Season is Approcahing, so some rumors.

[Protege1212]

HONOLULU -- Jerry Buss has already shown that he'll part with superstars. Yet upon hearing that the Los Angeles Lakers' owner would consider trading Kobe Bryant, even Shaquille O'Neal was shocked.

"I guess it's business before loyalty. But, wow. He said that?" O'Neal said Thursday in Miami after learning Buss told reporters he would trade Bryant under the right circumstances.

Buss indeed did, telling three Los Angeles-area beat writers covering training camp in Honolulu on Wednesday that he "would certainly listen" to trade offers for the two-time NBA scoring champion.

"At any time, I think you have to do that with anybody," Buss said, discussing Bryant publicly for the first time since the often-frustrated Lakers' star asked to be traded at the end of last season. "It's just part of the game, to listen to somebody who has a dissatisfied player that you think is going to fit.

"You can't keep too many loyalties. You've got to look at it as a business. He looks at it the same way I look at it."

Buss made his comments to reporters from the Los Angeles Times, the Orange County Register and the Riverside Press-Enterprise.

"Dr. Buss's comments today provided more insight to a conversation we shared in Barcelona earlier this summer," Bryant said in a statement issued Thursday. "I have touched on this conversation and other conversations within the Lakers' organization during the recent months and again at the Lakers' media day. I have nothing further to add and look forward to the upcoming season with my teammates."

The Lakers won three championships and reached the NBA Finals four times in five years before O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat in July 2004. They haven't won a playoff series since O'Neal left, and O'Neal has since helped the Heat win the 2006 NBA title.

"Anyone can be traded, but mine was different because I walked into the office and demanded a trade," O'Neal said. "I don't take loyalty lightly. If you tell me you're going to do something, I expect you to do it. And then when you change your mind without telling me, that means you're disloyal so we can't be down anymore."

Bryant has four years worth $88.6 million left on the seven-year contract he signed a day after O'Neal was traded, but can terminate the deal in two years. That would leave $47.8 million on the table.

"I tend not to think in basketball terms that many years down the road because things change so dramatically, but he could test the waters at that point," Buss said. "If he still is in that frame of mind, then hopefully we can do a sign-and-trade and get some comparable talent. I would like to think that we win between now and then so it doesn't come up."

Following his trade request, Bryant kept a low profile regarding the Lakers until reporting with his teammates Oct. 1 on media day -- before the team left for Hawaii. Bryant told reporters that frustration led to his blowup. Otherwise, he said the time had come to move forward.

Buss recalled an offseason meeting in Barcelona when he tried to talk Bryant out of the trade request.

"He listened very carefully for 30, 45 minutes," Buss said. "I tried to explain to him how much the city of Los Angeles loved him, and that to leave 10 million sweethearts for unknown territory might not be the right thing to do. But when I was finished, he said he basically felt the same way. And I said, `OK. With that, I will proceed to see what's available."'

Buss didn't elaborate other than saying he might have acted on a trade offer that was "within reason."

"You have to get comparable value when you make a trade," Buss said. "It's very hard to trade somebody like him because people who have enough material to make it worthwhile are usually contenders and they don't want to make the trade."

Buss also said he occasionally told Bryant of certain offers, none of which he found fair to the Lakers, and acknowledged frustration at losing out to Boston for Kevin Garnett's services.

"I told him that I would try my best to accommodate his wishes, but that I could not afford to let him go unless we got comparable talent -- if there was such a thing," Buss said.

The 29-year-old Bryant is about to begin his 12th NBA season -- all with the Lakers.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3058329

[Yakkacat25]

HONOLULU -- Jerry Buss has already shown that he'll part with superstars. Yet upon hearing that the Los Angeles Lakers' owner would consider trading Kobe Bryant, even Shaquille O'Neal was shocked.

"I guess it's business before loyalty. But, wow. He said that?" O'Neal said Thursday in Miami after learning Buss told reporters he would trade Bryant under the right circumstances.

Buss indeed did, telling three Los Angeles-area beat writers covering training camp in Honolulu on Wednesday that he "would certainly listen" to trade offers for the two-time NBA scoring champion.

