Henry Abbot: Lakers FO can't wait for Kobe to retire

[yaaar]

I would believe this from Abbot. I think the Lakers FO is instigating against Kobe and using Abbot as their mouthpiece. Back when Kobe demanded to be traded it was all started because someone within the FO was leaking stuff to the press that Kobe said wasn't true. The last straw being when someone within the FO said that Kobe demanded Shaq be traded when every source says it' didn't go down like that. Kobe supposedly said he thinks he knows who it is and as long as this person worked for the Lakers he would not rescind his trade demand. This was during the time coincidentally that Jim Buss was originally supposed to start taking over. Word was he wanted a fresh start to make his mark. After all this happens, all of a sudden Jim Buss takes a back seat and Kobe is satisfied. Jim Buss would love for Kobe to be gone so he can finally make his mark. It doesn't help that he only has two to three years left before his promise to step down if the team isn't a contender.

[Don Ford]

I would believe this from Abbot. I think the Lakers FO is instigating against Kobe and using Abbot as their mouthpiece. Back when Kobe demanded to be traded it was all started because someone within the FO was leaking stuff to the press that Kobe said wasn't true. The last straw being when someone within the FO said that Kobe demanded Shaq be traded when every source says it' didn't go down like that. Kobe supposedly said he thinks he knows who it is and as long as this person worked for the Lakers he would not rescind his trade demand. This was during the time coincidentally that Jim Buss was originally supposed to start taking over. Word was he wanted a fresh start to make his mark. After all this happens, all of a sudden Jim Buss takes a back seat and Kobe is satisfied. Jim Buss would love for Kobe to be gone so he can finally make his mark. It doesn't help that he only has two to three years left before his promise to step down if the team isn't a contender.

Not quite understanding this. If Jim Buss wants Kobe to be gone and he's now running the Lakers then why did they just give Kobe that big two year extension?

And Kobe's trade demands stemmed from his belief that the Laker front office wasn't doing enough to bring in players to help field a championship caliber team. The Gasol trade is what satisfied him, not Jim Buss supposedly taking a lesser role.

[baubo]

Honestly, as with most things in life, the answer lies with a little of each. You can't just attribute FAs not signing in LA as sign that they don't want to play with Kobe. It's not like LA offers anything else either.

Do they have talent? No. Their talent sucks.
Do they have potential? No. They are old and injury prone.
Do they have ways to improve? No. They've traded their picks and have 50% of the cap tied to Nash and Kobe.
Do they get the perks of being a superstar in LA? No. Because the team lacks the talent to win and no one will criticize Kobe for failures.

Only the last reason is where Kobe comes into play. But even if Kobe is the greatest teammate ever, that still doesn't change many other issues that exist on the team. For example, Dwight chose a Rockets team that are 6-2 this year without Dwight and 2 other starters. Lakers are 5-13. You can argue that the Rockets still suck and can't win in the playoffs and whatever. But that's still a hell of a lot better than what the Lakers can offer even with a sweet Kobe.

[NashtyNas]

Only one of the biggest Kobe haters on the board defending the article. Everyone who has been asked about it to a person has denied it. At this point there is no reason to take it seriously.

So do you expect players to come out and say that they don't actually want to play with Kobe?
Who would say something so stupid?
The point is that no one has signed with them and one's that did go there left because Kobe is such a douche.
Forget the Lakers' FO - they obviously have utmost respect for Kobe and want the $$$$ he creates.
The rest of us fans... at least myself... can't wait for this washed up chucker to retire.

It is only speculation that Dwight left because "Kobe is such a douche." He has stated over and over that Kobe is not the reason he left. You can speculate that he is hiding his true feelings all you want, but at this point there is nothing at all backing it up aside that he left.

So there's nothing backing it up... other than the fact that it actually happened. Gotcha.
He just comes into LA and punches Kobe for no reason. Kobe calls him soft for no reason. There's no animosity there, gotcha!

[SDChargers#1]

So do you expect players to come out and say that they don't actually want to play with Kobe?
Who would say something so stupid?
The point is that no one has signed with them and one's that did go there left because Kobe is such a douche.
Forget the Lakers' FO - they obviously have utmost respect for Kobe and want the $$$$ he creates.
The rest of us fans... at least myself... can't wait for this washed up chucker to retire.

It is only speculation that Dwight left because "Kobe is such a douche." He has stated over and over that Kobe is not the reason he left. You can speculate that he is hiding his true feelings all you want, but at this point there is nothing at all backing it up aside that he left.

So there's nothing backing it up... other than the fact that it actually happened. Gotcha.
He just comes into LA and punches Kobe for no reason. Kobe calls him soft for no reason. There's no animosity there, gotcha!

There is nothing backing up that he left because "Kobe is a douche." Players leave teams all the time. Literally all the time. Lebron left Miami, oh that must be because of Wade. There is the literally the exact same evidence for both.

Never said there wasn't animosity. But you are making assumptions without any evidence aside from Abbott's article that every player who has commented on it has called BS.