I know that is the question that everyone wants to know. Kobe Bryant has been quiet with his demands on being traded. Recently, the NBA announced the schedule for the 2007 – 2008 NBA season and what’s interesting is that the schedule for the Lakers is posted on his site. But even more interesting is that the site bullets key matchups for Bryant and the Lakers this season. This obviously isn’t a sign that he is definitely staying but it is interesting to me. I noticed Kobe was upset not to long after the Finals and my feeling is that he saw Lebron James do it by himself and that’s what he wants. So I think a lot of what happen in June was due to his frustration with being knocked out of the playoffs in the first round for two years straight. Bryant has unbelievable passion for this game and we all know how bad he wants to prove to everyone that he doesn’t need Shaq to win.
In the last few days there has been talk about Jermaine O’Neal wanting to go to the Lakers and then O’Neal denies that he has demanded a trade after it was posted in the newspaper. The Pacer organization has said there is a possibility for a trade with some team but O’Neal has to approve it. With that said there is a rumor that the Pacers want Luke Walton, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom for Jermaine O’Neal. So let’s break this down and try to see what is really going on.
Kobe complained but then he backed off with asking to be traded. Now we hear that O’Neal wouldn’t mind going to the Lakers and playing with Kobe. So if you are seeing what I am seeing Kobe has backed off because he of course talks with O’Neal. So I am sure they have talked about playing with each other. Let’s say Kobe is traded then the chances of O’Neal getting to play with Bryant will never happen. So I really think that Kobe has shut up because he knows there is a chance that O’Neal will be a Laker and that’s all Kobe has asked for since the beginning. Now if the rumors are true about dealing Walton, Bynum and Odom I know personally I would not give up all three players for O’Neal. It took me a long time to say fine with Bynum and Odom but Walton is the key to this team and how its run. I know we picked up Derek Fisher this off-season but having all three is the key to the success of the Lakers this season. Luke is the heart and soul of this team and when he went down last year so did the team. I really hope that the Lakers see this and will not give in to the demands. I feel that the Pacers know they need to get rid of O’Neal and their actions with going younger should be a sign.
The Laker organization needs to do something because this is Phil Jackson’s last year and if they want him to come back they will need to do something now. I love Phil and when he first came to the Lakers no one gave him credit with Shaq and Kobe to win a championship and they did. If the Lakers land O’Neal not only will it keep Jackson but it will also keep Kobe here. I am not saying that they will win because the West is definitely a difficult division but they have a shot. There really is no one on the Suns that can stop O’Neal and we all know Bell can’t stop Bryant unless he close lines him in the face again. The Lakers and the Pacers need to stop with the bull and be honest with the fact they want to make a trade. We will see once again what happens but I expect something to happen by the end of August to get the trade done and let’s hope that doesn’t include Walton.
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