Death of a Dynasty - Lakers in turmoil

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Never again will Shaquille O'Neal wear gold and purple. And if that wasn't stunning enough, consider the idea of Kobe Bryant clad in red.

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Kupchak acknowledges re-signing Bryant is no sure thing
By John Nadel, Associated Press, 7/14/2004 19:44

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) Kobe Bryant may indeed join the Clippers. That's the word from the Lakers.

''We have no idea whether Kobe will come back,'' Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said Wednesday after completing the Shaquille O'Neal trade. ''We're hopeful that he'll re-sign, but we don't even know that.

''I think (signing with the Clippers) is a real possibility with the cap space they've created.''

So after being blessed with two of the league's few true superstars for the past several years, the Lakers may soon have none. It's a possibility that's as stunning as it is strong.

''Kobe's a free agent,'' Kupchak said, also reiterating what he said last month that the Lakers won't do a sign-and-trade deal involving Bryant. ''There exists the possibility we'll get nothing.''

The Clippers traded Melvin Ely and Eddie House to Charlotte earlier in the day for second-round draft choices in 2005 and 2006 to free up $2.5 million in salary cap space.

The Lakers can sign Bryant to a seven-year contract worth around $136 million, while the Clippers can offer six years at about $100 million.

''A competition is a concern we welcome the competition,'' Kupchak said, referring to the Clippers. ''My guess at this hour is we've done everything we can do.''

Kupchak and new Lakers coach Rudy Tomjanovich met with Bryant on Monday night.

''The meeting went well. I don't have a better feel what he may or may not do,'' Kupchak said. ''Do we have a replacement player in place? No, we don't. You can't replace a Kobe Bryant.''

Clippers officials also met with Bryant on Monday night.

''I'm hopeful that he'll make a decision sooner rather than later,'' Kupchak said. ''I don't know if it will be tomorrow. I don't know if it will be Friday. I don't know if it will be next week. If he chooses to take time, he'll take time.''

Bryant, who turns 26 next month, joined the Lakers in 1996 the same year O'Neal was signed as a free agent.

The pair feuded at times, but as one of the top 1-2 punches in NBA history they led the Lakers to three championships (2000-2002) and a berth in the finals this year, where they lost to the Detroit Pistons in five games.

Two days later, at a season-ending news conference on June 17, Kupchak said the Lakers would do whatever possible to re-sign Bryant and wouldn't trade him under any circumstances.

When asked about possibly trading O'Neal, Kupchak left the door open.

The day after that, O'Neal demanded a trade; Phil Jackson was told his days as coach of the Lakers were over, and as expected, Bryant opted out of his contract to become an unrestricted free agent.

Considering the differences Bryant had with O'Neal and his disdain for Jackson's structured offense, the moves involving O'Neal and Jackson were thought by many to have been made to placate Bryant.

''Quite frankly, I have no idea what impact it will have, if any,'' Kupchak said of the deal sending O'Neal to Miami. ''This trade was made for other reasons.''

Among those reasons, the general manager said, was a desire to get younger and more athletic.

''We are excited about the future the direction we are going,'' Kupchak said. ''It's kind of a rebuild.''

Whether Bryant will be a part of that future or not isn't known.

Kupchak also said the Lakers hope to re-sign Derek Fisher and Karl Malone, who opted out of their contracts last month to become unrestricted free agents. Bryant is close to both players.
 

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