"At any time, I think you have to do that with anybody," Buss said, discussing Bryant publicly for the first time since the often-frustrated Lakers' star asked to be traded at the end of last season. "It's just part of the game, to listen to somebody who has a dissatisfied player that you think is going to fit.

"You can't keep too many loyalties. You've got to look at it as a business. He looks at it the same way I look at it."

Buss made his comments to reporters from the Los Angeles Times, the Orange County Register and the Riverside Press-Enterprise.

"Dr. Buss's comments today provided more insight to a conversation we shared in Barcelona earlier this summer," Bryant said in a statement issued Thursday. "I have touched on this conversation and other conversations within the Lakers' organization during the recent months and again at the Lakers' media day. I have nothing further to add and look forward to the upcoming season with my teammates."

The Lakers won three championships and reached the NBA Finals four times in five years before O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat in July 2004. They haven't won a playoff series since O'Neal left, and O'Neal has since helped the Heat win the 2006 NBA title.

"Anyone can be traded, but mine was different because I walked into the office and demanded a trade," O'Neal said. "I don't take loyalty lightly. If you tell me you're going to do something, I expect you to do it. And then when you change your mind without telling me, that means you're disloyal so we can't be down anymore."

Bryant has four years worth $88.6 million left on the seven-year contract he signed a day after O'Neal was traded, but can terminate the deal in two years. That would leave $47.8 million on the table.

"I tend not to think in basketball terms that many years down the road because things change so dramatically, but he could test the waters at that point," Buss said. "If he still is in that frame of mind, then hopefully we can do a sign-and-trade and get some comparable talent. I would like to think that we win between now and then so it doesn't come up."

Following his trade request, Bryant kept a low profile regarding the Lakers until reporting with his teammates Oct. 1 on media day -- before the team left for Hawaii. Bryant told reporters that frustration led to his blowup. Otherwise, he said the time had come to move forward.

Buss recalled an offseason meeting in Barcelona when he tried to talk Bryant out of the trade request.

"He listened very carefully for 30, 45 minutes," Buss said. "I tried to explain to him how much the city of Los Angeles loved him, and that to leave 10 million sweethearts for unknown territory might not be the right thing to do. But when I was finished, he said he basically felt the same way. And I said, `OK. With that, I will proceed to see what's available."'

Buss didn't elaborate other than saying he might have acted on a trade offer that was "within reason."

"You have to get comparable value when you make a trade," Buss said. "It's very hard to trade somebody like him because people who have enough material to make it worthwhile are usually contenders and they don't want to make the trade."

Buss also said he occasionally told Bryant of certain offers, none of which he found fair to the Lakers, and acknowledged frustration at losing out to Boston for Kevin Garnett's services.

"I told him that I would try my best to accommodate his wishes, but that I could not afford to let him go unless we got comparable talent -- if there was such a thing," Buss said.

The 29-year-old Bryant is about to begin his 12th NBA season -- all with the Lakers.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3058329

Jerry Buss has made no attempt to improve the Lakers in the offseason. Cannot say I blame Kobe. I rib RPS about Kobe...but he's flat-out "The Best" player in the NBA. But you need talent around him to compete. If Bynum helps and Odom is at full strength...the Lakers can do some damage. Luke Walton is solid....UOFA:D Farmar playing like a typical UCLA player in the NBA...really not much of anything...lol Cannot resist poking fun at UCLA....I really hate them. Jerry Buss should really think about what kind of team he wants. If he wants to contend he better start shaking things up...you have Kobe. I find it hard to believe he cannot do something to create a buzz for the Lakers chances of contending for another title!

[loborick]

NBA sucks. The players don't put out any effort on defense, don't know how to play fundamentals and have more power than the coaches.

I'd rather watch Podunk St. play Toledo A&M in college basketball than any NBA game. The NBA is all flash an no substance anymore.

[Yakkacat25]

NBA sucks. The players don't put out any effort on defense, don't know how to play fundamentals and have more power than the coaches.

I'd rather watch Podunk St. play Toledo A&M in college basketball than any NBA game. The NBA is all flash an no substance anymore.

