NOT TRADE MARSHON Society!
To be successful, apparently Avery's Defense System requires it to be manned by NBA All-Defensive Team.

by 3ptChucker on Feb 7, 2012 9:51 AM EST up reply actions  

get it son get it

If you can pull it off Ill buy your drinks

by DJ HeavyDuty on Feb 7, 2012 9:46 AM EST up reply actions  

Hey guys

I will be at the Nets Vs Pistons game tomorrow, i will be sitting in section 8 row 16. are those good seats? thanks in advance

by bbatts30 on Feb 7, 2012 9:51 AM EST reply actions  

Center court, just high enough the see everything

Nets bench to your right, Detrioit’s to your left, media right in front of you.

Not too shabby!

Plan A all the way: Brook, Brooks, Dwill, Dwight and MKG

by John at the Jersey Shore on Feb 7, 2012 9:53 AM EST up reply actions  

Yeah

Really nice seats and the Nets have a good chance of coming away with the W.

WE WANT LOPEZ! clap clap clap clap clap

by BrooklynNets on Feb 7, 2012 10:08 AM EST up reply actions  

Found this video

Has Brook Lopez , Farmar and DH12

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTwjwBXJl8w&feature=related

When can i get my Dwight Howard Brooklyn Nets Jersey?

by AmbassadorAmeer on Feb 7, 2012 9:55 AM EST reply actions  

Billy King Called Me Too!

Given all the injuries, Billy said that I would be the second option, behind DWill. But I didn’t want to be anything but first, so I passed on joining the team.

Paul from Sunny Delray Beach, Florida

by PaulErstein on Feb 7, 2012 9:55 AM EST reply actions  

This is not a good sign for the Jeremy Lin show stopping anytime soon

This is from before his recent explosion.

Harvard Star Jeremy Lin Takes John Wall to School in Summer League

http://www.nesn.com/2010/07/harvard-star-jeremy-lin-takes-john-wall-to-school-in-summer-league.html

The scouts are usually wrong about Jeremy Lin. After leading Palo Alto High School to a state title in California, no small feat, the consensus 2006 State Player of the Year received zero scholarship offers.

His dream had been to play for hometown Stanford, but he instead enrolled at Harvard, a non-scholarship school.

Stanford missed out.

Playing for the Crimson, Lin filled up the stat sheet like Andrei Kirilenko, being among the Ivy League’s leaders in points, rebounds, three point shooting, assists, steals, and even blocks.

Did the NBA come calling around draft time this past June? Of course not. Nobody ever gives Lin a chance, but he just keeps showing up.

The Dallas Mavericks, though, did decide to pick the 6-foot-4 standout to their summer league squad, and when the Harvard man was pitted head-to-head against number one overall pick John Wall, he lit him up.

Lin scored nine fourth-quarter points against the athletically superior Wall, repeatedly schooling him in the process.

Given Lin’s success, Mavs GM Donnie Nelson went so far as to compare him to a former Mavericks point guard: “He makes everybody else around him better. That’s a sign of a real player. A lot of times, and we’ve been through this before with a guy like Steve Nash, people have a hard time projecting certain players. I just know every team those guys were on won. Jeremy’s got some of the same characteristics.”

by Anthony Perez on Feb 7, 2012 9:55 AM EST reply actions  

What people have to understand about the Lin situation is...

This kid has some skills. I don’t think he is a great player, but he can definitely play the point position pretty good. Now, when you combine that with Dantoni’s system, this kid has a chance to do something special in NY. Dantoni’s system makes point guards look twice as beter than they reallly are. Raymond Felton looked like an all star playing for the knicks. Over the last 2 games Lin is looking better than Felton looked when he was on the knicks.

IF this Lin surge is the real deal and not just 2 games of luck, then this is not a good look for the nets going to brooklyn. Not only will this kid get the asian communities support, but he will get espn behind him because he is different. I am not saying the nets couldn’t take attention away from the knicks if this happened. However, it would take winning a championship to do it…

by aug93 on Feb 7, 2012 10:27 AM EST up reply actions  

I watched the Knick game last night because the Net game was unwatchable. Lin is pretty entertaining—nothing flashy but gets the job done.

"Beware the Ides of March."

by Andy. on Feb 7, 2012 10:28 AM EST up reply actions  

This is torturing mang ... rubbing salt onto the wound ...

The kid can play man …. he reminds me of S.Nash without a J.

Maybe he learned from those Nash DVD’s, but they better don’t get this lucky with a PG.

That was their weakness ….

Chandller loves him…#amazing.

by d2d on Feb 7, 2012 10:45 AM EST up reply actions   1 recs

I know it's not a Nix board, but we have to be concerned when they're good as they are direct competition in every meaning of the word....

KBergCBS Ken Berger
So Elias says Jeremy Lin (28 points, eight assists) had the most points/assists in first career start since (gulp) Isiah in ’81.

by d2d on Feb 7, 2012 11:30 AM EST up reply actions  

Dwight wearing a Magic uniform on the 22nd.

Lopez is not coming back until after the ASG.

WE WANT LOPEZ! clap clap clap clap clap

by BrooklynNets on Feb 7, 2012 10:11 AM EST up reply actions  

Lopez Home Game

I’m guesstimating he’ll return on the 19th against Milwaukee, giving him 3 games before the all-star break.

by TheNetsFan on Feb 7, 2012 1:05 PM EST up reply actions  

NI

How has readership and posting dropped off as the season is dragging out in painful fashion?

