Empty the Bench

When you’ve tasted as much success as Kobe has, the descent into mediocrity is bound to get to you eventually. As Bryant has grown into a more competent leader of the Los Angeles Lakers in the wake of Shaq’s departure to Miami, he’s seen his supporting cast take a dramatic dip in terms of talent since the days of contending for a title nearly every year. Now, team achievement is measured on simply winning a playoff series or two, and that’s just not good enough for Kobe as he approaches 30 years of age. Nor should it be, especially when they can’t even advance past the first round (which they haven’t done since losing in the NBA Finals in ‘04).

With time of the essence, Bryant has finally issued his strongest demands to team management to strengthen the team or else. With the man who built the Lakers into perennial championship contenders, Jerry West, about to vacate his GM spot with the Memphis Grizzlies, Bryant has told ESPN The Magazine that he wants West back in the fold and given full authority to reshape the roster:

“I would love for him to be a part of this,” Bryant told the newspaper. “But it’s not something where I demand he comes here. All I can do is offer my thoughts. I love being a Laker. I want to retire a Laker. I want to fix this thing, or at least help any way I can.”

“I want to see us get to a contending level,” he told The Times. “I want to see us become a championship contender. It’s been a frustrating process for me and I’m sure it’s been a frustrating process for all Laker fans. I’m just hoping we can get to that level. I’m still frustrated. I’m waiting for them to make some changes.”

That’s a nice way of saying “get your ass in gear or I’m taking my ass elsewhere.” In a conference that’s already stacked for years to come, the road to glory got that much more difficult when the Trail Blazers and Sonics came out as big winners in this year’s draft lottery. Greg Oden and Kevin Durant–two potential franchise cornerstones–will transform their respective teams into two more formidable opponents LA might have to deal with down the road. In Bryant’s eyes, everyone is making tangible improvements except the Lakers.

Fixing the Lakers won’t be an easy proposition, especially with so much money tied up in Bryant’s salary. Andrew Bynum has all kinds of potential, but how long will it take the 20-year-old to realize it? Jordan Farmar could develop into a solid starting point guard, but it’ll be a long while before he can compete with the Steve Nash and Tony Parkers of the world. Kwame Brown is Kwame Brown. Luke Walton is a free agent this summer. Lamar Odom has proven to be a solid compliment to Bryant, but he’s injury-prone and seems to come up small in big situations. And how much longer will Phil Jackson be leading the team?

Misusing and ultimately giving up on Caron Butler too early and sending him to Washington as part of the Brown deal was a major blunder that set this team back. The Lakers have the 19th overall pick in the draft, as well as two second-rounders. They need to make the right call with their first rounder and hope to land at least one gem in the second. They need to figure out what to do with Walton (part of a sign-and-trade package with Odom?) One could argue that outside of Bryant, there’s major potholes everywhere else (especially off the bench).

Maybe West could turn this franchise around, maybe not. Either way, the clock is ticking for the Los Angeles Lakers. Mess up, and Bryant’s next state-of-the-franchise comments just might be his swan song as the Laker’s leading man.