Kobe wants Jerry West to return as Lakers GM or he wants out of L.A.

[hockeybeat]

Without editorial comment:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18893597/

 

[rokski2]

Ah, Kobe, Kobe. Just can't stay away from controversy.

 

[Minnesota4Ever]

I could see West coming back there. I just wonder if he wants to deal with Jerry Buss and Phil Jackson.

 

[GB-Hack]

I saw the Ric Bucher story on this earlier. And IIRC Plaschke said this was what he was saying without saying it in his column last night/this morning.

I thought the reason he left in the first place was because he and Jackson didn't see eye-to-eye.

 

[Norman Stansfield]

Paging RAMBO...RAMBO please pick up the white courtesy phone...

 

[rokski2]

I saw the Ric Bucher story on this earlier. And IIRC Plaschke said this was what he was saying without saying it in his column last night/this morning.

I thought the reason he left in the first place was because he and Jackson didn't see eye-to-eye.

Yep. That seemed to be a large part of the issue.

When did Bucher start going with the Pat Riley look? I'm only used to the combover.

 

[GimpyScribe]

Ah, Kobe, Kobe. Just can't stay away from controversy.

He's damned if he stays quiet and accepts Kupchak's incompetence, and he's damned if he speaks up and voices his displeasure at the current situation.
And, before anyone starts with the "it's his fault they traded Shaq" ... if they HAD Shaq right now, they'd still be in the same position because the role players are all gone and Shaq is just about finished (don't forget, he was completely healthy and couldn't carry Miami past the Bulls, who didn't even win 50 games this season). The reason the Lakers can't do anything is the huge contracts owed to Odom and Kwame Brown. Nice work, Kup****.

If Bryant speaking up reunites West and the Lakers, then I'm all for it.

 

[BYH]

I want Kobe in jail. Doesn't mean it's going to happen.

 

[rokski2]

If Bryant speaking up reunites West and the Lakers, then I'm all for it.

Same thing he seems to be thinking. West for Kupcake would be the steal of the decade for the Lakers.

 

[Starman]

West certainly lifted that Grizzlies franchise to great heights, eh?

Today is Jerry West's 69th birthday.

What does he need more of this **** for? Dealing with infants like Kobe Bryant, egomaniacs like Jerry Buss, and legends-in-their-own minds like Phil Jackson?

Jerry West should buy a big beautiful house overlooking the Pacific Ocean (if he doesn't own one already), sit back in the Jacuzzi, and drink a dozen daquiris every day. Two dozen on the weekends.

 

[rokski2]

West certainly lifted that Grizzlies franchise to great heights, eh?

Today is Jerry West's 69th birthday.

What does he need more of this **** for? Dealing with infants like Kobe Bryant, egomaniacs like Jerry Buss, and legends-in-their-own minds like Phil Jackson?

Yeah, about that Grizz job performance...

I'm sure Jerry is asking himself the same questions you just posed, Starman. Does The Logo really want to go back to that? Guess we'll find out.

 

[Piotr Rasputin]

Where will Kobe be traded? Who would trade for him? Who could the Lakers get? Who has the right combination of quality players and cap room?

Nowhere, no one, no one, no one.

Why would West want to return? He was so stressed as they won the 2000 title, he didn't watch the game.

If Kupchak considers this for even a moment, I'll be at the head of the torch-wielding mob to remove his ass from a position he can't handle. They should quit screwing around, fire Kupchak, and start over with a better GM.

And KObe needs to STFU. Yesterday.

 

[dragonfly]

I heard a different story about why West left. Yes, he and Phil weren't exactly buddies. But the real reason was that West was VERY uncomfortable with little Jimmy Buss following him around and being groomed for the top spot. Apparently, he saw the writing on the wall, that it'd turn into a Very Bussy X-Mas once Jerry stepped down and got out of dodge before that could happen.

I've heard Jerry would enjoy the idea of coming back and resurrecting his reputation with the Lakers. But he's very close with Mitch Kupchak, his protege, so Mitch would either have to invite him back or be fired/kicked upstairs before he'd agree to it.

 

[RedCanuck]

I've heard a lot of player-coach issues over the years, but this may be the first demand just on the basis of who a general manager is.

 

[Claws for Concern]

I swear, the Lakers are the like Yankees in New York -- everyone wants to talk about a team that has lost its swagger.

 

[Claws for Concern]

One final thought: Bryant should opt out and go to the Clippers. He should have done that the last time he had a chance.

 

[IU90]

Guess its Kupchak's turn to get Kobe's thrown-under-bus treatment.

Kobe had no idea how good he had it when he joined a Laker team that already had the most talented young nucleus in the league. Now that he's chased Shaq & co. away, he doesn't get why Kupchak can't just go out & get him another one. Well, reason No. 1 is YOUR salary, Kobe. Kobe is just reaping what he has sown here, but he wants to blame it on Kupchak.

 

[Claws for Concern]

Kobe or Kupchak? Methinks the latter of the two won't be in L.A. for much longer.

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

Here's what Buss should do: Call Kobe, have him come downtown for a meeting and, in his kindest and most grandfatherly voice, tell him, "Jerry's not coming back and Mitch isn't leaving. And neither are you."

 

[Cansportschick]

Kobe is becoming quite a diva isn't he ;D