What are the Los Angeles Lakers options?
What are Bryant’s options? He can waive the no-trade clause and be moved, or he can stay with the Lakers. If he sits out, he will still be the property of the Lakers when he returns. The NBA has an agreement with FIBA, so Bryant can’t be signed by any European team unless the Lakers release him from his contract. What could the Lakers expect to get in return in a trade for Bryant? They’d have to get two young stars and a first-round pick, at least. Not since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was traded to the Lakers from the Milwaukee Bucks in 1975 has a player of Bryant’s magnitude been traded in his prime. Why haven’t the Lakers made any major moves since trading Shaquille O’Neal to Miami? They have had nothing of real value to offer — no lottery picks and no players anyone was really interested in except 19-year-old center Andrew Bynum. He is their future, and they have been hesitant to deal him. They have also been over the salary cap, so all they could offer a free agent was the midlevel except
