Kobe Bryant implied again that he wants to be traded, writing on
his Web site that "the Lakers and me just have two different
visions for the future." The statement posted Sunday on kb24.com
was the latest in a recent series of sometimes inconsistent
comments from Bryant about whether he wants to remain in Los
Angeles.
"When you love something as much as I love the Lakers its hard
to even imagine thinking about being elsewhere. But, the ONE THING
I will never sacrifice when it comes to basketball is WINNING," the
two-time scoring champion wrote.
"The more I thought about the future, the more I became
convinced that the Lakers and me just have two different visions
for the future."
The 28-year-old Bryant, a nine-time All Star, has four years
left on his contract - but he can terminate it following the
2008-09 season.
Bryant last month voiced frustration at Lakers management and
publicly requested he be traded after the team was eliminated by
Phoenix in the first round of the playoffs. Though he said nothing
could change his mind, Bryant later backed off after speaking with
coach Phil Jackson.
Bryant wrote Sunday on his Web site that the Lakers, owned by
Jerry Buss, are not supporting him with players the team needs to
win championships.
"The Lakers are pursuing a longer-term plan that is different
from what Dr. Buss shared with me at the time I re-signed as a free
agent," he wrote. "I have seen that plan unfold for the last three
years and watched great trade opportunities come and go, and have
seen free agents passed on. That has led to the Lakers not winning
a playoff series."
Buss' spokesman, Bob Steiner, and Lakers spokesman John Black
both declined to comment Sunday.
Buss, who signed Bryant to a seven-year, $136.4 million contract
in 2004, issued a statement two weeks ago stating, "We will
continue to pursue every avenue possible to improve our team with
him as the cornerstone."
(China Daily via AP June 18, 2007)