Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant, who is increasingly upset over the
direction the National Basketball Association team has taken, wants the club to
trade him.
"I would like to be traded, yeah. Tough as it is to come to that conclusion
there's no other alternative," the 28-year-old Bryant told ESPN radio.
Bryant said he is fed up with empty promises from Lakers' management and now
it is time to move on.
Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe
Bryant, seen here in April 2007 and who is increasingly upset over the
direction the National Basketball Association team has taken, wants the
club to trade him. [AFP] |
"They want to move in a different
direction and the team is rebuilding," Bryant said. "I wish they would have told
me that before re-signing me."
Bryant, who joined the Lakers in 1996, has four years left on his contract
which also includes a no trade clause which he would have to waive.
Bryant has become increasingly frustrated by the Lakers' poor performance in
the regular season and playoffs. The Phoenix Suns eliminated the Lakers in five
games in this year's post-season.
The Lakers have not won a playoff series in three years - ever since they
traded their giant centre Shaquille O'Neal.
O'Neal and Bryant were an explosive tandem on the court, winning three NBA
championships together. But they feuded off it and some speculated their
differences led to O'Neal's July 2004 trade to the Miami Heat.
Bryant is also upset with a Laker "insider" who was quoted by the Los Angeles
Times as saying Bryant was responsible for trading O'Neal.
"You (management) know the blame you cast upon me. Step up and do the right
thing," Bryant told ESPN.
Asked what team he would prefer to go to Bryant said, "At this point I would
go play on Pluto. I just want to work hard and go play."
Lakers spokesman John Black did not immediately return phone calls
Wednesday