Kobe's Confusion

Seems like Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant can't make up his mind. For ten years he wore number 8, won three championships, then decided to change his number to 24 (his original high school number). For 7 years he played with Shaquille O'Neal, together they won three championships… in a row, and then Kobe hinted to Laker's management that he wouldn't resign if they resigned Shaq. Then, for the past few years Kobe let the basketball world believe that it was his Kobe-ness that ran Shaq out of Los Angeles. This past week, Kobe decides to drop the bombshell that it was actually owner Dr. Jerry Buss' idea to run the big fat fella with declining skills out of town. (Btw Kobe - thanks for jumping the gun to make it even harder to trade the Diesel.) For someone who prides himself on being intelligent and cultured, Kobe doesn’t seem to think things through..

Kobe seems conflicted, confused. Maybe he’s bi-polar? Maybe he needs a big-brother type figure? Maybe he just needs a hug (or a friend, but that’s another post) There are times Kobe feels their best chance to win involves scoring more than 50 points a game (and 200 points in a four game span); and there are other times Kobe will go almost the whole game (2006 playoffs against the Suns) without putting up any shots. The Lakers are Kobe's team. The Lakers AREN'T Kobe's team. He’s a great teammate. He doesn’t have any friends on the team. I want to be traded! I don't want to be traded! Will the real Kobe Bryant please stand up?

Kobe Bryant might be right; maybe the only way he'll win another championship is if he gets traded to another team. The Lakers seem to have a ton of problems, both on the court and in the front office. The current roster is loaded with players who are either oft injured or can't make wide-open jump shots. To further compound the rebuilding process, the Lakers second best player, Lamar Odom, is a free agent; and their only trade-able players are the ones worth keeping (Andre Bynum & Jordan Farmar - Rookie Game All-Stars).

The Lakers front office has also been a mess since Jerry West left for Memphis. West's protégé, General Manager Mitch Kupchak, hasn't been able to draft or sign the same kind of productive talent. Kupchak hasn't drafted or signed any All-Stars or at least any players that could be traded for All-Stars. (Blockbuster trades brought Wilt Chamberlain & Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Los Angeles and Shaq was signed as a marquee Free Agent). Instead, Kupchak's best trades seem to help other franchises (Shaquille O'Neal - Miami Heat Championship, Caron Butler - Wizards All-Star). Then again, Kupchak may have his hands tied; as everyone else in the front office is related to the owner and his lone superstar always seems to complicate his job.

Phil Jackson may be great at managing superstar egos like Kobe's, but as the late Red Auerbach (Boston Celtics) pointed out, Phil picks and chooses his spots. In other words, Phil goes to franchises that are pre-built for success. In his two terms as the Lakers head coach, Jackson hasn't developed any homegrown All-Stars. He might be a Hall-of-Fame coach, but he's not a great teacher and doesn't develop any young talent. It could be argued that Kupchak hasn't provided him enough talent, but Jackson also has an unwillingness to trust young players - possibly stifling their development (Bynum & Farmar).

Both Phil and Kobe might have a front seat for a Lakers renaissance if Jerry West returns. Unfortunately, all of Kobe's pouting has made West rethink his return to Los Angeles. In fact, Kobe's annual media tirades may make it difficult for the Lakers to sign any top-tier Free Agents. Kobe wants someone to share the load, but doesn't seem to want to share the spotlight. He also wants to be the franchise guy, but keeps making things difficult for his franchise to grow and win. Kobe needs to think things through and make up his mind because he can't have it both ways.