Reports Out Of L.A. State Buss Says Kobe Could Still Be Traded

Now I realize by writing the following words, I am going to alienate many of my peers, fellow members of the media. But sometimes to borrow from Spike Lee you just have to “Do The Right Thing!” And unfortunately I will take the figurative bullet for this one.??But if Dr. Jerry Buss is given a copy of this, and takes the time to read it, I would like to offer the owner of the Los Angeles Lakers a bit of advice. If a reporter asks you a question, maybe you should think about saying “No Comment” more often!

Under the double heading of not knowing when to keep your mouth shut and always let sleeping dogs lie Buss opened up a can of worms, just when things seemed contained. In a report published by the Los Angeles Times Thursday, Buss for some strange reason agreed to talk about the off-season soap opera that went on between Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and Buss. In case you were spending the Summer in a sensory deprivation tank let me quickly recap.

Earlier this Summer Kobe broke off a call to Stephen A. Smith (self proclaimed genius) of ESPN that was broadcast on ESPN Radio. Kobe said in the interview that he wanted out of Los Angeles. He told Smith that he could not foresee any circumstances which would cause him to change his mind. A few hours later Bryant was again on the radio this time with the Lakers Los?Angeles flagship station. He told his interviewer that that he had just gotten off the phone with L.A. coach Phil Jackson, and that Jackson had assured him that things would be worked out to Bryant?s satisfaction. He also told the talk show host that he loved Los Angeles, never wanted to leave but he was frustrated with the team?s early exit in the Post Season.

The?”Honeymoon? period did?not last for long as within weeks, Bryant was telling anybody and everybody that the Lakers and he were heading in different directions. He said the team was in a rebuilding mode, and that he wanted to win now. He demanded a trade, and started recounting stories allegedly about a deal that could have been made but was not. The alleged proposed trade would have given the Lakers the New Jersey Nets point guard?Jason Kidd in return for a host of Los Angeles players including center Andrew Bynum. Reportedly, Los Angeles owner Jerry Buss refused to sign off on the deal which angered Bryant. Bryant could not understand that the Lakers would have hesitated to trade Bynum to acquire Kidd one of the NBA?s top point guards.

Bryant however was a model player during the FIBA Americas Championship?Tournament held in Las Vegas. Whether it was the influence of his teammates, or Team USA head?coach Mike Krzyzewski, Bryant played the most unselfish team oriented?basketball that this longtime NBA observer had ever seen him exhibit. It may have been a turning point in his career.

Bryant seemed to carry that new attitude with him into the Lakers training camp. On Monday October 1, which was Media day Bryant told reporters that his trade demands were a thing of the past, and that his number one priority was bringing a NBA Championship title back to the city of Los Angeles. Bryant it seemed was trying to make amends with his teammates, and the city of Los Angeles, it looked like Bryant had gained maturity through the Summer. Whether he was being sincere or not, he was being smart enough to take the subject off the table in the public forum. It seemed like all was going to smooth sailing at the Staples Center for the Lakers.

Well, that is until Dr. Buss decided to bring the issue?back into the media with his interview with the Times. Buss told the reporter that he had told Kobe that he would try to accommodate his demands for a trade if he could get equal value in return. He said the trades proposed by other clubs were basically laughable, and he rejected them all out right. However Buss said that if the Lakers were out of contention by February he would explore options about trading Bryant again! The Times quoted the Los Angeles owner as saying “I would certainly listen. At any time, I think you have to do that with anybody. It’s just part of the game, to listen to somebody who has a dissatisfied player that you think is going to fit. You can’t keep too many loyalties. You’ve got to look at it as a business. He looks at it the same way I look at it.”

Dr. Buss why on earth would you say this? It doesn’t make any sense, Bryant was playing the good soldier, being stoic saying the right things. And then you open up the “Pandora’s Box” all over again, why? Dr. Buss I would never be presumptuous enough to tell you how to run your team. And I agree you never rule out anything in business, there are no absolutes. But have enough common sense sir, to keep these thoughts behind closed doors. Kobe offered you and your team a chance for a fresh start at least in the Public Perception. You just with your ill thought out statements destroyed that opportunity. Dr. Buss they say “Silence Is Golden” in your case I think that motto should be painted on your office wall!