Lakers: Kobe Bryant Steps Up His Game

Kobe Bryant has stepped up his offseason game, applying massive pressure to the Los Angeles Lakers "requesting" change. As reported by ESPN, Kobe Bryant wants Jerry West to return to the Los Angeles Lakers with full control, otherwise he'll demand a trade.

West is currently employed by the Memphis Grizzlies but is scheduled to leave as of July 1. In the meantime, Kobe Bryant may get fined for tampering.

Now the hard part . . . what do the Los Angeles Lakers do now?

Offer Jerry West the Job

The Los Angeles Lakers can quickly accede to Kobe Bryant's demand, getting on the phone the first day of July and offer West the position of General Manager.

In this scenario he can accept the job, reject it or compromise with a position as "consultant."

For West to accept, Mitch Kupchak would either have to be fired or reassigned. It would be a very public rebuke . . . one that West may not be willing accept.

Remember, Kupchak is West's protégé. There is much loyalty between the two. West may not take the job based on that alone.

On Sunday, West commented to ESPN, "I haven't thought about it at all until Kobe brought it up today. My main priority is to [Grizzlies owner] Mike Heisley and to finish up with the Memphis Grizzlies . . . I am fiercely loyal to Mike, as I am to Mitch Kupchak. Having said that, I'm a lifelong Laker and we will see what happens."

Of course at 69 years old, West may truly be retiring. He left the Los Angeles Lakers for many reasons including Phil Jackson's relationship with Jeanie Buss and Jim Buss' ascension to power. Are these issues resolved?

Now that time has passed, perhaps West jumps at the chance to return home . . . but will the Los Angeles Lakers offer a position after a public demand by a player, even one of Kobe Bryant's stature?

Reject Kobe Bryant's Ultimatum

Assuming ESPN has their story correct, the Los Angeles Lakers may not take kindly to being dictated to by any player.

Dr. Jerry Buss is gaining in years (hopefully he has many, many more) and has begun the succession process with his son Jim taking over the basketball side of the Los Angeles Lakers. His daughter Jeanie already runs the business operation of the organization.

Though Jim does not have complete control of the team at this point, his influence has grown dating back to the 2004 NBA Finals when the Los Angeles Lakers were beaten by the Detroit Pistons. His recent radio interview on 570 KLAC apparently ruffled many feathers within the organization (Jeanie, Kurt Rambis, etc) . . . who don't appear to be entirely accepting of his role as "boss."

This isn't the first time Kobe Bryant has used his power within the organization to implement change. Before the 2004 Finals were over he began recruiting Mike Krzyzewski.

It's long debated his role in the Shaquille O'Neal trade. Some attest he was blameless . . . Dr. Buss simply didn't want to pay O'Neal's hefty price tag. Others credit Kobe Bryant for holding out on re-signing until both Jackson and O'Neal had been dispatched. Declaring either as the "truth" is fruitless. Kobe Bryant is in essence a human Rorschach.

Whether he has issue specifically with Jerry, Jim or Mitch may not matter . . . bringing in West could be perceived as an affront to Jim.

A long time ago Jerry Buss took a player's (Magic Johnson) word over a coach (Paul Westhead).

But Kobe Bryant's over Jim's?

When asked to choose a father is more likely to stand by his son.

Quickly Improve the Roster

Kobe Bryant wants to win more than anything else. He lacks faith that the organization will be able to accomplish that. If winning means moving on from the team, it appears he'll do whatever it is he has to do.

Kobe Bryant's comments in general are warranted. The Los Angeles Lakers have made bad move after bad move since West left.

Their best acquisition (Andrew Bynum) appears too young to play with Kobe Bryant at a championship level. Only one player remains from the Shaquille O'Neal t trade (Lamar Odom) and he's yet to live up to expectations. He's also recovering from shoulder surgery which lowers his trade value significantly.

Kwame Brown is indirectly a Laker from the O'Neal trade (Caron Butler trade). He too has disappointed on the floor and is hurt. His pending ankle surgery may be simple . . . or it could involve major reconstruction.

