From ESPN:

Boo-hoo...my team can't magically make lemons out of lemonade. I can't say that I disagree with much of what T.J. Simers of the L.A. Times says in this article, where he calls out Kobe for whining.

Kobe is the one that wanted Shaq out right? So he could put his stamp on the team and not have to share the offense limelight with Shaq. So Kobe sometimes you get what you ask for. You are the leader and you aren't up to the job. There's plenty of talent on that Laker team, they don't need Jerry West. Everytime Kobe whines about losing, he should be told "Well, where would the team be if you hadn't run Shaq off with all your superstar grandiosity?"

Who do they have playing Shaq's part in the triangle offense these days. Kwame Brown and Andrew Bynum. Isn't that it? Kwame is injured alot and Bynum is developing but very raw still.

WYSIWYG, Black Mamba, WYSIWYG.

Yeah, Kobe definitely wanted Shaq out. On the other hand, Shaq wanted to get his money too, and he was conspicuously overweight during their last couple of playoff runs. Kobe was mostly tagged as the villain by the media during that off-season (summer '04) that ended up with Shaq being traded to Miami, but there were definitely no "good guys" in the whole thing as far as I was concerned.

Kobe is probably the best player in the NBA. He's the most consistent, he plays both ways and he is unbelievably clutch. While everyone talks about whether LeBron should shoot or pass, Kobe is the guy who would have scored and won the game on an +1 free throw.

I don't have a problem with this. Mitch Kupchak hasn't been a very good GM and Kobe is hungry to win NOW. I would be disappointed if he was complacent or just went through the motions, but that has never been Kobe's way. The guy is a worker.

I don't like his personality, but the guy can flat out ball.

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Momma was queen of the mambo, Poppa was king of the congo, deep down in the jungle, I start banging my first bongo
Every monkey like to be, in my place instead of me, cause I'm the king of bongo baby, I'm the king of bongo bong
-Manu Chao

No doubt that he's a great player, certainly better than LeBron, but doesn't he also bear some responsibility for the situation they're in? There's nothing wrong with him taking lots of shots, since he's far and away the best player on his team. But given what happened with Shaq, doesn't it suggest to other top-level guys that if they go to the Lakers and don't get on Kobe's good side for whatever reason, then the whole thing will fail?

The underlying issues with a lot of teams, like Minnesota and the Lakers is that they are in cap hell and have lesser GMs.

Folks want to play with Kobe and KG, but the money doesn't work, and it's a money driven league.

The Lakers turned Shaq into Odom and Kwame Brown. Odom can't stay healthy and Brown is barely a starter in this league.

__________________
Momma was queen of the mambo, Poppa was king of the congo, deep down in the jungle, I start banging my first bongo
Every monkey like to be, in my place instead of me, cause I'm the king of bongo baby, I'm the king of bongo bong
-Manu Chao

I guess that's true, but it goes back to how Kobe probably should have been more careful about getting what he wished for. He obviously thought they could get back to contending before too long with the personnel and cap space that would result from moving Shaq, but it didn't work out, and now he's stuck with a mediocre team. Trying harder to make it work with the big guy (who wasn't trying too hard himself) probably would have been Kobe's best move, as opposed to helping blow the whole thing up and hoping to get back to contender status.

Dont forget Butler that is now doing very well in Washington...

Honestly I think a lineup of Bynum, Odom,Butler,Kobe, and a decent PG is enough to advance a round in the playoffs.. on second thought..

trade bynum for Kidd and youd have...

Butler,Odom,Kobe,Kidd add a center and voila DANGEROUS team.

Kobe doesn't make those around him better. Kobe is a selfish player who does not think of the team. When Kobe rewrites his contract to allow for more quality players on his team, then he can be seen in a new light. If Kobe doesn't like his situation, then demand a trade. Jerry West is done with basketball. Time for Jerry to enjoy golf. Time for Kobe to stand up and make his team better. Kobe is a Filet of Weiner.

The Kobe/Shaq show was done. He knew it, Shaq knew it, and the Lakers knew it. Shaq is making too much money now to put together a complete team around. Miami is running into the same trouble now.

If Kobe wants to go then try and get as many young players and picks out it that you can. I don't think he going anywhere. My guess is they hire West back and give him what he wants.