HOOPSWORLD | Basketball News & NBA Rumors

Recently Basketball News was approached with the opportunity to
purchase video footage featuring Los Angeles Lakers All-Star Kobe Bryant. 
In what was apparently a chance encounter outside of a Newport Beach deli,
Bryant spoke openly about his frustration with the team’s personnel decisions.

It is outside of our journalistic ethics to obtain a video for money. 
However, the owners of the clip are committed to making the content public.

Having turned away a lucrative offer (by an unknown party) to destroy the
tape, the group has put the video on the market to the highest bidder.

Whether they make a little bit, or as one of the gentlemen indicated, "more
than a little bit," eventually it will make headlines.

I have seen the video.  Bryant is wearing a red shirt and sunglasses.
Apparently the videographer and Bryant frequent the same establishment and are
on general speaking terms.

While the conversation was purported to have lasted approximately 15 minutes,
the video is brief.  It was taken with a digital camera and leaves no doubt
that it is in fact Bryant.

Interspersed with numerous cuss words, Bryant discusses the Lakers’ decision
not to trade Andrew Bynum to the New Jersey Nets at the trade deadline in
February.

"Ship his [rear end] out.  We’re talking Jason Kidd," said Bryant. 
"They didn’t want to do that.  That’s why we’re in this [messed up]
position."

The footage was shot in early June, close to the date when Bryant went on
numerous radio stations to express his unhappiness in the team’s direction . . .
and ultimately demand a trade.

In addition to the video the group has an audio clip captured on a cell phone
on June 10th. 

Bryant is approached with the query, "Please tell us you’re staying!"

His response:  "Get a [Chicago] Bulls uniform fellas."

The "Kobe Video Guys", as they wish to be called, feel the "public has a
right to know."  Justifying their individual pursuit, they feel Bryant has
no reasonable expectation of privacy.  He was speaking openly in front of a
camera without any request of confidentiality.

This is a difficult subject to breach as I’m not a fan of sensationalist
journalism.  The bottom line is that these quotes (and/or clips) will end
up on sites like TMZ.com and ESPN.com within a week’s time.

Laker spokesman John Black declined comment Sunday.

Having covered the Los Angeles Lakers for some time now, there is no question
that it is Bryant on the video.

While an audio clip can be doctored, based on my experience interviewing
Bryant numerous times . . . I am confident it is his voice.

In the meantime, the administrator of his website (kb24.com) is under
explicit instructions from Bryant to keep the Laker All-Star’s "farewell"
message current.  The Associated Press recently reported it as a new
statement, but it was just Bryant reiterating his commitment to leaving the
Lakers.

Team owner Dr. Jerry Buss recently met with Kobe in Barcelona to discuss
Bryant’s future.  As reported by Basketball News on Saturday, Bryant
has not backed off his trade demand.

It’s difficult to tell how Buss will respond to Bryant’s request or if this
new information will have any impact on that decision.

Ultimately the team has Bryant under contract until at least 2009. 
While he can use the media to pressure the team, he cannot force the Lakers to
deal him.

Buss reportedly plans on meeting again with Bryant, but with the NBA Draft
approaching quickly, decisions need to be made . . . and soon.

KEY NEWSLINES

Basketball News: "The summer saga of Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles
Lakers continued Friday as Bryant met with team owner Jerry Buss in Barcelona,
Spain.
While the details of the conversation are between the two, the bottom line is
that Bryant has not backed off of his trade demand … Look for the
Lakers to seriously consider moving Bryant to a team of his choosing (read
Chicago Bulls) with the condition that he won’t try to manipulate the pieces
going back and forth with his no-trade clause."

Basketball News: "The ideal package would be Ben Gordon, Deng, Wallace and Thabo Sefolosha for Kobe Bryant (along with say Mo Evans). The ninth pick in the draft may be appealing to LA in lieu of Sefolosha, but the defensive specialist might be able to fill the hole at point guard.

The Lakers would have a lot of young talent at their disposal in Andrew Bynum, Ronny Turiaf, Jordan Farmar, Gordon, Deng, and Sefolosha. They’d still have Lamar Odom and a chance to re-sign both Luke Walton and Chris Mihm. Rounding out the roster would be Wallace, Kwame Brown, Vladimir Radmanovic, Sasha Vujacic and Brian Cook plus the 19th pick.
"

Los Angeles Times: "Buss wanted to appeal to the nine-time All-Star,
reminding him that trades take time to develop and that winning remains the
focus of the organization, but Bryant voiced concerns about the direction of the
franchise and reiterated his demand to be traded, said a source with knowledge
of the situation. "That’s the message that came out of it," the source said.