Personally, I was on the site 1 time per hour (at least) when the season started and now I have reached my emotional pain threshold and am getting to be indifferent to this team. (I am on the site only 2 to 3 times per day).

Between the blowouts and the on again off again Dwight stories, things are getting tedious here. I didn’t even watch the game last night.

I am now on a wake me up when Dwight gets here frame of mind and I imagine that a lot of others are there also.

by tategeorge on Feb 7, 2012 10:04 AM EST reply actions  

i seriously doubt it has dropped at all

The Nets have been in almost every game this season

by DJ HeavyDuty on Feb 7, 2012 10:06 AM EST up reply actions  

not sure if serious

Maybe of late, but early on in the season when DWill was struggling, we were getting handled.

by vijay311 on Feb 7, 2012 10:07 AM EST up reply actions  

Nets have been playing well despite a ton of injuries

and when they get healthy there are three plausible options:

1) the Nets get Dwight Howard via trade

2) the Magic decide not to trade Howard and the Nets make a run for the playoffs.

3) the Magic decide not to trade Howard and Billy King shops the contracts of Humphries, Morrow, Farmar, Petro, and Shawn Williams for picks and cap relief. Nets tank for a high pick.

WE WANT LOPEZ! clap clap clap clap clap

by BrooklynNets on Feb 7, 2012 10:16 AM EST up reply actions  

I wouldn't even mind option 3

stockpiling for this draft is a sound strategy if we want to build like the thunder, blazers or pacers . what sort of contract would a player like Batum command?

by cprash on Feb 7, 2012 10:26 AM EST via Android app up reply actions  

I disagree

Despite remaining competitive, this team does not have the pieces to be competitive consistently until Lopez reestablishes himself. If the Nets are still at the bottom of the league in March and the Magic announce they will not trade Howard, Deron might be amicable to a month of tanking. The Nets would then have another major piece through the draft along with Williams, Lopez, Brooks.

Might a playoff team in need of a guard agree to take the valuable expiring contracts (next year) of Shawne Williams and Petro in order to obtain Morrow or Farmar? Morrow and Petro for Heinrich might make sense.

Might a team look to trade for and extend Kris Humphries in exchange for an expiring contract a late 2012 first rounder? Maybe.

Billy can get more assets through trades than Kiki was every able to do. Let him deal so we have a strong core to attract D12 in free agency.

WE WANT LOPEZ! clap clap clap clap clap

by BrooklynNets on Feb 7, 2012 2:04 PM EST up reply actions  

Unfortunately I am not a rookie here.

Been posting here ever since the nj.com forums got over run by the nut tutoe who has it out for Bob for some reason.

by tategeorge on Feb 7, 2012 10:27 AM EST up reply actions  

Man...You're an old timer....

Maybe it’s time to hang up your keyboard…(LOL)

Seriously speaking I believe many of us feel the same way. We all been waiting now for more then two years. Waiting for Wall, LeBron, Melo, Lockout, Howard etc…Just have to recharge the batteries and keep moving forward.

LETS GO NETS !!!

by M I K E on Feb 7, 2012 10:31 AM EST up reply actions  

Well they got Deron Williams instead of Melo...+1

He’s better than Wall, and there’s no guarantee Wall would’ve led to LeBron. I think everything has worked out OK for the Nets and if they get Howard, it’ll be great.

by ZR on Feb 7, 2012 10:46 AM EST up reply actions  

I agree...but this Nets team has been locked in a holding pattern...

…mostly losing while waiting for the missing links for a long time now.

Hopefully within a few months or less we will go forward or backward, but we will know where we stand. Right now we are stuck in no man’s land…

by M I K E on Feb 7, 2012 11:01 AM EST up reply actions  

It has not dropped off significantly

remained pretty steady since the week of the first Dwight rumors when the ticker exploded.

"It's as sweet as it ever was, I'll tell you. Now, hopefully, we started something and we can win some more championships, but we're going to enjoy this one right now. Have a little champagne." --Julius Erving, May 12, 1976, ABA champion Nets locker room.

by Net Income on Feb 7, 2012 3:31 PM EST up reply actions  

get your head in the game.

"Beware the Ides of March."

by Andy. on Feb 7, 2012 10:26 AM EST up reply actions  

what's so funny?

at least the dude runs to get back on D. Nets should learn from the dude.

by SteViePoPzBK on Feb 7, 2012 11:49 AM EST up reply actions  

But

He wasn’t supposed to be on D !!!

by Mikepop1027 on Feb 7, 2012 11:53 AM EST up reply actions  

first how does he not see that offensive rebound and still sprints into the backcourt

then its not shown here but after wasting ten seconds to get back he busts the play by running into all the raptors in the paint and calling for an alley-oop that Wall reluctantly throws up and heads out of bounds

The realist keepin it real amongst the surrealists

Use em and throw em away, see a pro a day is essential. If you want a piece of the rock, trick, go to Prudential

by starbury_to_s-jaxci2000 on Feb 7, 2012 12:18 PM EST up reply actions  

What a surprise

a denial

I dont practice Santeria

by nets14 on Feb 7, 2012 4:44 PM EST reply actions  

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