Laker Nation

Kobe Bryant sits down to answer questions and address all the latest drama in Laker Nation, including Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Lamar Odom, the NBA Lockout and Commissioner Stern.

Not that this will come as a shock to really anyone, according to a report from Steven A. Smith on SportsCenter this morning, Kobe Bryant is simmering:

The most discussed rumors have suggested the Lakers package Andrew Bynum and their newly acquired $8.9m trade exception to the Orlando Magic for Dwight Howard. When asked, 'Drew acknowledged the possibility of being included in a trade for Dwight Howard:

The Odom to Dallas deal was just a precursor to a bigger, better trade (I.e. Howard). I mean, it had to be, right? Why else would the Lakers trade one of their glue guys with a bargain contract to a team that swept them out of the playoffs last year? Why else would an $8.9m trade exception (plus a ’12 first rounder) be something worth acquiring at such a steep price? Why else would Jim Buss and Mitch Kupchak risk evoking ill-feelings from their superstar, Kobe Bryant?

If you're still trying to take in everything that happened in Laker Nation (and around the NBA) yesterday, don't worry, you're not alone. In what can be described as both perfect and terrible timing, today is Lakers Media Day at their facility in El Segundo, and we'll be posted all of our updates, pictures and posts right here in this post.

It's been a wild 48 hours for Laker fans, and things may just be getting started. Before David Stern could pass down a decision on the proposed deal that would have landed Chris Paul in the purple and gold, according to ESPN, the Lakers have now backed out of the deal. Instead, Lamar Odom is headed to Dallas.

We have just received confirmation that a newly restructured offer has been officially agreed on between the Lakers, Hornets and Rockets

The agent for Dwight Howard, Dan Fegan, tells Y! Sports that Orlando has given Howard permission to talk to three teams. The Nets are one of three teams that Howard has permission to speak, but Fegan says Howard did not attend a meeting with Nets officials.

It’s been an unprecedented and generally awkward 24 hours for the NBA. I still find it miraculous that David Stern managed to make the utter absurdity of the NBA lockout the second dumbest thing he’s been a part of in the last six months. Despite the confused state of the NBA world, training camp opened in El Segundo this afternoon. Here are some of the things worth mentioning:

The Lakers, Hornets and Rockets are talking again this afternoon in hopes of finding a way to complete the deal that involved Chris Paul, Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol. While it's hard to say how the deal needs to be re-structured in order for it to pass through the Commissioners desk, it sounds like the willingness is there from all parties involved.

That was my initial reaction to the news that Commissioner Stern had exercised his power to be as brainless (and irresponsible) as his little Grinch-heart so desired. And while much as this made-for-TV drama has centered around Chris Paul, Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol, this really has nothing to do with them, or the three teams directly involved.

The game of chicken is over. It all ended in Manhattan last night when both cars swerved at the last minute, narrowly avoiding a disastrous collision that would have certainly produced a large number of casualties.

New York Senator Malcolm A. Smith will join Knicks and Nets fans and season ticketholders tomorrow, Wednesday November 22, 2011, as they request a full refund for the whole season due to the NBA Walkout.

What is this? A non-lockout related column? I’m as overjoyed as you are. … Wait, how do I not write about the lockout again? During all the negativity surrounding the plausibility of an NBA season, Lamar Odom has found his rhythm in this new spot from Nike, #AlwaysOn. Check it out below: