Kobe Wants a Trade

The ongoing relationship between Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers has reached a boiling point. In an interview this morning with Stephen A. Smith on 1050 ESPN radio, Bryant announced he wants out of L.A.

There seems to be many factors that has gone into Kobe's decision. And note that he does still have two years left on his contract, and has a no trade clause so he can virtually choose where he gets traded to.

First of all, Kobe feels like he was lied to when he resigned with the Lakers three years ago. At this point in time, the Lakers had decided that they would trade Shaq and Kobe would be their franchise player. Kobe was told that the team would still be strong and a championship contender. Three years later, the Lakers have told him that they are in rebuilding mode. By these remarks, Kobe feels like he was lied to, and said that he never would have resigned three years ago had he known the team would be rebuilding.

Kobe asked the team at various times to orchestrate deals that would bring him some help. Just a few of those were for Carlos Boozer, Jason Kidd, and Ron Artest. The Lakers couldn't make any of these happen, and Kobe was left to carry the team.

Another issue comes from an article in the Los Angeles Times yesterday that said that is was Bryant who had insisted that the team get away from Shaq, and that O'Neil was the reason the team was a mess. Kobe told Smith today that he had a meeting at the time with owner Jerry Buss, and was told that the team was going away from Shaq because they believe he was deteriorating physically and not worth $30 million a year.

Again it seems that information has be presented in a way that makes the Lakers organization look good and lets Kobe take the blame. Smith spoke with Shaq later today after the interview with Kobe, and O'Niel said that he believed every word that Bryant said.

Kobe is fed up. He feels like he has been made to look like the bad guy in order to protect those in the front office for the teams lack of success. He says there is no way to change his mind. So the question is now, where does he get traded to?

New York? -This market fits Kobe, but the Knicks don't have enough quality young players or draft picks to make it happen.

Philly? -They have the same problem as New York.

Clippers? -He'd be a good fit here, and he likes Southern California. I wouldn't see the Lakers dealing him anywhere that close though.

Denver? -Ha ha. Just kidding. I might not like the guy, but I don't want to see him dead.

Chicago? -This seems like the logical fit. They have probably the most young depth in the league, and for a package deal of possibly Ben Gordon and Ben Wallace, they could make it happen. The question is, do they want to destroy the chemistry that looks like they are a few years away from being a legit championship contender.

The final option is that nothing happens. The Lakers have no obligation to act on Kobe's request. If the team brings back Jerry West Kobe might be happy enough to stay the final two years. But whether he stays or not, look for some heads to roll in the front office. The lack of success by those employees will be on the front page of every newspaper tomorrow. Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak, you have been given your walking papers. But I'll leave you with this. If Kobe does get traded it will be some time this month, and it will make for a very interesting draft this year.