Team sources vehemently insisted there were no plans to trade Bryant, and they
were still hopeful that a peaceful solution could be reached. Bryant and
Buss are expected to resume their dialogue in the near future."

It is outside of our journalistic ethics to obtain a video for money. 
However, the owners of the clip are committed to making the content public.

Having turned away a lucrative offer (by an unknown party) to destroy the
tape, the group has put the video on the market to the highest bidder.

Whether they make a little bit, or as one of the gentlemen indicated, "more
than a little bit," eventually it will make headlines.

I have seen the video.  Bryant is wearing a red shirt and sunglasses.
Apparently the videographer and Bryant frequent the same establishment and are
on general speaking terms.

While the conversation was purported to have lasted approximately 15 minutes,
the video is brief.  It was taken with a digital camera and leaves no doubt
that it is in fact Bryant.

Interspersed with numerous cuss words, Bryant discusses the Lakers’ decision
not to trade Andrew Bynum to the New Jersey Nets at the trade deadline in
February.

"Ship his [rear end] out.  We’re talking Jason Kidd," said Bryant. 
"They didn’t want to do that.  That’s why we’re in this [messed up]
position."

The footage was shot in early June, close to the date when Bryant went on
numerous radio stations to express his unhappiness in the team’s direction . . .
and ultimately demand a trade.

In addition to the video the group has an audio clip captured on a cell phone
on June 10th. 

Bryant is approached with the query, "Please tell us you’re staying!"

His response:  "Get a [Chicago] Bulls uniform fellas."

The "Kobe Video Guys", as they wish to be called, feel the "public has a
right to know."  Justifying their individual pursuit, they feel Bryant has
no reasonable expectation of privacy.  He was speaking openly in front of a
camera without any request of confidentiality.

This is a difficult subject to breach as I’m not a fan of sensationalist
journalism.  The bottom line is that these quotes (and/or clips) will end
up on sites like TMZ.com and ESPN.com within a week’s time.

Laker spokesman John Black declined comment Sunday.

Having covered the Los Angeles Lakers for some time now, there is no question
that it is Bryant on the video.

While an audio clip can be doctored, based on my experience interviewing
Bryant numerous times . . . I am confident it is his voice.

In the meantime, the administrator of his website (kb24.com) is under
explicit instructions from Bryant to keep the Laker All-Star’s "farewell"
message current.  The Associated Press recently reported it as a new
statement, but it was just Bryant reiterating his commitment to leaving the
Lakers.

Team owner Dr. Jerry Buss recently met with Kobe in Barcelona to discuss
Bryant’s future.  As reported by HOOPSWORLD.com on Saturday, Bryant
has not backed off his trade demand.

It’s difficult to tell how Buss will respond to Bryant’s request or if this
new information will have any impact on that decision.

Ultimately the team has Bryant under contract until at least 2009. 
While he can use the media to pressure the team, he cannot force the Lakers to
deal him.

Buss reportedly plans on meeting again with Bryant, but with the NBA Draft
approaching quickly, decisions need to be made . . . and soon.

KEY NEWSLINES

Basketball News: "The summer saga of Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles
Lakers continued Friday as Bryant met with team owner Jerry Buss in Barcelona,
Spain.
While the details of the conversation are between the two, the bottom line is
that Bryant has not backed off of his trade demand … Look for the
Lakers to seriously consider moving Bryant to a team of his choosing (read
Chicago Bulls) with the condition that he won’t try to manipulate the pieces
going back and forth with his no-trade clause."

Basketball News: "The ideal package would be Ben Gordon, Deng, Wallace and Thabo Sefolosha for Kobe Bryant (along with say Mo Evans). The ninth pick in the draft may be appealing to LA in lieu of Sefolosha, but the defensive specialist might be able to fill the hole at point guard.

The Lakers would have a lot of young talent at their disposal in Andrew Bynum, Ronny Turiaf, Jordan Farmar, Gordon, Deng, and Sefolosha. They’d still have Lamar Odom and a chance to re-sign both Luke Walton and Chris Mihm. Rounding out the roster would be Wallace, Kwame Brown, Vladimir Radmanovic, Sasha Vujacic and Brian Cook plus the 19th pick.
"

Los Angeles Times: "Buss wanted to appeal to the nine-time All-Star,
reminding him that trades take time to develop and that winning remains the
focus of the organization, but Bryant voiced concerns about the direction of the
franchise and reiterated his demand to be traded, said a source with knowledge
of the situation. "That’s the message that came out of it," the source said.

Team sources vehemently insisted there were no plans to trade Bryant, and they
were still hopeful that a peaceful solution could be reached. Bryant and
Buss are expected to resume their dialogue in the near future."