Kobe not on board with Odom trade to Dallas

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — The last time Kobe Bryant was mad, it led to his 2007 "summer of discontent" in which he toured radio stations in Los Angeles and proceeded to insult Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak, tried to get Andrew Bynum traded and, finally, demanded a trade himself.

Fortunately for the Lakers, their star calmed down, they went to the NBA Finals and, eventually, captured back-to-back titles.

Well, Kobe is mad again.

He's not on board with the Lakers' pending trade of Lamar Odom to Dallas for, apparently, only an $8.9 million trade exception or the possibility Pau Gasol soon might be sent elsewhere.

This time, however, Bryant is keeping his emotions under control — at least publically — and expressing confidence in Kupchak and Co. — to a certain extent.

"I don't like it," Bryant said Sunday during Lakers Media Day while discussing the pending trade for Odom to Dallas and the David Stern blocked trade of Gasol to Houston.

Then he countered with:

"I think management knows what they're doing. Mitch has proven himself and built great teams here. We all have to trust he's going to do that again. We have to (trust) he's going to do that again.

"I won't get in the way. But it's tough."

It wasn't long, however, before the emotional Bryant was rushing from the media session to speak privately with Kupchak.

Before his departure, however, Bryant praised Gasol and Odom — especially the latter.

"You're talking about the Sixth Man of the Year who played lights-out," Bryant said. "The reality shows and the criticism — I don't get it. He had his best season, so it clearly wasn't a distraction and he played his ass off. And you trade him to the team that (swept us in the Western Conference finals last season).

"Now I'm getting p***** off," Bryant concluded before seeking out Kupchak.

Gasol, meanwhile, remained calm as he spoke in front of  the largest media contingent of the day.

"I'm not angry, no," said Gasol, "and I do (still want to be a Laker)."

"I don't take any of this personal. It's just a business move, I think. The franchise is just trying to make moves to make this a better team — for whatever reason — which I can't get into. I just have to be professional.

"My wish is to stay here. I love being here. I love the franchise and I love this city, the fans, everybody. So it's been tough these last couple of days, having that uncertainty.

"Probably it's not over yet, so I'm just going to be as professional as I can be, do my job, do what I love, which is playing basketball. And play with the team that I like to play with."

Though he is considered one of the NBA's best players, the usually humble Spaniard has not discussed that standing. Until Sunday.

"I just want to get out on the floor and be one of the best big men in the league, which I am," Gasol said. "At this point in my career, it's hard for me to say that, being that I have proved my value again and again. I don't like to have to stand here and say it, but if you look at my accomplishments you can see it's the truth. And obviously I'd like to be among the best, stay among the best in the world."

Despite Kobe's protestations about losing Odom, the league was not allowing the Lakers to officially announce the deal. But Rick Carlisle, coach of the defending-champion Mavericks, told the Dallas media he's proceeding as if it's a done deal.

"For me, having Odom, Dirk Nowitzki and Shawn Marion, we might have the best (front line) in the league right now," Carlisle said. "It's exciting, and he's going to add many different dimensions –playmaking, scoring and championship experience."

Not to mention the fact they received a quality player without giving up anything of consequence.

Looks like the Mavs are already up 1-0 on the Lakers as the new season approaches.