The theme for Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant ever since the beginning of the 2015-2016 NBA regular season has been his looming retirement from basketball. But with the "Black Mamba" contemplating on retirement if the Lakers continue to struggle, rumors have sparked about LA possibly trading the five-time NBA champion.
Kobe revealed on a talk with Frank Isola and Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski on Sirius XM's NBA channel that "if something doesn't change this is it for me."
The Lakers continue their early season struggles and are now joining other teams at the bottom of the league standings with a 2-10 record.
If this kind of pace remains for LA, they are likely to suffer the same fate they had last season and miss the playoffs for another year, which could also mean Bryant's retirement.
Bryant is playing on the final year of his two-year $45.8 million contract and after making a huge hint he may retire if the Lakers remain the NBA's laughingstock this season, the Lakers could capitalize and use him as a trade bait to acquire young max-level contract players.
Evan Massey of Classicalite discussed the possibility of Bryant being traded before this season's deadline.
Massey claimed that the Bryant's struggles would make a "reasonable decision" for the Lakers to trade him.
"Could the Lakers decide to trade Kobe Bryant during the season? Absolutely," Massey disclosed. "No one is untouchable at this point and they could talk with Bryant and find out that dealing him is exactly what the star wants at this stage of his career."
However, there are many factors that could hinder the Lakers in trading the face of the team.
Bryant is on a no-trade clause, which means the Lakers need his consent before shipping him to another team.
Bryant has been always adamant that he wants to be a "Laker for life," according to ESPN, making it unlikely for the former NBA MVP to ask for a trade and play for another team.
In addition, there are no other teams that would likely take an aging Bryant in the final year of his illustrious basketball career.
Imagining Bryant play for another team is certainly intriguing, but teams would not gamble to take in his hefty salary just for the sake of seeing him wear a different jersey.
Moreover, in his nine games with the Lakers this year, Bryant averaged 16.1 points, but it comes on a shooting percentage of only 34 percent. His poor shot selections and shooting struggles are certainly not enticing for any team.
However, the Morning News USA believes his "stature and fame could become the focal point of the trade."
Bryant has played for LA for 19 years and is on his way for an impressive 20 seasons with the Lakers. He would probably retire wearing Purple and Gold because it would be hard fans and even the Lakers organization to see him end his basketball career somewhere else.