Phil Jackson speaks...says he THINKS Kobe will stay in L.A.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

None of us were really there when Kobe signed that contract. So we can't really say what he was promised or not. Sure, he says they promised him this and that, but its just one mans story. Now if Buss came out and said "Yeah, I promised to build a team around Kobe, but I failed to do so..." Then I would say that story is truthful. But until then, its just one side of the story.

Buss has admitted that he told Kobe he would try to build a contender NOW at all costs. Phil has admitted that Buss told him of a long-term plan to save money and cap space to build for the future...Go figure.

[wcsoldier]

^^^^ the 2007 plan ? lol.. Am I missing sth ? we just have the MLE ... the FO didn't and doesn"t know more than me about where we are going ... as I said before , talk is cheap.. the day I will see some trades happening and which are going to help to contend is sth different than reading and hearing all this drama in the news, which got no interest at all for fans

[SGV]

None of us were really there when Kobe signed that contract. So we can't really say what he was promised or not. Sure, he says they promised him this and that, but its just one mans story. Now if Buss came out and said "Yeah, I promised to build a team around Kobe, but I failed to do so..." Then I would say that story is truthful. But until then, its just one side of the story.

Buss has admitted that he told Kobe he would try to build a contender NOW at all costs. Phil has admitted that Buss told him of a long-term plan to save money and cap space to build for the future...Go figure.

Right... NOW is the key. We don't truely know if he ever promised Kobe that at the time he signed the contract. Everyone wants to save money and work towards a bright future, thats business smart.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Add Jeanie Buss to the list of people who say Kobe isn't getting traded...




STAY IN L.A.

JEANIE BUSS: KOBE, LAKERS WILL STAY TOGETHER
By MARC BERMAN

June 20, 2007 -- Jeanie Buss, a Los Angeles VP and daughter of the Lakers owner, predicted yesterday the organization will heal their wounds and ultimately make amends with Kobe Bryant.

Buss told The Post nobody thought Phil Jackson would ever come back to coach the Lakers either after his Bryant feud and vicious book that took mean-spirited shots at the club.

“I am still of the belief Kobe should not be traded,” said Jeanie Buss, who also is Jackson’s girlfriend. “I don’t have input in basketball decisions but I see a way of things being worked out and keeping Kobe.

“When Phil left, nobody thought he would return to coach them again but I did,” Buss added. “It’s never too late to go back.”

The waters continued to rage by the Pacific with the revelation of a profane Bryant interview in which he rips Mitch Kupchak and center Andrew Bynum in a deli parking lot. Bryant profanely criticized Kupchak for not pulling the trigger on the Jason Kidd trade because he didn’t want to add Bynum to the package.

According to Lakers spokesman John Black, the Lakers have been aware of the video for a few weeks. Black said the videomakers, who may not have known Bryant, approached the Lakers to try to sell the 24-second tape to keep it out of the media’s hands. The videomakers are threatening to release the video this week. It may have been filmed in May.

“It was sort of like blackmail,” one Lakers source said.

Bryant is caught on the tape, saying “Are you kidding me,” when referring to passing up Kidd. Bryant added curse words and said the team should “ship out” Bynum. Bryant called the front office “a mess.”

Black said the video will have no bearing on the Lakers’ stance that they will not succumb to Bryant’s wishes. Jackson said in an e-mail to the L.A. Times that it’s his “unshakeable feeling” Bryant will be at training camp.

But it’s clear the Lakers will have to pull off another trade to make Bryant happy, possibly reignite Kidd talks with the Nets, who may no longer be interested with the East so wide open.

Bryant has a short wish list, and the Knicks, Bulls, Suns and Magic appear among the teams on it. Bryant has a no-trade clause and can steer the deal his direction.

Thomas has said he would not include Eddy Curry in any Bryant offer. One dilemma for the Knicks is Thomas wants to pursue free agent Rashard Lewis on July 1 in a sign-and-trade but also wants to save his assets for the Bryant sweepstakes. Jerry Buss reportedly told Bryant during their Friday meeting in Spain that trading him is a long-term process.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

None of us were really there when Kobe signed that contract. So we can't really say what he was promised or not. Sure, he says they promised him this and that, but its just one mans story. Now if Buss came out and said "Yeah, I promised to build a team around Kobe, but I failed to do so..." Then I would say that story is truthful. But until then, its just one side of the story.

Buss has admitted that he told Kobe he would try to build a contender NOW at all costs. Phil has admitted that Buss told him of a long-term plan to save money and cap space to build for the future...Go figure.

Right... NOW is the key. We don't truely know if he ever promised Kobe that at the time he signed the contract. Everyone wants to save money and work towards a bright future, thats business smart.

I believe Kobe...he would have no reason to lie about that on public radio.

[rik]

None of us were really there when Kobe signed that contract. So we can't really say what he was promised or not. Sure, he says they promised him this and that, but its just one mans story. Now if Buss came out and said "Yeah, I promised to build a team around Kobe, but I failed to do so..." Then I would say that story is truthful. But until then, its just one side of the story.

Buss has admitted that he told Kobe he would try to build a contender NOW at all costs. Phil has admitted that Buss told him of a long-term plan to save money and cap space to build for the future...Go figure.

Right... NOW is the key. We don't truely know if he ever promised Kobe that at the time he signed the contract. Everyone wants to save money and work towards a bright future, thats business smart.

I believe Kobe...he would have no reason to lie about that on public radio.

Yes he would, to save face.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

None of us were really there when Kobe signed that contract. So we can't really say what he was promised or not. Sure, he says they promised him this and that, but its just one mans story. Now if Buss came out and said "Yeah, I promised to build a team around Kobe, but I failed to do so..." Then I would say that story is truthful. But until then, its just one side of the story.

