Kobe Bryant isn't happy with the Lakers' direction and wants Jerry West back in Los Angeles to fix things.
Bryant told ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher that he wants the Lakers to bring West back to the organization and give him full authority. If the Lakers don't want to do that, Bryant said he wants to be traded.
"I'm not demanding anything," Bryant told the Riverside Press-Enterprise on Sunday night. "I'm not making any threats. I didn't say that. Those words didn't come out of my mouth about a trade. I'm just making a suggestion. I think Jerry West is one of the greatest to ever do this thing. It's undeniably so."
Personally, I'm in this school of thought. In 2004, the Lakers came off the losing end of a Finals sweep. They still had Shaq, Kobe, and GM Mitch Kupchak. Since then, Shaq was traded, which I still feel would have worked had Kupchak not stupidly traded Caron Butler for Kwame Brown. Two first-round exits and one lottery season later, Shaq is still gone and Dr. Buss might have to decide between Kobe and Kupchak. If Buss decides on Kupchak, I'm turning in my Lakers hat.
And it just might happen, because I don't think there's any way Jerry West is coming back.
The Wisdom of Homsar: Let's sing a song of Pennzoil!
I'd laugh my ass off if he ended up getting traded to the Clippers. And considering he was THAT close to signing with them during his free agent year, I wouldn't doubt he'd end up there.
In a perfect world, though, Kobe would get traded to Miami so he and Shaq can resume clawing at each other's throats. The results would be so poetic and, really, the only losers would be the Lakers.
I still can't believe that only 3 years after getting ousted in the Finals by Detroit, literally EVERYONE from the roster will be gone and the only man left standing will be Mitch Kupchak. I can't believe I've actually heard rumblings that this moronic clown will not only keep his job, but actually get a freakin' extension! In any other franchise, he'd have been given the bum's rush the day Shaq won a title for Miami. Instead, he gets to stick around, DO NOTHING, and essentially chase off Kobe as a result of his inaction. And you thought Boston had it bad. Fuck this, man. Just...fuck it. That sound you hear is Chick Hearn rolling over in his grave.
No way Phil sticks around for this shit. Look for him to be next out the door.
EDIT: Scratch that, it looks like the last men standing from the 2003-04 Finals Lakers are actually Luke Walton and Brian Cook (both in their rookie years at the time). And how fitting that they'll be the top guys now that Kobe's gone. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
EDIT 2: An interesting note from the Bill Simmons chat wrap-up. If the Lakers DO end up trading Kobe, do they have anymore justification to keep their ticket prices where they are? Ticket prices are currently an arm and a leg because there's so much demand to see Kobe. Without Kobe (or ANY superstar for that matter), there's no way people keep shelling out that kind of cash for tickets. This could be a huge blow for the Lakers financially. Mr. Buss, the ball is now in your court.
(edited by It's False on 30.5.07 1223)
The Wisdom of Homsar: Let's sing a song of Pennzoil!
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