Even though he's well past his prime, Kobe Bryant is still planning on making at least one more trip to the NBA Finals. He said so last week during an interview in China. Problem is, he's not going to be able to do it alone. He's going to need at least one other superstar to come to Los Angeles to play for the Lakers (is it you, Kevin Love?) and he's probably going to need the team to select someone who compliments him with the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.
It doesn't sound like that's what the Lakers have in mind, though. If they just so happen to pick a player who compliments Kobe, then so be it. But Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak isn't going to go out of his way to make the Black Mamba happy.
"We're not going to pick a player because he can play with Kobe, likes Kobe, or dislikes Kobe," Kupchak said recently. "We're going to pick the player that can have the longest and best career."
The Lakers still haven't tipped their hand and hinted at who they might pick. Everyone—from Jahlil Okafor to D'Angelo Russell—still seems to be in play. But regardless of who they take, it doesn't sound like they're going to consult with Kobe about it. And we're sure he's going to be thrilled about that.
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[via Eye on Basketball]
