Coach indicates deal is unlikely because Lakers wouldn’t get anything close to equal value, ‘like giving up a diamond for some garnets.’
L.A. Times: The trade deadline is almost two months away, but Coach Phil Jackson doesn’t see Kobe Bryant going anywhere, the strongest such statement by a Lakers official that their top player will still be theirs at season’s end.
“There just [aren't] any comparable situations,” Jackson said. “It’s like giving up a diamond for some garnets, whatever, I don’t know.”
The trade deadline is Feb. 21.
Jackson also chuckled at Bryant’s revelation Saturday to reporters that the Knicks were one of the teams on his destination list during the off-season.
“He was just being kind,” Jackson said. “That wasn’t a serious issue.”
Down the road, however, Jackson acknowledged that Bryant could terminate his contract after next season, which would leave two years and $47.8 million on the table but would make him a free agent.
“His contract has an option,” Jackson said. “There’s an actual situation that evolves for him.”
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kb will be a liker 4 life, he will not opt out and when his contract is over the lakers will give him an extension…
Good to hear.
Kobe is always going to be a Laker i dnt understand why we all keep talking about this..?
Thats for all you people whom seem to hope that he is traded…EAT YOU’RE HEARTS OUT
His contract has an option,” Jackson said. “There’s an actual situation that evolves for him.”
Sounds like his situation will be changing. But seriously folks, kobe will be a laker for life. He will die in his purple and gold. There is no way he would leave the lakers. I am sure of it. At least until his next press conference or radio interview. OMG, those radio interviews. rotfl
until kobe actually says im going to be a laker for life, im going to take his word over you guys. last time i checked he repeatedly said he wants out and has never retracted those statements. I have the utmost confidence in the lakers organization that they will handle this the right way in the next year and a half.
Kobe will stay. I think after all the turmoil, the development of Bynum and the hopes we will acquire good talent next season, it’s hard to imagine there is a better team for Kobe to go than the Lakers.
NY and Chicago are lame and any other NBA powerhouse team might not want to fork all the money Kobe wants. So it seems that The Lakers is indeed the best place for Kobe after all.
I just hope the FO and Kobe are mending fences and Mitch is actively pursuing another star to play alongside him by the trade deadline or by next season.
I hope the Lakers will kick the Suns tomorrow. I want to see Nash, D’antoni and Amare mad! hahahaha
Duh. You don’t trade HOF players in their prime. You try to get them. Everyone is like that.
It has always been about wins. Kobe stays if he wins. This has never changed. He wouldn’t have thought of including Dallas and Phoenix in the offseason if it was just about getting away.
[quote]Jackson also chuckled at Bryant’s revelation Saturday to reporters that the Knicks were one of the teams on his destination list during the off-season.
“He was just being kind,” Jackson said. “That wasn’t a serious issue.[/quote]
It’s like when Kobe goes to Philly he says he would love to play with them.
A few weeks ago the Lakers FO said they weren’t going to trade Kobe so the ball’s in Kobe’s court (like its always been).
If he wants to stay a Laker then he won’t opt out of his contract after next year. If he does opt out, well then he will have turned his back on the Lakers. We will see what Kobe decides after next season.
I want kobe to come out and say he will be here in two years and that he wont opt out of his contract we the time comes. He owes his squad that at least!
A lot can happen between now and the end of NEXT season. If at that time Mitch’s moves to improve the team are to resign Kwame Brown-stain and Kobe’s supporting cast still consists of the same stiffs he has now (i.e., Lame-ar, Brown-stain, Luke, Mihm) then don’t be surprised if he gives the FO the finger. If the front office is serious about making the Lakers a championship contender then they MUST dispose of these nonproductive players. All these fans who write in saying that all we have to do is add Artest, Kidd, or JO to Kobe and Lame-ar for an instant title contender are IDIOTS!
You can add Sasha to the list of unproductive players too.
Sasha “the Machine”!! Are you crazy!! (haha, I say this sarcastically)
O No way . The way his team mates are playing and heelping him right now, there’s no way for that nonsense trade gonna happen. Kobe will be a Laker 4ver!