Kobe Bryant Will Stay Silent At Los Angeles Lakers Monday Media Session

Kobe Bryant’s website drops a clue that he’ll be at the team’s Monday media session:

Summer is gone, fall is upon us and that can mean only one thing: NBA training camps are just around the corner. While some teams are holding their media days today, the Lakers will invite the media to their practice facility on Monday and will depart shortly after for training camp in Hawaii.

kb24.com will be at media day to bring you the sights and sounds as the team prepares to kick off the 2007-2008 season.

My Quick Take: It’s confirmed. Bryant will be at the Lakers’ media session on Monday. But will he answer this one crucial question: in or out?

That’s right. Is he in for next season and beyond with the Lakers or is he out?

It’s that simple. A one word answer would provide closure to the NBA’s biggest soap opera and prime time drama. Everyone would finally know Kobe’s deal for the future.

Just don’t expect answers from #24. Right now, Kobe Bean has leverage over the purple-and-gold. Bryant, in the words of George Costanza, has "got hand over the Lakers and intends on using it.”

After all, Kobe’s the best baller in the world. And, in just two seasons, after making piles and piles of money in Hollywood, he can opt-out of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent. He can pick where he wants to play and the Lakers will get nothing in return.

Answering questions about his future takes away his ’hand’ or leverage. For example, if Bryant publicly commits to the Lakers on Monday, the organization will once again hit the snooze button and stop trying to improve. Forget about Jermaine O’Neal, Shawn Marion and Andrei Kirilenko ever calling Staples Center home.

But if Bryant says he’s out and refuses to suit up for the club, then he no longer has leverage. The team focuses on dealing him and stops trying to satisfy him.

So what will Bryant say on Monday? He’ll talk about being professional and fulfilling his contract. And that’s it. I don’t think he’ll say anything else. After all, why compromise hand?

What will Bryant say at Monday’s media session? Get at us in the comment box below with your answer.

Click here to read and subscribe to Oly Sandor’s NBA Blog.