Last Day of the Offseason

Enjoy the relative calm while it lasts, tomorrow the 2007/2008 season finally begins. Will Kobe be traded by then? Highly doubtful. I expect to see number twenty-four suited up and starting tomorrow.

However, it seems like this distraction is not going to end until one of three things happens: Kobe is traded, Kobe definitively expresses his desire to remain a Laker, or the Lakers start winning.

The first is seeming more likely by the day. According to various sources even coach Phil Jackson, who has lately been one of Kobe's only confidants and protectors, is turning on him. Phil questioned Kobe's commitment to the team, saying that Kobe "hasn't thrown his heart and soul into performing on the floor".

Jackson cited a previous conversation he had with Kobe in which he felt that Kobe committed to giving his all as long as he was a Laker. Clearly Jackson doesn't believe that Kobe is living up to his promise.

Kobe shot back at Phil saying "That (should be) the least of his concerns or anybody's concerns, you don't have to worry about that. … I'm ready to play. Period. You don't have to worry about me."

According to ESPN the Lakers are having "daily" conversations with the Bulls-one of Kobe's approved destinations. The Lakers would be incredibly foolish to pull the trigger on any trade with the Bulls that does not involve Luol Deng and Tyrus Thomas as well as either Kirk Hinrich or Ben Gordon.

In retrospect, giving Kobe a no-trade clause is near the top of the list of mistakes the Laker's organization has made (and that's a big list). Its hard to blame them, Kobe and the Lakers were smitten and the front office wanted to do anything to keep their star happy. Who would have imagined a day when they would live to regret that concession? However, it greatly limits the Lakers' ability to pull off a deal, because ironically Kobe has the final say over any potential trade. This means the Lakers cannot just "ship his a** out" to quote Kobe himself, rather, they have to send Kobe to a city he would enjoy playing in, and not take to many of their good players in return.

I want to believe that Kobe is too competitive, and cares too much, about the game to "phone in" the next couple months before an almost inevitable trade, but we will have to wait one more night to see what happens. Remember, this is the same Kobe that took one shot in game 7 two years ago. He is not opposed to making statements. Hopefully tomorrow nights clash with Houston (7:30pm TNT) will answer most of our questions.