Write On Sports LLC - "The Kobe Bryant saga" by Jake Lloyd

The Kobe Bryant saga

2007-05-31 20:55:35 | By: Jake Lloyd

Kobe Bryant ain't going anywhere.

Except ballet class.

The Los Angeles Lakers star guard -- and arguably the best player in the NBA -- has taken over the ongoing NBA playoffs (yeah, I think there's a game tonight) and the demise of the New York Yankees as the most popular -- by far -- sports talk subject in this country with his words about wishing to be traded. He said, earlier today, on Stephen A. Smith's New York radio show, "Yeah, I want to be traded."

And at the time, I actually believed him. He sounded down in the dumps. He sounded like someone who needs a new home, even if it is on Pluto, as Bryant suggested.

But then, just a few hours later on ESPN Radio's "Dan Patrick Show," Bryant did not back up his earlier claim that nothing would change his mind about wanting a trade.

When asked if former GM Jerry West returning to the organization would alter his mind about wanting out, Bryant said: "That would definitely help out the situation."

In other words, maybe West could convince Bryant to stay and become, you know, the next Jerry West, the next Lakers' shooting guard to forever be remembered by generations of L.A. fans.

Then Bryant went on to say that he's been leaning on his coach, Phil Jackson, a lot during these tough times and that he'd like to continue to play for Jackson.

Which... drum roll, please, would be in Los Angeles.

Finally, Bryant dropped his second bomb of the day.

Remember, first there was the "Yeah, I want to be traded” bomb.

Then: "I don't want to go anyplace else. I want to be a Laker. I want to be here for the rest of my career."

Kobe!!! You're killing me, here. I really thought I had this figured out.

Now this is all I know:

The Lakers organization, according to Bryant, misled him in terms of what direction it was going in after it traded Shaquille O'Neal to the Miami Heat following the 2004 season. Bryant, who signed a huge contract as soon as O'Neal was shipped, thought the Lakers were going to reload around him to make another run at a championship.

Instead, he said, the people upstairs -- specifically owner Jerry Buss and GM Mitch Kupchack -- told Jackson, upon his rehiring after the 2005 season and a one-year hiatus -- that they wanted to rebuild. Thus, the drafting of 17-year-old Andrew Bynum.

Bryant said he didn't know this until recently, which angered him. And he was thrown over the proverbial ledge when a Lakers "Insider" reported Tuesday that Bryant was the reason O'Neal was shipped to Miami.

Bryant said to Smith that Buss told him he simply couldn't keep O'Neal and his $30 million salary. Thus the trade.

Maybe the most interesting thing about all these revelations is that Kobe and Shaq aren't mad at each other. In fact, they're supporting each other. So much for all those interviews about the hate amongst the stars. Sure, they never really got along, but Bryant said if he saw O'Neal today, he'd give him a bunch of hugs.

Weird.

So -- take a few deep breaths -- all that "stuff" led up to today's big announcement... and then backup from that announcement, leaving this situation where?

Who knows.

But here's a guess. Kobe Bryant is a smart person. I don't believe he wants to play in any uniform except that of the Lakers. But he's realized the past three seasons -- despite his enormous ego -- that he needs serious help if he's going to lead the Lakers to an NBA championship.

Heck, he might have realized this during the current season or even last year and stayed quiet because he didn't know about Buss' rebuilding plan and hadn't seen the insider's article.

Either way, Bryant now knows that he needs another marquee player -- a Jermaine O'Neal, a Jason Kidd -- to push L.A. into title contention, especially in the brutal Western Conference (which will likely be adding Greg Oden and Kevin Durant to the mix).

He wants West back in L.A. and he wants some help.

Otherwise? He wants a trade.

So that's where we stand. As Bryant acknowledged, it's in the front office's hands now. He simply wants to continue trailing and taking ballet classes.

Unfortunately for Bryant, the Lakers can do whatever they want. They don't have to trade Bryant (and they certainly won't -- think of the effect that would have on ticket prices). But they don't have to bring back West or sign another big-name player either. Bryant is signed for two more years, and he said that if nothing happens, he'll simply play basketball.

And you know he's not one to stop playing hard just because he's not happy (see: Vince Carter).

But if the Lakers are smart, they will bring back West. And they will try very, very hard to sign a valuable player this summer to serve as Bryant's sidekick. Basically, they'll do what they must to appease Bryant.

Because let's be honest here: The Lakers without Bryant are another version of the Charlotte Bobcats -- a young, talented team going nowhere for a long time. Buss and Kupchak can dream about building around Bynum all they want, but the fact is, the kid hasn't proven he can be a consistent force in the league.

And -- needless to say -- he will never be the type of player we all know Bryant is.

So it's not even 2 p.m. on the West Coast yet, and already it's been a long day for Kobe Bryant, the Lakers and their fans. To add to things, plenty more could go down in the afternoon and nighttime hours.

But for now, as Lakers' faithful return from their lunch breaks, they can rest a little easier than after the morning coffee break. It appears -- I know, not too strong of a word -- that their star will be back in jersey No. 24 next fall.

"I've always dreamed about retiring as a Laker," Bryant said during his second radio interview. "I just hope, hope and hope that something can be resolved, something can be figured out, just something so I can stay here."

And I hope, hope and hope that this column still holds a bit of water in two hours.