His expiring contract still makes him somewhat valuable on the trade market, but the surgery certainly doesn't help make him easier to trade.

Unless the Los Angeles Lakers are willing to give up Andrew Bynum, and a team is willing to accept filler like an injured Kwame Brown . . . the Laker trade bait this summer is looking worse and worse.

Forget moving Vladimir Radmanovic for value. Brian Cook, Sasha Vujacic? Unlikely.

The way it stands the Indiana Pacers aren't willing to trade Jermaine O'Neal without receiving both Andrew Bynum and Odom. Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves doesn't appear to be on the block.

If Jerry West is a possibility for the Laker position . . . it may be unethical for him to trade Pau Gasol to LA before July. It'd be up to his as of yet unnamed successor.

Other targets exist but players like Ron Artest and Zach Randolph come with baggage. Jason Kidd is aging and probably not worth giving up Andrew Bynum for.

The draft lottery was very favorable to the Los Angeles Lakers, but one month ahead of the draft the situation looks bleak.

If somehow the Los Angeles Lakers can turn that environment into a lopsided trade in their favor . . . that may be enough to appease Kobe Bryant without Jerry West.

Of course the 29 other teams are well aware of the pressure Kobe Bryant is applying to the organization, which certainly doesn't help LA's bargaining position.

Trade Kobe Bryant

If the Los Angeles Lakers decide not to pursue West and can't improve the team dramatically through trade . . . a Kobe Bryant trade may be their only option.

The fact that Kobe Bryant holds a no-trade clause complicates matter though technically he can't force a trade.

The Los Angeles Lakers would want to get a bidding war going to get the best return but Kobe Bryant's no-trade clause could complicate matters.

Prior to re-signing with LA (along with a flirtation with the Los Angeles Clippers), Kobe Bryant was interested in playing for the Chicago Bulls.

The core pieces in such a trade could be Kobe Bryant for Luol Deng with either Ben Gordon or Kirk Hinrich in tow. Such a deal would have to wait until July 11 for the moratorium to end. To match salaries the Bulls would have to convince either PJ Brown or Andres Nocioni to agree to a sign and trade.

(Though there are base year compensation issues, the right S&T amount can make it legal).

The Portland Trail Blazers seem likely to choose Greg Oden in the coming draft. Perhaps Oden, Zach Randolph, Jarrett Jack and Fred Jones for Kobe Bryant (and even Andrew Bynum) would work.

The Seattle SuperSonics have no coach and no general manager. Perhaps that open book is appealing to Kobe Bryant. How about Ray Allen and the number two pick?

Is the discontent in Phoenix real? Would Amare Stoudemire be attainable with Raja Bell and/or Leandro Barbosa? Would rivals even consider dealing within the division?

The Dallas Mavericks were embarrassed in the first round of the playoffs. How attached are they to Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard after the collapse?

The possibilities appear endless but would they be bold enough to be responsible for not only trading Shaquille O'Neal but Kobe Bryant as well?

It's hard to imagine any circumstance where the Los Angeles Lakers are lauded for such a move, but Jim Buss may truly want to build the team as he sees fit regardless of public perception.

The Bottom Line

Kobe Bryant has since downplayed (to the LA Times) the comments the attributed to him by ESPN, taking out words like "demand" and suggesting his future with the Los Angeles Lakers is not tied to West's return.

Either there was a major miscommunication between Kobe Bryant and ESPN (which is unlikely considering Ric Bucher is a responsible, respected reporter) . . . or perhaps Kobe Bryant overstated his position. Obviously this is an emotional time for the Los Angeles Lakers and their fans.

Perhaps the picture isn't as bleak as it seemed over the weekend. Perhaps West does return to LA but as a consultant . . . without displacing Kupchak.

Jim Buss could be the decider, taking away a difficult choice from his father.

Or maybe West retires. The Los Angeles Lakers flounder and end up trading the most dominant scorer in the league since Michael Jordan.

Kobe Bryant said to the Times, "I want to retire a Laker."

What will the future hold?

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