If there was any doubt about who is actually running the show (time) Lakers.....
From LAT
“If I felt like he [Karl Malone] was a distraction, I would have said it,” Bryant said. “I didn't say anything like, 'I don't want him to come back' or 'He's a distraction.' I didn't say anything like that. It was in no way intended as an attack toward Karl or anything like that. I just wanted to make sure that my players know that I believe in them and I believe in what we have. If Karl comes back, it's going to be a tremendous addition to our ballclub, but if he doesn't, I'm fine with rolling with the guys that we have here because I have confidence in them too.”In the radio interview, Bryant said teammates wondered if their playing time would disappear if Malone returned.
“It's not really fair to hold [Malone's situation] over the guys' heads that are here,” he said Monday. “They are here giving me 110% … I mean, you can't sit up here and speculate for the remainder of the season whether or not he is going to come back.”
Malone told The Times on Tuesday he had fostered strong feelings for the organization during his only season with the Lakers, but “when your star player doesn't want you there, I take hints easily.”
and, good, now I can go back to hating Karl Malone. Why else would he want to wait to see which team he will sign for? One reason: whichever team looks like it is going to win the championship is the team that Malone wants to sign for (Timberwolves or San Antonio Spurs, if they'll sign him). Malone has watched enough Lakers games this year to know they won't be going the distance this season. Karl Malone is one of those guys who is probably a good guy, but who is an asshole of a player. I cut him some slack last year, because he seemed like the most heads up guy on the dysfunctional Lakers.
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update: Ric Boucher agrees with me (why else would I quote him?)
Every indication from Malone, meanwhile, is that he doesn't want to move his family or play for another team. If he wanted the best shot at a championship, he would've signed up with San Antonio months ago. If he wanted to be a big fish in a smaller pond, he would've gone to Minnesota. If he wanted to play last year's role, he could've gone to Miami.So why not simply end all the goofy intrigue? (And if it weren't still a mystery to everyone, including the Lakers, Kobe never would've felt compelled to say what he did.)
This comes off as another ruse to squeeze every last bit of courtship and love from all concerned. Malone even reopened the door that Manley slammed shut, essentially saying he wouldn't use such “strong words” about not returning. Which means for the right amount of additional love he'll go ahead and do what he planned all along.
No matter what Malone does, his official accomplishments as a player won't be diminished. His place among the 50 Greatest is secure. He'll have a plaque in the Hall of Fame. But in the unwritten annals, in the minds of those who keep their own scorecards on what players were, this latest little outburst assures that his thumbnail sketch will include: Great Player. Manly Man. Drama Queen.
