I’m sure all of you have heard the trade rumors regarding Laker superstar Kobe Bryant, but I think that it is all nonsense. Kobe is just trying to draw attention to himself (now that he has made another quick exit in the postseason) by blasting the Los Angeles management and organization. He always complains about the team being bad, but his huge contract of over 100 million does nothing for the team to improve in any way. Bryant never even considers being paid less (like Tim Duncan used to) so that management could actually bring in new players (which is what LA needs). If he were to consider this, it would not be a reach to bring in a player like Rashard Lewis or Chauncey Billups. Overall, there are two main reasons why a potential trade (or no trade) would not help Kobe or the Lakers in any way:

1. Even if Bryant is traded somewhere, the other team would have to give up so much of their own talent that it would be no different from his previous scenario in LA. Since Kobe is considered to be the most skilled player in the NBA, other teams would have to trade their other stars just to make a fair deal. For example, if Kobe went to Boston, the Celtics would probably need to give up their fifth pick in the 07 draft (a very deep draft), either Paul Pierce or Al Jefferson (their only stars), and one or two talented young guys (like Gerald Green). This would be the same or worse scenario that in LA, where Kobe was playing with Lamar Odom and Kwame Brown. Instead of playing with Odom (a versatile forward) and Kwame (a solid big man), he would end up playing only with Big Al or Pierce, along with a weak supporting cast. This is not at all better than in LA, and since Kobe wants to win (supposedly), that would not be at all possible with such a weak starting five of Delonte West, Kobe, Tony Allen, Pierce or Jefferson, and Kendrick Perkins. I would much rather have a lineup of Smush Parker, Kobe, Luke Walton, Lamar, and Kwame to play with.

2. Now that Bryant has declared to be traded, this potentially ruins the team chemistry of the Lakers. If Kobe was suddenly not traded at all, the other LA players would know that they would be playing with a guy that did not enjoy playing with them. That would be an extremely uncomfortable experience for the team, and it would be impossible to win anything like that (not like they were winning much in the first place). That is why this puts so much pressure on the Los Angeles management to trade him at all costs. If they do, they would maybe get some new talent in return, but if they do not, then the whole team falls apart. Kobe would keep on passing the ball more and being "unselfish" through next season, but the supporting cast would not enjoy playing with him. Lamar, Kwame, and everybody else would not step up their games (what Kobe wants) and the Lakers would continue to be a mediocre team who loses in the first round to a better team (like the Phoenix Suns).

I think that it was Bryant’s mistake to say that he wants to be traded because it puts so much pressure on the LA front office. His statements would make the team even worse if he was not traded (which is very likely), but the whole idea is just a huge risk to take by management. All Kobe did in this case was create controversy, which is something the Lakers do not need, since they just came off a demoralizing defeat in the Playoffs and look to rebuild solely for the future.