[Akileese]

1) Phoenix is looking to move Kurt Thomas to an Eastern team.
2) Much like with the Kobe deal, I think if Garnett goes, he'll go East as they don't want to send him to a Western conference team like Phoenix. I'm not sure what's going on right now though. There are rumors out the ass.

3) Kobe will get 100 times the endorsement money in NY that he gets in LA. Plus, if they do get Kobe, LA will want a few expiring contracts in the deal. I don't know the exact numbers, but I'd guess Francis, Crawford, and Frye plus others would make sense. The Knicks would be smart to try and get a third team involved so they could dump Marbury as well. The knicks salary cap situation is a lot better now with Allan Houston's contract and Jalen Rose's contract gone. They're down to just under 88 million. A Kobe trade would almost have to include Marbury and another trade or a third team to involve Francis.

People don't realize it, but the Knicks have shaved over 50 million off their cap with all the expiring contracts they let go. Probably going to have to involve a sign and trade with one or two guys too. They really could of made a big trade last year.