Kobe Bryant is Sick of the Pau Gasol Trade Rumors, Too

"“I wish management would come out and either trade him or not trade him. It’s just tough for a player to give his all when you don’t know if you’re going to be here tomorrow. I’d rather them not trade him at all, but if they’re going to do something, I wish they would just … do it.”"

Minnesota? Orlando? Does Philly need another big man (and would it part with Iguodala or Lou Williams)? Might as well throw Atlanta in there (though I’m not sure Horford/Teague would be sufficient), and Houston, too (could Kyle Lowry be the solution to LA’s point guard woes?).

The Lakers are 19-10 18-13, fifth in the West. They’re certainly not awful, but they’re also not the favorites to reach the Finals (in a 7-game series, I’d trust the Clippers and Thunder more right now).

My issues with trading Gasol: 1) Bynum is injury prone, 2) you’re losing a very good passing post player, 3) you lose your biggest advantage (twin towers). The two other contenders in the West both have capable PF/C combos (Jordan/Griffin; Perkins/Ibaka), even though only one of those guys is a reliable scorer.

Reasons to trade Gasol: 1) lack of point guard, 2) lack of 3-point shooting, 3) if you can somehow fill both voids in a trade for Gasol, how can you not pull the trigger?

The NBA trade deadline this year is March 15th. Just be ready for the Kobe backlash – in the short term – if LA gives up its second best player. How pissed do you think he’ll be that he’s not getting a 6th ring? Jordan’s got six. I mean, it’s not like it’s happening with Gasol, but …

Kobe Bryant upset with Lakers’ management over Pau Gasol’s situation [LA Times]