LOS ANGELES -- 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.

But wait, Bryant demanded a trade so now the Lakers hands are tied and are forced to do whatever Bryant tells them, no matter what.

Isn't that how it works? The Lakers must not have gotten the memo.

Ric Bucher just implied around 6:30p.m.est on ESPN that Kobe has played his last game as a Laker and if not traded may possibly sit out next season. Ric Bucher is a trust worthy source.

The Son is pulling off an Ultimate Betrayal.

Posted by TrueBlue:

Posted by islesfan:

But wait, Bryant demanded a trade so now the Lakers hands are tied and are forced to do whatever Bryant tells them, no matter what.

Isn't that how it works? The Lakers must not have gotten the memo.

I'd call Kobe's bluff and see if he sits, if he does then Bam!.... he loses the only thing he has going for him, a base not turning on him (which according to Adande from the LAT) is starting to.

It's worth calling his bluff. If he sat out the ENTIRE first half of the seasons, his trade value still wouldn't be lower than it is now anyway.

the lessons of loyalty learned

Posted by Bobby:

the lessons of loyalty learned

i wonder what would've happened to kobe if the lakers just turned their back on him during his trial?

Posted by kam77:

He won't sit out. He'll go to Italy and play there.

Assuming the injunction, that the NBA and the Lakers will file, isn't granted, his contract will just freeze while he's playing in Italy and when he comes back he'll still be property of the Lakers for at least 2 more years.

Posted by islesfan:

Kobe might very well get traded but only in a situation that the Lakers feel is in their best interest.

The Lakers aren't going to bend over and do Kobe's bidding just because Kobe waves his hand like some people suggest.

Well if most of these situations didn't go like that, you would be 100 percent right.LOL

He may not be a knick, but the lakers will get hosed.

[Edited by - anji on 06-18-2007 11:16 PM]

Posted by islesfan:

But wait, Bryant demanded a trade so now the Lakers hands are tied and are forced to do whatever Bryant tells them, no matter what.

Isn't that how it works? The Lakers must not have gotten the memo.

No, not really. If he keeps making a stink about it, then they will be forced to make a move. The negativity would be too much for PR to handle for so long. That's usually how it goes in all sports.

I don't know why any Knick fan would be against him coming here. We had guys actually calling for Isiah to get Artest and yet Kobe is to toxic to bring in here? Please. The guys reasons for leaving LA have to do with a lack of committment to putting a winner on the court. They haven't done much of anything since he resigned and he's understandibly upset.

From everything i'm reading NY still looks like a very likely candidate to get Kobe. I don't see them playing hardball for long. They may do it just to see if they can shake a bit more out of teams, but in the end they'll trade Kobe.

Worst thing you can do to a "true baller" is flip the script on him about competing for a chip...... ask VC