I'd rather Watch the Phoenix Suns:D

[Mark]

Mr UofA is a role player. Bynum is a project and famer is... well.... not much. Lamar is streaky but a freak when he wants to be.

Kobe is all world.

[Yakkacat25]

Mr UofA is a role player. Bynum is a project and famer is... well.... not much. Lamar is streaky but a freak when he wants to be.

Kobe is all world.

And a big part of what the Lakers do. How many guys Walton Size can pass the way he does. He's a playmaker.

[Mark]

And a big part of what the Lakers do. How many guys Walton Size can pass the way he does. He's a playmaker.

Like I said, a role player with a dad that talks too much, smoked to much weed.

[Yakkacat25]

Like I said, a role player with a dad that talks too much, smoked to much weed.

And he plays a big-role. That's why they re-signed him.

[Bloo]

I wouldn't want to coach Kobe if I had the coaching talent of Phil Jackson, Pat Riley, and Red Auerbach all rolled into one.

Kobe is not a complete player, and there is no way in h-e-double hockey sticks he's all-world.

[Mark]

I wouldn't want to coach Kobe if I had the coaching talent of Phil Jackson, Pat Riley, and Red Auerbach all rolled into one.

Kobe is not a complete player, and there is no way in h-e-double hockey sticks he's all-world.

How does he make both all defensive team and almost lead the leauge in scoring? Plays both sides and if he has someone to pass to he would. Have you seen the summer leauge team and what everyones saying about him? Just cause you dont like him doesnt mean you cant give the man props. He most likely will be as good as Mike and maybe even better one day who knows.

[loborick]

Kobe is the best player in the league, no doubt. And one of the best ever. But he has been nothing but disruptive to the Lakers. I love the Lakers, but have a hard time rooting for Kobe. Fans on the Laker board are split about what to do. Some say you can't trade the best player in the league, others say you need to get what you can for him and start over. I tend to agree with the latter.

[Protege1212]

I am a Laker hater, but I think you are right Rick. By trading Kobe, they could garner a tremendous amount of talent/picks for the future. I don't know that they are going to be able to surround him with enough support to really make a run at a championship.

[sandia mt]

:Afun):Afun)

Cheech and Chong - haha - they don't make them like that anymore.

:blowup

[Bloo]

How does he make both all defensive team and almost lead the leauge in scoring? Plays both sides and if he has someone to pass to he would. Have you seen the summer leauge team and what everyones saying about him? Just cause you dont like him doesnt mean you cant give the man props. He most likely will be as good as Mike and maybe even better one day who knows.

There are so many other stats in the game of basketball you left out it is not even funny. I'll say it again- Kobe is not a COMPLETE player... yet. Maybe he will be someday. I'm not holding out hope or holding my breath, though.

Is he as good as Mike? Mike wasn't perfect, but Mike understood how to make his teammates better, and Kobe hasn't even begun to scratch the surface on that one.

That said, is he [Kobe] still one of the best ever? Probably.

Is he a complete player. Nope. I stand by what I said, and I can tell you from talking to coaches at many levels I'm not alone in my sentiments.

[loborick]

Buss will go down in history as trading away the two best players of this era...

[sandia mt]

He may be good, but do you really want this guy on your team?

Phil Jackson was apparently sick of Kobe Bryant’s crybaby behavior on Tuesday and told him to take a hike: "I don't want you riding the exercise bike in front of the team," Jackson supposedly told Bryant in front of teammates. "There's nothing wrong with your legs. I need you to be part of the team. I need to come to practice and work hard." And then he banned him from practice that day, the third day in a row Bryant didn’t work out.

[Bloo]

He may be good, but do you really want this guy on your team?

Phil Jackson was apparently sick of Kobe Bryant’s crybaby behavior on Tuesday and told him to take a hike: "I don't want you riding the exercise bike in front of the team," Jackson supposedly told Bryant in front of teammates. "There's nothing wrong with your legs. I need you to be part of the team. I need to come to practice and work hard." And then he banned him from practice that day, the third day in a row Bryant didn’t work out.

Like I said...