Kobe Tells Dr. Buss He Still Wants to Be Traded [LA Times]

[BRich 56]

quote:

Source: Bryant tells Buss that he wants out

In a meeting in Spain, the Lakers star voices concerns to owner about team's direction.

By Mike Bresnahan, Times Staff Writer

June 16, 2007

 

Buss met with his unhappy $88.6-million employee, Kobe Bryant, for a get-together Friday between owner and superstar in the somewhat surprising setting of Spain.

 

They had spoken by phone two weeks ago, a few days after Bryant asked to be traded, but this was a longer, more emotional conversation.

 

Buss wanted to appeal to the nine-time All-Star, reminding him that trades take time to develop and that winning remains the focus of the organization, but Bryant voiced concerns about the direction of the franchise and reiterated his demand to be traded, said a source with knowledge of the situation.

 

"That's the message that came out of it," the source said.

 

Team sources vehemently insisted there were no plans to trade Bryant, and they were still hopeful that a peaceful solution could be reached. Bryant and Buss are expected to resume their dialogue in the near future.

 

Bryant's displeasure has grown steadily since the Lakers were eliminated by Phoenix last month in the first round of the playoffs. The Lakers are 121-125 since reaching the NBA Finals in 2004, not including their first-round exits the last two seasons.

 

Last month, Bryant publicly requested that Jerry West return to the team's front office

[BRich 56]

quote:

Source: Bryant tells Buss that he wants out

In a meeting in Spain, the Lakers star voices concerns to owner about team's direction.

By Mike Bresnahan, Times Staff Writer

June 16, 2007

 

Buss met with his unhappy $88.6-million employee, Kobe Bryant, for a get-together Friday between owner and superstar in the somewhat surprising setting of Spain.

 

They had spoken by phone two weeks ago, a few days after Bryant asked to be traded, but this was a longer, more emotional conversation.

 

Buss wanted to appeal to the nine-time All-Star, reminding him that trades take time to develop and that winning remains the focus of the organization, but Bryant voiced concerns about the direction of the franchise and reiterated his demand to be traded, said a source with knowledge of the situation.

 

"That's the message that came out of it," the source said.

 

Team sources vehemently insisted there were no plans to trade Bryant, and they were still hopeful that a peaceful solution could be reached. Bryant and Buss are expected to resume their dialogue in the near future.

 

Bryant's displeasure has grown steadily since the Lakers were eliminated by Phoenix last month in the first round of the playoffs. The Lakers are 121-125 since reaching the NBA Finals in 2004, not including their first-round exits the last two seasons.

 

Last month, Bryant publicly requested that Jerry West return to the team's front office

[spenny 0]

quote:

Kobe to Jerry: I still want to leave!

By KEVIN DING

The Orange County Register

Kobe Bryant remains of the same mind

[spenny 0]

The problem I see here IF the Lakers move Kobe is that he would go to the Knicks or Bulls (as most are reporting) an thus make that little much more difficult to contend in the Eastern conference.

[SladeRider 0]

The Lakers don't like trading in conference, they missed out on Steve Nash because they didn't want to trade Shaq to Dallas.

 

Kobe will end up in Chicago more then New York because the Knicks have squat to offer the Lakers.