Double Talk: Kobe backs off on trade demand

At first on Wednesday, in an interview with Stephen A. Smith on ESPN Radio in New York, Bryant said he wanted to be dealt, saying the Lakers "obviously want to move in a different direction in terms of rebuilding." Later in the afternoon, on the same network, Bryant said he spoke to Lakers coach Phil Jackson after his comments to Smith, but felt better about the situation with his current team.

"I don’t want to go anyplace else," the nine-time All-Star said later in the afternoon. "I want to be a Laker. I want to be here for the rest of my career. It was encouraging to hear that."

The 28-year-old Bryant still has four years and nearly $89 million left on a seven-year contract he signed in 2004, but has butted heads with Los Angeles general manager Mitch Kupchak over the inability to garner more talent for the franchise.

"I’m so tired of talking," Bryant said in the latter interview on ESPN Radio. "It’s tough. I always dreamed about retiring as a Laker. Now I just hope something can be resolved, something can be figured out. Something so I can be here in this city and be with the team I love."

The Lakers have not won a playoff series since trading Shaquille O’Neal in July of 2004 and were eliminated by the Phoenix Suns in just five games this season. Bryant voiced his displeasure about the team’s struggles to Smith.

"I could have went to a team like the Los Angeles Clippers that had a lot more talent," Bryant told Smith. "I chose to stay here because of the promises that they made in terms of building the team. If I knew that they weren’t going to be aggressive in getting a Baron Davis, in getting a Carlos Boozer. That would have changed things drastically, but I didn’t ask for this, certainly no."

The Lakers issued a response Wednesday afternoon.

"We are aware of the media reports," Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss said in a statement. "However, Kobe has not told us directly that he wants to be traded. We have made it very clear that we are building our team around Kobe and that we intend for him to be a Laker his entire career. We will speak directly to Kobe and until we do that, we will not comment publicly about this."

Bryant has averaged 24.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 784 career games with the Lakers and has been a part of three world championship teams.

To be moved, Bryant would have to waive a no-trade clause and would apparently be more than willing do so.

"At this point I’ll go play on Pluto right now," Bryant told Smith. "I just want to work hard. I just want to play, enjoy the game of basketball."

Bryant also made a couple of statements on his Web site about the situation with the Lakers.

"When you love something as much as I love the Lakers its hard to even imagine thinking about being elsewhere," he said. "But, the one thing I will never sacrifice when it comes to basketball is winning. That is plain and simply what it’s all about. It’s in my DNA. It’s what pushes me to work as hard as I do. It’s my daily passion and pursuit."

Bryant said he was told by Dr. Jerry Buss, owner of the team, that when he re- signed he was told the team was going to make every effort to win now instead of reducing payroll.

What brought Bryant, though, to the brink was apparently an article in the Los Angeles Times that quoted a Lakers insider as saying it was Bryant’s insistence that O’Neal be traded, something the perennial All-Star has vehemently denied.

"The Lakers are pursuing a longer-term plan that is different from what Dr. Buss shared with me at the time I re-signed as a free agent," Bryant said. "I have seen that plan unfold for the last three years and watched great trade opportunities come and go, and have seen free agents passed on. That has led to the Lakers not winning a playoff series. All of that was frustrating in itself, but then, this week to have someone "inside" the Laker organization try to blame me in the media for us not being a contender right now — that is what brought me to my current position today."