Links: How The Kobe Circus Could End

by Lang Whitaker

He zigged again. Hours after he said he wanted to be traded on Stephen A. Smith’s radio show, Kobe went on Dan Patrick’s radio show, said he’d spoken to Phil Jackson and…actually, he doesn’t want to be traded. Sayeth Kobe:

“I don’t want to go anywhere, this is my team. I love it here. I called Phil, man, he and I talked, it was an emotional conversation, but he just said, ‘You know what, Kobe? Let us try to figure this thing out.’ Phil is a guy I lean on a lot.”

So the trade talk is off.

At least for Kobe.

(By the way, from now on I’m calling Kobe “The Maestro” for the way he’s magically conducted the media over the last few days. He’d tell one guy one thing, then a few hours later, after that reporter probably felt he had a great scoop, he’d tell another guy a completely opposite thing. It was masterful. Kobe now becomes The Maestro.)

Anyway, what could Phil Jackson have told The Maestro to keep him around?

How about this? The Lakers are going to get Jason Kidd.

At least, that’s what I’m hearing from someone in the know.

Kidd goes to L.A., and Bynum goes to Jersey. Soon. The Bynum Brigade might need to establish an East Rutherford chapter.

(And while we’re at it, I hear Vince is going to be heading to Orlando.)

Could this all be wrong? Of course. Maybe I’m getting played like the rest of the media was. But I don’t think it’s wrong. If I’m right I’ll remind you about it often. If I’m wrong, I’ll delete this post.

So Kobe gets Kidd, Orlando gets Vince, and the Nets get Andrew Bynum and a reduced payroll while they prep for their move to Brooklyn.

Just throwing this rumor out there. Discuss…