Buss has admitted that he told Kobe he would try to build a contender NOW at all costs. Phil has admitted that Buss told him of a long-term plan to save money and cap space to build for the future...Go figure.

Right... NOW is the key. We don't truely know if he ever promised Kobe that at the time he signed the contract. Everyone wants to save money and work towards a bright future, thats business smart.

I believe Kobe...he would have no reason to lie about that on public radio.

Yes he would, to save face.

Buss woulda' spoke out if Kobe was lying...

[SGV]

Buss has no reason to speak out. Hes letting Kobe make a fool of himself on Public radio. Put it this way, Kobe saying "I was promised this and that and never got it" is a poor attempt at getting sappy ass fools to feel bad and say poor Kobe. Buss has, according to you, the best player in the game on his team. I'm pretty sure he felt Kobe could do it wiith the team he had. Hell even you did! You sat here and praised this team saying they were better than all these other teams, yet when it got down to the nitty you lost faith and rode with Kobe without getting the entire story. I don't believe Kobe until I hear Buss say what Kobe said was the truth.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Buss has no reason to speak out. Hes letting Kobe make a fool of himself on Public radio. Put it this way, Kobe saying "I was promised this and that and never got it" is a poor attempt at getting sappy ass fools to feel bad and say poor Kobe. Buss has, according to you, the best player in the game on his team. I'm pretty sure he felt Kobe could do it wiith the team he had. Hell even you did! You sat here and praised this team saying they were better than all these other teams, yet when it got down to the nitty you lost faith and rode with Kobe without getting the entire story. I don't believe Kobe until I hear Buss say what Kobe said was the truth.

It's obviously the truth...Buss passed up on countless oppurtunities to improve the team by signing players and trading. Instead, he chose to save cap space for the future..This is a fact. Both Phil Jackson AND Kobe Bryant made requests to the FO which hadn't even been considered in the past...Also, Kobe is great, but no one can lead that supporting cast to a championship, especially not with a battered roster...PeACe

[SGV]

How come you never really bashed the team this bad until Kobe started saying it? Sure you would mention their injuries, but you always believed in the team. But now all of a sudden, these guys are scrubs who couldn't beat 5 retarded 2 year olds. Plain and simple, Kobe should bring out the best in the players he has around. Thats what leaders do. From a Management standpoint, just because your best employee requests something doesn't mean you have to jump and do it. Yes, I can understand that Kobe and Phil have requested some different players, but by saving room on the cap, they can spring for someone hot when the time arises. Its all about the future. Why would you want to shell out tons of money to get a player who might only be with the team for a few years then have to rebuild again. You want longevity.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

How come you never really bashed the team this bad until Kobe started saying it? Sure you would mention their injuries, but you always believed in the team. But now all of a sudden, these guys are scrubs who couldn't beat 5 retarded 2 year olds. Plain and simple, Kobe should bring out the best in the players he has around. Thats what leaders do. From a Management standpoint, just because your best employee requests something doesn't mean you have to jump and do it. Yes, I can understand that Kobe and Phil have requested some different players, but by saving room on the cap, they can spring for someone hot when the time arises. Its all about the future. Why would you want to shell out tons of money to get a player who might only be with the team for a few years then have to rebuild again. You want longevity.

Kobe's now in his prime. Lakers must not waste his prime years..That should be self-evident. I never bashed the team, not even now. We just have a lot of roster holes we need to fill. I've always said this. I also never knew of managements plan to sacrifice winning now to win in the future...I knew Bynum was a project, but I had the feeling we were doing everything we could to build a contender. Obviously, we were not...PeACe

[GangstaBoogy]

How come you never really bashed the team this bad until Kobe started saying it? Sure you would mention their injuries, but you always believed in the team. But now all of a sudden, these guys are scrubs who couldn't beat 5 retarded 2 year olds. Plain and simple, Kobe should bring out the best in the players he has around. Thats what leaders do. From a Management standpoint, just because your best employee requests something doesn't mean you have to jump and do it. Yes, I can understand that Kobe and Phil have requested some different players, but by saving room on the cap, they can spring for someone hot when the time arises. Its all about the future. Why would you want to shell out tons of money to get a player who might only be with the team for a few years then have to rebuild again. You want longevity.

Kobe's now in his prime. Lakers must not waste his prime years..That should be self-evident. I never bashed the team, not even now. We just have a lot of roster holes we need to fill. I've always said this. I also never knew of managements plan to sacrifice winning now to win in the future...I knew Bynum was a project, but I had the feeling we were doing everything we could to build a contender. Obviously, we were not...PeACe

Welcome to my side of the conversation douche

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

How come you never really bashed the team this bad until Kobe started saying it? Sure you would mention their injuries, but you always believed in the team. But now all of a sudden, these guys are scrubs who couldn't beat 5 retarded 2 year olds. Plain and simple, Kobe should bring out the best in the players he has around. Thats what leaders do. From a Management standpoint, just because your best employee requests something doesn't mean you have to jump and do it. Yes, I can understand that Kobe and Phil have requested some different players, but by saving room on the cap, they can spring for someone hot when the time arises. Its all about the future. Why would you want to shell out tons of money to get a player who might only be with the team for a few years then have to rebuild again. You want longevity.

Kobe's now in his prime. Lakers must not waste his prime years..That should be self-evident. I never bashed the team, not even now. We just have a lot of roster holes we need to fill. I've always said this. I also never knew of managements plan to sacrifice winning now to win in the future...I knew Bynum was a project, but I had the feeling we were doing everything we could to build a contender. Obviously, we were not...PeACe

Welcome to my side of the conversation douche

doucherag.