Kobe Bryant Bologna Rumors: Pairing Up with Manu Ginobilli Creates Dream Team

With the NBA lockout reaching the incredibly boring phase where the terms “hard cap“ and “soft cap” are being thrown around…the only real news of any interest is the overseas commitments.

Kobe Bryant has been waffling on his decision to sign with Virtus Bologna in Italy. He was born in Italy and learned the fundamentals of the game there. The country has a special place in his heart. Yet at the age of 33, his knees aren’t what they used to be and giving them extended rest until the lockout is over isn’t the worst idea in the world.

Now Jeff Garcia of projectspurs.com is reporting another player may take Kobe’s spot if he decides against heading overseas:

Emiliano Carchia: No big news on Kobe Bryant and Virtus Bologna this morning. But it is rumored that if Kobe won't come, (Claudio) Sabatini already agreed with Ginobili.

Why can’t they have both?

Oh yeah, money.

Virtus Bologna doesn’t have the payroll of an NBA team and two All-Stars would probably break the bank.

Yet it’s hard to not fantasize over what could be. The two rivals would be a killer one-two combination on the floor. Ginobilli can do most of the ball handling before finding a seam in the lane and dishing the ball to an open Kobe. How about watching the duo on the fast break?

They would be the Miami Heat of the international basketball scene and the best draw in Europe. Let’s say the lockout doesn’t end until January (the most likely scenario right now).

Why can’t Virtus Bologna throw a ton of cash at the duo for two months? Sure they would take a hit as far as payroll was concerned…but what about all of the promotional and marketing tools they could do?

The buzz around the team would be second-to-none in Europe and I believe the merchandise and ticket sales would offset their giant salaries.

Here’s hoping the team finds a way to pay both stars and doesn’t have to pick between one or the other.

****Update**** 4:00 PM EST Tuesday, Oct. 4

It looks like Manu won't be joining Virtus Bologna regardless of what Kobe decides to do according to Spurs Nation:

"

Herb Rudoy, Manu Gunobili’s Chicago-based agent, said rumors out of Bologna, Italy, that the Spurs star is set to join the Italian team if Lakers star Kobe Bryant declines Bologna’s offer are untrue.

Rudoy’s text message was emphatic. ‘Not true!’

Other sources already had shot down the reports out of Italy that Ginobili was Virtus Bologna’s fallback option if Bryant turns down the millions of Euros Virtus is offering. One internet report on Tuesday said Ginobili was committed to Bologna should Bryant turn down Virtus.

"

We know now for certain that report is “not true!”

It's too bad. We are now left wondering what could have been...