Quote:
Just when you thought the Lakers drama had cooled off, Dr. Jerry Buss dumped gasoline on the almost extinguished fire. Buss, who is known as a savvy poker player, might be trying to stack the deck when he acknowledged that he not only entertained trade offers for Kobe Bryant this past summer, but that he hasnt closed the door on Kobe being traded this year. Surely Mitch Kupchaks phone is ringing off the hook today as teams hopeful for offseason success are seeing in training camp and pre-season that the gap may not have closed. Buss was clear in saying the reason he turned away offseason offers from Phoenix and Chicago was because they did not offer enough value, and any deal hed consider would have to include significant All-Star talent. Kobe holds an opt-out in his deal in the summer of 2009, so hes stuck in LA for at least two more seasons if he is not traded. The Lakers at least are admitting that Kobes future may no longer be ! tied to LA, and that may also be why Phil Jackson is sitting on signing a $20 million two-year contract extension. A league source joked this morning that he was not surprised at Buss comments, but wondered in the current economic market how much value another team would offer to grab Kobe knowing full well hes far more likely to opt out in 2009 and shop his services than stick with whomever trades for him. Dallas
and New Yorknot gut their respective teams
..with so much personality,
what do you want from me?
i could be by myself and enjoy the company..
but i'd rather be with her
>:
