A wild week for the Los Angeles Lakers will slowly return to normal as they take the court tonight against the Seattle SuperSonics at the Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield.
With trade rumors run amok and intense speculation that Kobe Bryant was on the verge of being traded, concerned Laker fans should take comfort in knowing that Bryant is not likely to be moved any time soon:
Kobe Bryant a Laker: The Lakers haven't gotten anything close to a reasonable offer for Bryant. Team owner Dr. Jerry Buss may have told some of the local media that the Laker All-Star was not untouchable - but he was adamant the team wouldn't take less than something spectacular.
That means there's no Dallas Mavericks, Chicago Bulls or other trade that is going to happen before the October 30th opener - or even during the season.
Phil Jackson and Kobe BryantWhile it was assumed that Bryant skipping practice and allegedly cleaning out his locker (since vehemently denied) was related to Dr. Buss' comments - the cause for recent turmoil has been overlooked.
Over the summer Bryant was dominant defensively when he played for Team USA. In comments to a reporter at ESPN, Bryant indicated that he wouldn't be able to exert that same energy on the Lakers while simultaneously carrying the burden offensively as he is prone to do.
Jackson in turn has asked Bryant to be more of a facilitator this coming season, looking for a more balance team attack offensively - thus freeing up some of Bryant's energy to lead the team defensively.
Bryant's first two preseason games were lackluster at best. He shifted back and forth between initiator and scorer, lacking any real balance and fire. The defensive effort was nonexistent.
While preseason games are just that, the Lakers have a lot of ground to make up after last year's collapse.
According to a source close to the team, Bryant wanted to skip practice and just shoot around - but Jackson wanted Bryant to either exert a full effort or stay in the trainer's room altogether receiving treatment.
This was the "mutual agreement" the coach and star reached on having Bryant sit out practice. Whether or not Bryant in response temporarily cleared out his locker will remain urban legend.
For what it's worth, Jackson is focused on preparing his team for what will be a difficult first month of the season. The outside distractions surrounding Dr. Buss and Bryant notwithstanding, the games are still coming. If the Lakers aren't sharp the season will go south very quickly.
Jackson isn't just prodding Bryant but his teammates Lamar Odom and Kwame Brown who both have yet to go full steam off of summer surgeries.
Imperfect as they may be, these are the Lakers and Jackson is determined to get the most out of what he has to work with.
The Legacy of Dr. Buss: While there are no plans for Buss to retire, at some point in the future he will pass the torch to his children. Specifically Jim Buss will run the basketball operations and Jeanie Buss will run the business side of the team. Jeanie has already established herself in her position and is one of the few faces behind the scenes with tremendous fan support.
Jim has many doubters as the quality of Laker basketball has diminished significantly since he gained power. No longer are the Lakers winning back-to-back championships - and the team's lone star is visibly disgruntled.
There has been some push and pull between Jeanie and Jim, most visibly on local radio early in offseason as they sniped at each other about Phil Jackson's ability to develop young talent.
The perception is that communication at the top is dysfunctional - which has not bolstered confidence in an already skeptical fan base who fear the worst
A source close to the situtation reveals that recently there have been breakthroughs internally as the team's top decision makers will meet regularly with each other and work towards a more open and complete communication.
Dr. Buss has been one of the most successful owners in sports but the torch must be passed. The Lakers cannot carry on his legacy without unification at the top and steps have been taken to bridge that divide.
The keywords going forward: accountability, responsibility and transparency.
Laker WebsiteBehind the direction of Jeanie Buss, the Lakers have revamped their website. Most notable are regular video updates which give the fans a direct view behind the scenes.
Instead of having to rely on reporters to translate the team's message, fans can view Phil Jackson's meetings with the media. Whether it's player interviews, scrimmages or even a promotional visit to a local mall - the Laker site has begun to open up the team like never before.
The Bottom LineDrama has followed the Lakers for so long it's difficult to remember when the waters were calm.
The team is looking to move past the "spin" by letting fans judge for themselves behind the scenes.
While Kobe Bryant may one day leave the team on his own accord, two years is an eternity in the NBA.
Barring a blockbuster offer - bank on him being a Laker for the coming season.
by: Eric Pincus HOOPSWORLD
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