Kobe tears up Lakers management

by deipokfo0 on 2012-02-21 14:18:21

Los Angeles Lakers head coach Mike Brown said that Gasol had been unable to avoid rumors in the past few weeks regarding trade scenarios involving Houston, Boston, Minnesota, Orlando and Chicago. "I believe we will make some adjustments here and there, but obviously with having myself and Gasol and Andrew (Bynum) starting as the core," Kobe said. "But you can't have one of our pillars not knowing if he'll be here or not. Do something. One way or another, do something." However, Kupchek has not initiated any direct dialogue about the franchise's future with Gasol concerning his power within the team, as both spoke on the first day of training camp following the failed three-team trade that would have sent Gasol to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Chris Paul from the New Orleans Hornets.

Just like Kobe hopes Gasol stays in Los Angeles, Gasol said he wants to remain with the Lakers. "So, we get to March 15th, the (trade) deadline," Gasol said after being caught up by reporters on his team bus post-game through Kobe's statements. "This is what I'm thinking (about). We hope for that day to come (without a trade). Obviously, if someone tells me something beforehand, it would be great, but I'm not trying to force anything. I try not to force a team, if they want to trade me, to trade me tomorrow." Because "obviously I still believe in our team, I believe in our city, I believe we can continue to be a special, successful team."

"He was on his computer (Saturday) when we landed, expecting to go through some articles and all that," Brown told reporters prior to the team's shooting practice on Sunday. "I just came over and said: 'Paul, stop looking, nonsense. If you keep doing that, it will kill you.' It's out of his control. If it happens, it happens, and no one knows except upstairs and the ownership people... Don't worry, trying to do anything about it is wasted energy."

"I don't know if I should approach him because clearly there are many rumors, many talks, and it seems like teams keep making offers to us (the Lakers), otherwise this information wouldn't leak out," Gasol said. "It seems like a team almost every other day is putting things together, which is understandable. I'm happy that there are people who love having me on their roster because they believe in me as a player, but at the same time, it's frustrating because if I were a player or playing for my team and someone said to me, 'Look, I'm not interested because I value my players, and I want him here,' then everything stops. But it seems like it's not like that." This is what I get, though I haven't really confirmed it, but from the situation of the talks and all, this is my perspective."

"Nothing," Gasol said when asked if he had a meeting with Kupchek about the ongoing speculative trades. "I saw him after the game in the locker room. That's all, but we really didn't talk much."

"He's taking all the rumors (in stride without letting them affect his play)," Brown said. "Paul. There's nothing to the rumors. Rumors happen all the time. There's always talk about every guy on this team in one form or shape. As a team and as individuals, we've ignored the noise."

"Of course, we're talking to a lot of teams (about deals) like everyone else until the trade deadline to see if there's a way to improve the team," Kupchek said in the report. "But the likelihood is that it will be completed with playoff-bound teams. That's just how it normally works, but we'll see."

Gasol was asked by reporters if he intended to proactively speak with Kupchek when the team returns to Los Angeles on Monday to play the Portland Trail Blazers.

Lakers General Manager Kupchek stated over the weekend that a major move involving the Lakers' roster was unlikely. "Basketball is such an emotional game, and you're able to give it your all and invest yourself in the game. We haven't," Kobe said after Gasol scored 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds against the Suns. "Paul, it's hard for Gasol because of all these trade talks and all this other stuff, it's hard for him to fully invest himself or immerse himself completely in the game when he hears trade talks every other day. I wish management would come and either trade him or not trade him."

"He's incredibly professional," Kobe said. "He's going out there and trying to do what he can, but let's face reality. If you don't know where you're going to be tomorrow, if your head is on the chopping block, you feel like you're just waiting. It's hard to put yourself into every game."

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"So, we get to March 15th, the (trade) deadline. This is what I'm thinking (about). We hope for that day to come (without a trade)."

"You just want safety, a little bit of clarity. I think it will help him a lot."

"I've spoken to (Gasol) a bit," Kobe said. "It's just that a player gives everything when you don't know if you're going to be here tough tomorrow. I'd rather they not trade him at all. If they are going to do something, I hope they just (expletive) do it. If they don't plan to, come out and say you don't plan to. That way, he can be comfortable, he can go out, he can play, he can invest all of himself into the game."

"...If they trade him, at least you get some closure, at least he gets some closure. I'd rather they not trade him, but if they are going to do it, (expletive) already, if you don't plan to, come out and say you don't plan to."

The status of the Lakers' Gasol and Kobe's appreciation of how Gasol has handled the surrounding commotion so far have begun despite the team's record of 18-13 this season.

Kobe made it clear that he likes the Lakers' decision not to trade Gasol, a four-time All-Star who paired with Kobe to win back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010.

Kobe told reporters on Friday, "It's important (for Gasol) to know we support him," but was more vocal on Sunday.

By Sunday, in his 11-year veteran career averaging just 16.6 points on 52.9% shooting compared to last season's average of 18.8 points on 49.5% shooting, Brown insisted that Gasol's on-court performance is not affected by any off-court speculation.