The Magic? The Rockets? The Timberwolves? Over the course of the last few weeks, we've heard rumors about Pau Gasol getting traded to just about every team in the NBA. And Kobe Bryant wants it to stop. Like, now. After the Lakers lost to the Suns last night, he told reporters that Gasol is not emotionally invested in the team because he's constantly being bombarded by rumors that he's going to be traded. So he wants the Lakers to either pull the trigger on a trade...or don't.
"Basketball is such an emotional game," Kobe said. "You got to be able to have all of yourself in the game and invested in the game. We didn't have that [against the Suns]. Pau, it's hard for Pau because of all this trade talk and all this other stuff. It's hard for him to kind of invest himself completely or immerse himself completely into games when he's hearing trade talk every other day. I wish management would come out and either trade him or not trade him."
Fair enough. And if the Lakers front office didn't get the message, Kobe had some even stronger words for them, too.
"I'd rather they not trade him," he said, "but if they're going to do it, [expletive] do it already. If you're not going to do it, come out and say you're not going to do it."
Get the message now, guys?
[via ESPN]
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