NBA Rumors: Kobe Bryant Must Shut Up & Step Back for Dwight Howard Trade to Work

KobeSystem ads are getting to the Black Mamba’s head.

It isn’t like Kobe Bryant’s ego could possibly get any bigger, but he’s putting it on full display in the LA Lakers’ pursuit of Dwight Howard.  Bryant needs to stop the cell phone chit-chat with Superman if he wants the Lakers to fly to the NBA Finals anytime soon.

Jarrod Rudolph of RealGM reported that they aren’t favorites for Howard’s services anymore, to say the least.  Rudolph wrote that, according to sources:

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“His desire to play for the Lakers changed after a conversation with Kobe Bryant.  He wanted Howard to be the team's third option behind himself and Pau Gasol.  Bryant tried to sell Howard on being his ‘Tyson Chandler’ and made it clear that Los Angeles would be his, but only once Bryant decided he was done playing.  The feeling is so strong, in fact, that Howard's representatives have informed the Lakers that Howard would not sign an extension if they trade for him this season.”

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Really Kobe?  Behind Pau?  If the sources are indeed correct, Bryant has officially lost his wits.

One day, he’s telling Andrew Bynum that he’s the No. 2 offensive option in Hollywood and now, if Howard comes to town he’ll apparently be No. 3.  Kobe needs to wake up from his dream in which he’s the Lakers owner, general manager and head coach and play basketball because his mouth is going to cost the franchise a shot at the most dominant center in the entire NBA.

On top of RealGM’s report, two more, Larry Coon of ESPN and Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld, have reported that Howard would test free agency if the Lakers ended up dealing for him.

At 14-10, the seventh seed in the West and 5-5 in their last 10, Los Angeles needs change.  D12 would without a doubt take their squad to a whole new level, but until Kobe realizes that Mike Brown isn’t his own personal puppet, LA isn’t going anywhere.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

Follow @TheRealDDaniels