Laker's Continued Inaction Fuels Bryant's Frustration

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Kobe Bryant has held fast to his radio -- and TV, blog, dot-com, newspaper, magazine, semaphore -- silence concerning his future with the Lakers. That's good, since speaking out didn't exactly motivate the Lakers nor endear him to the how-dare-an-NBA-player-complain crowd.

The Lakers, meanwhile, have been silent, too. That's not so good, since it's their inability to make any significant moves that prompted Kobe to ask out in the first place.

Just understand this, in lieu of Bryant telling you himself: If he was boiling about the Lakers for not jumping at the chance to get Jason Kidd at the trade deadline, he's now at the stage where the water has evaporated and the bone-dry pot is scorched and rattling, after having a firsthand taste of what playing with Kidd is like at the Team USA minicamp last month.

His directness did not go over well, so now Kobe skirts questions about his Lakers future.

Kidd, by several accounts, was an absolute wonder during the three-day training session in Las Vegas and equally thrilled about playing with Bryant.

"No question," said someone close to Bryant, "his frustration was made worse by Vegas."

For those who have been too busy trying to get Pluto reinstated as a planet to stay up with current events, Bryant let it be known back in late May that he had lost faith in the Lakers' ability to build a championship team and while he was not demanding a trade, if the organization didn't bring back proven title-winning architect Jerry West, the Lakers might as well send him elsewhere.

When that was boiled down to a less nuanced version, as in "Kobe wants to be traded unless West returns," Bryant tried to set the record straight, emphasizing his love for the Lakers' legacy and how he didn't want to leave. Which led to another incomplete translation, as in, "Kobe says he doesn't want to leave the Lakers."

In the meantime, a Lakers insider was quoted as saying that Bryant was behind the departure of Shaquille O'Neal. Anyone close to the situation always knew different, so Bryant felt he was taking one for Dr. Jerry Buss, the driving force behind sending O'Neal to Miami, by never challenging the misconception.

But to hear "a Lakers insider" validate it sent Bryant around the proverbial bend. It was no longer that Bryant wanted out because he no longer trusted the Lakers could make the necessary moves to chase another title; he wanted out because he no longer trusted them, period.

A conversation with coach Phil Jackson prompted Kobe to soften his tone -- if not his stance -- one more time before he finally gave up on trying to explain his feelings and unplugged from the media grid.

Since then, the Lakers have maintained the status quo by re-signing Luke Walton and Chris Mihm. (It'll be nice to see Derek Fisher back in a Lakers' uniform, but let's not kid ourselves that this changes what they essentially are.) According to sources, they've also declined an offer of Ron Artest for Lamar Odom, dangled Kwame Brown, Brian Cook and Andrew Bynum for Jermaine O'Neal but said no to the Pacers' offer of O'Neal for Odom and Bynum.

This, by the way, being the same Bynum they steadfastly refused to part with for Kidd in February.

Now, with the Kevin Garnett pipedream officially over and Bryant quietly going about his business, the focus reverts back to the Lakers. They know their star is unhappy, they've admitted their team isn't good enough to contend and they've promised to change all that. Bryant said he wished he'd handled his series of declarations earlier this summer differently, but as the summer days slip by with no news out of El Segundo, I have to think more and more people will empathize with his desire to be elsewhere.

He really doesn't have to say anything more. The Lakers are making his case for him.
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It's an interesting read. Don't read it if you're looking for something uplifting, because this certainly is not. I'm sum it up. Basically, the Jason Kidd trade last season was the last straw for Kobe. Kobe really wanted Kidd in a Lakers uniform, just like how he wanted Carlos Boozer, Baron Davis, and ect. Playing with Jason Kidd in Team USA has only added fuel to Kobe's frustrations about the Laker's inability to once again close out a deal.

Also this part was interesting: "In the meantime, a Lakers insider was quoted as saying that Bryant was behind the departure of Shaquille O'Neal. Anyone close to the situation always knew different, so Bryant felt he was taking one for Dr. Jerry Buss, the driving force behind sending O'Neal to Miami, by never challenging the misconception." As we all know, since it has already been reported, Kobe Bryant did not drive Shaquille O'Neal out of Los Angeles, it was reported mid-way during last season, I believe. Dr. Buss and the front office was the reason why Shaquille O'Neal left Los Angeles, but Kobe Bryant got all the blame for it. Instead of coming out and saying he didn't drive Shaq out of town, Kobe decided to stay quiet and take the hit for Dr. Buss. I think this is one of the reasons why Kobe doesn't trust the front office anymore, because there are insiders running around making up random crap, and after Kobe covered Dr. Buss's back, what does he get in return? Derek Fisher. So Kobe's trust in the front office is at an alltime low. It's amazing that the truth has finally been reported after all the years of criticism Kobe took. I'm surprised nobody in the front office stood up to tell the truth until recently, but the damage has already been done, since the thought of Kobe driving Shaq out of town has been implanted in the brains of every Kobe hater in the world

Also, Ric Bucher reported that the Lakers declined a Lamar Odom for Ron Artest trade offer, much like how they declined a Lamar Odom for Shawn Marion trade offer earlier on in the offseason

 

The best move for the Lakers right now is to get a trade where they can keep Odom who is ideal as a third scorer. If they can add a post player JO or even another player who can put up 20ppg and bring other skills then I think they can take the next step. Who cares about Bynum I want him traded if I know it can bring another player in. I like his potential and so on but there are plenty of more drafts in the future but only one Kobe Bryant who may I add is in his prime the Lakers are really stupid if they don't pull off something soon that can put Kobe, Odom and another relatively big name together. But the big question is can they get another player in like JO without trading Odom?
I remember Mitch saying that everyone was expendable but it doesn't seem like it. well there's still a month til preseason fingers crossed

 

<div class="quote_poster">Brian Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">

Also, Ric Bucher reported that the Lakers declined a Lamar Odom for Ron Artest trade offer, much like how they declined a Lamar Odom for Shawn Marion trade offer earlier on in the offseason</div>

Well... that wouldn't be a big step. Odom already understands the offense and everyone of the players. He might accutually do really good this year, just hope we don't get injured this season. If we could pull that rumored trade with Kwame for Artest. Then I would let Odom and Bynum go for Oneal. If not... then lets cross our fingers and hope we are healthy and everyone clicks, and Bynum accutuly shows us his so called potential.

 

For some reason i wouldn't trade Artest for Odom it doesn't make sence unless you put Roony Turiaf at PF which wouldn't be bad at all...

 

Odom is more valuable than Artest IMO. He's so well-rounded and proved most valuable when healthy. Artest plays D. Thats pretty much it. I know its cliche but I'll take offense over D anyday.