Kobe Bryant Fans!

We seem to go from one extreme to the other. One week its Kobe Bryant will pry will remain a Laker, the next week its Kobe Bryant pry wouldn’t be a Laker. Now we are back to the he probably wouldn’t part as this New York Post article states that several sources are saying Kobe Bryant will likely be traded (even if it means the Lakers will get less in return than they should) because of the growing hostilities between Jerry Buss and Kobe Bryant.

October 23, 2007 — LOS ANGELES - I’m determined not to leave Los Angeles until either Kobe Bryant is blown away by the Santa Ana trade winds or Coby Karl calls Jerry Buss a liar. Some piped-in people out here are convinced Bryant will not be a Laker Oct. 30 when they open the season against the glaringly upgraded Rockets, even if L.A. must accept an inequitable return for the league’s preeminent talent; that’s how repugnant he supposedly has become to the owner’s senses. Though others in the know concede Bryant’s incomparable purple and gold scoring salvos are endangered (even should he remain holed up at the office supply store, Phil Jackson has asked him to slab his beast-of-burden act), they refuse to believe Buss will “just take stuff” to exorcise an evil spirit.

“You can make a (bad) deal any time you want,” an opposing team executive said. “If you’re willing to just take stuff, what’s the hurry? You’ve got until the late February trade deadline to afford yourself a chance to see if things can be worked out.”

You can’t get any more logical. Derek Fisher, perhaps the most revered voice of reason of any active player - as evidenced by his union president position - summed up Bryant’s “I want to be traded” stance exactly the same way when I asked him for his take.

Unfortunately for the Lakers and their fans, common sense may not apply in this situation. Hostilities between Buss and Bryant appear to have become personal.

Jackson is the lone person who has any shot of disarming this dispute. Both sides trust him more these days than ever before, I’m informed.

Buss is listening to Jackson’s advice to keep Bryant if compliant. Bryant may not be a true believer but, for the moment, Jackson has his attention; the Zen Hen is trying to persuade Bryant everything is being done within reason to boost a roster that boasts noticeably more positive qualities than given credit.

First, the Lakers are relatively healthy for an abrupt change. Lamar Odom is the sole exception, and his surgically repaired shoulder is expected to be ready for duty soon.

The young big men have gotten better, especially Andrew Bynum, who Pete Newell says showed the most improvement over a two-summer span than anyone else in his illustrious camp history.

Every small forward must be guarded deep, which opens things up inside, and two of them, Luke Walton and Odom, are the team’s foremost precision passers.