Lakers Don't Appear Ready to Trade Bryant

[canihavu]

Lakers Don't Appear Ready to Trade Bryant
Jun 18, 7:39 PM (ET) Email this Story

By JOHN NADEL

LOS ANGELES (AP) -While there seems little doubt Kobe Bryant wants out of Los Angeles, the Lakers don't appear ready to make a move.

"I think we've made our position clear on that publicly and we have nothing further to say on the matter at this time," team spokesman John Black said Monday.

Black referred to a statement issued by team owner Jerry Buss on May 30, which said in part: "We will continue to pursue every avenue possible to improve our team with (Bryant) as the cornerstone."

Buss issued the statement after speaking with Bryant. The day before, Bryant first said he wanted to be traded during a radio interview, but seemed to backtrack on another interview after speaking with Lakers coach Phil Jackson.

Buss and Bryant met face-to-face last Friday in Barcelona, and while the Los Angeles Times and Riverside Press-Enterprise quoted sources as saying Bryant still wanted out, Black declined comment other than to say: "Our position is what was said at that meeting between the two of them will remain between the two of them."

Buss, owner of the Lakers since 1979, recently sent a letter to season ticket-holders regarding the team's desire to be successful.

"We received about 1,000 e-mails expressing concerns, opinions and frustrations," Black said. "Dr. Buss wanted to address the matter himself."

Buss said, among other things, that the Lakers had made the playoffs in 26 of his 28 years as owner, but added: "We all want more."

"Our goal has been, and remains to be, to build the Lakers into a team that can regularly compete for championships," he said. "I believe that we have always shown a willingness to do what needs to be done and spend what needs to be spent to deliver you championship caliber basketball. We remain committed to that philosophy."

Bryant's name was not mentioned in the letter.

Meanwhile, the entry Bryant reposted Sunday on his Web site from late last month regarding his desire to be traded had been taken down by Monday. The only current item on the site, kb24.com, was a series of comments from Bryant's fans.

Several messages left for Bryant's agent, Rob Pelinka, weren't returned, and Chris Raih, the managing director of Zambezi Ink, the ad agency that created and maintains kb24.com, declined comment.

Bryant, who turns 29 in August, is owed $88.6 million for the four years he has left on the seven-year, $136.4 million contract he signed July 15, 2004. A nine-time All-Star, he enters next season as the two-time defending NBA scoring champion.

[blckhaze]

there is no way, finacially or otherwise, you'd get full value for him. I agree that LA has pulled a Kevin Mchale and provided Kobe with little to no talent, but LA is too big a market for him to leave. Plus J. Bust knows hes on thin ice so he'll do whatever to keep Kobe happy from here on out.

[The Truth]

He got what he wished for. He wanted to be the #1 man, they made him so and he wasn't able to deliver anything as a team. So now he wants more talent. Boo hoo, shut the fuck up, Kobe!

[qeuqheeg222]

and another thing!kobe is a great one on one player on both the offensive and defensive sides of the game but he is a terrrible teammember.look at the squad he had a couple of yrs ago when they first traded big boy(shaq) away..they got brian grant(rastafari),lamar odom and caron butler...d.wade took the same crew further in the playoffs then kirby has ever gotten without big boy...the team this year was kinda of bangede up -no chris mihm,kwame was in and out,odom and walton both got hurt..shit the only position they need to trade for(upgrade) is point guard!!!someone who can play full court dfense on steve nash so he cant get the ball up court......

[hwbs]

you cant replace him....if they do its a last ditch effort...btw who did they get for shaq

[NYCe]

*Prays*

[White_Male_Canada]

Newsflash:

Globetrotters just offered Curly Neal for Kobe

[The Truth]

*Prays*

What do you think the Knicks would have to offer to get Kobe? I can't see Stephon Suckbury and Kobe playing together.

[qeuqheeg222]

miami traded caron butler,lamar odom and brian grant fer big boy...kirby and starbury are cut from the same ball-hoggin cloth and will not work together at all....

[blckhaze]

I'd cry if Kobe became a knick. I just dont like him. THe knicks do need a roster overhaul though. Starbury & Stevey Franchise aint what the used to be, except ballhogs.