Kobe Bryant called for a halt to the endless torture meted out to Lakers teammate Pau Gasol.
Gasol, reported Lakers beat writers can't seem to shake the emotion that comes from weekly trade rumors, which last week included the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Lakers coach Mike Brown caught his big forward looking at online articles speculating about where the Spaniard will end up this season and he begged him to quit it.
Gasol has spoken the party line up to this point, saying he has to focus on his game and not worry about the front office maneuvers. He did pipe up a bit about new coach Mike Brown's system, that doesn't suit his game as well as the triangle offense.
That ended last night along with Kobe Bryant's neutral position.
In post-game remarks the big Spaniard was the most expansive than he's been on the subject.
"So, we got March 15th, the (trade) deadline," he told media on his way to the team bus. "Hopefully we get to that day (without a trade)."
But he went further, echoing Bryant's call for them to set Gasol free or declare him off the market.
"It's frustrating because if I own a player or a player plays for my team and I say, 'Look, I'm not interested in listening to anything because I value my player and I want to keep him here,' then all that stops. But, it seems that it's not that way"
Bryant has publicly lauded Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak for his job performance over the years and claimed faith in his ability to do what's right. After all, Kupchak got the trade pieces in place that were to bring Chris Paul to the team, until it got the kibosh from the NBA league office.
That ended after an ugly road loss to the Suns 102-90. Bryant said in part: "It's just tough for a player to give his all when you don't know if you're going to be here tomorrow. I'd rather them not trade him at all. If they're going to do something, I wish they would just (expletive) do it."
Bryant knows an angst ridden teammate when he sees one and although Pau Gasol's numbers have dipped a bit this season, the drop isn't as significant as it could be with the turmoil he is dealing with. Game box score, here.
That old '60s tune that goes like this: "Set me free why don't you babe. You really don't love me, but you keep me hanging on," seems right for the occasion.
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