HoopsHype.com Rumors

Johnson is obviously upset to see the Lakers lose to the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games in the Western Conference semifinals. That marks the second consecutive season the Lakers lost in the second round, spurring the former Laker to suggest adding youth and speed to their roster even if it comes at the expense of trading Andrew Bynum or Pau Gasol. "Those are your tradeable pieces," Johnson said of the Lakers' two big men. "You still build around Kobe [Bryant]. He was still great no matter what his age is. This man showed he's still dominant as a player. To me, you have to get younger and more athletic. Oklahoma City is young, athletic and fast. The team to beat is the team that knocked you out. That's Oklahoma City and then the San Antonio Spurs." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Trade, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum 

The Lakers, who are looking to shake their roster up this offseason, are expected to once again emerge as a potential suitor for Iguodala. The 28-year-old would be an excellent fit for Los Angeles and solve their problem at small forward. Sources close to the situation say that Kobe Bryant would welcome the move since he has wanted the Lakers to acquire an athletic, versatile small forward for several years. HoopsWorld

Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers, Andre Iguodala, Trade, Kobe Bryant 

"He wants to be Kobe Bryant," one source close to Howard told me in late February, "not be with Kobe Bryant." SI.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, Trade, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard 

Meanwhile, Bryant, according to numerous sources who spoke with Howard, sent a not-so-subtle message to the Magic big man that he would be welcome as long as he was willing to play third fiddle behind Kobe and power forward Pau Gasol. So the trade talks never heated up and Howard, after much vacillation, eventually exercised his $19.5 million option for next season. SI.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, Trade, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard 

The Magic's determination to keep Howard played a late part in Smith's and Van Gundy's dismissals this week, as sources said both men recommended that Howard be traded in the days leading up to their exits. Their shared view clashed with that of CEO Alex Martins, who, according to sources, remains confident that Howard can be persuaded to stay yet again. If not, however, then the likelihood is that teams that didn't appeal to Howard before -- like the Lakers, and perhaps even Chicago -- might become more acceptable. SI.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, Trade, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard 

Kurt Helin: NBA All-Defensive team, second team: Kevin Garnett & Luol Deng at forward; Tyson Chandler at center; Rajon Rondo and Kobe Bryant at guard. Twitter

Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Kobe Bryant, Rajon Rondo, Luol Deng, Tyson Chandler, Kevin Garnett 

Sessions said winning is a priority to him, but also to “become one of the top guards in the league.” He intends to work this offseason to learn how to play without the ball in his hands more considering how much Kobe Bryant has it with the Lakers. Orange County Register

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Kobe Bryant, Ramon Sessions 

"It was kind of reversed, right?" Bryant said in his postgame news conference at the Chesapeake Energy Arena when asked to compare the two series. "We came in here a couple years ago, and we had played with each other in the same system for years. So we kind of knew the intricacies of our offense, and defensively what we wanted to do. So now it just flipped. "They've been together for a long time in the same system. They know exactly what they want to do. They've really grown tremendously. I think Westbrook has improved, Durant's obviously improved, (veteran shooting guard Thabo) Sefolosha -- he didn't really shoot the ball that well tonight -- but overall he's been an excellent shooter for them, which was different from when we faced them back in (2010). Ibaka can shoot. Perkins is obviously a great addition. They've all made tremendous strides." SI.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant 

At least the Thunder went over to shake the Lakers' hands (yes, even James Harden and Metta World Peace), and Bryant insisted there was one other way this wasn't like the most notorious NBA regime change of the past three decades. "This is not one of those things like where the Bulls beat the Pistons and the Pistons disappeared forever," Bryant said. "I'm not going for that s---." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant 

Tzvi Twersky: "I'm not fading into the shadows, if that's what you're asking." -- Kobe Bryant Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant 

We were among several to notice that Kobe Bryant, despite scoring a ton of points in Game 5 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, had zero assists. Brian Cardinal of the Dallas Mavericks noticed it too and fired off this beautiful tweet as the Lakers were on their way to losing the game and the series. SB Nation

Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Kobe Bryant 

Kevin Ding: OKC coach Scott Brooks on Kobe: "Best footwork I've ever seen at that position." Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Kobe Bryant, Scott Brooks 

The Los Angeles Lakers are facing elimination and after their most recent loss Saturday, Kobe Bryant pegged the Lakers' late-game problems on Pau Gasol, but coach Mike Brown insists the team isn't coming apart. "They've played together too long," said Brown. "Pau knows how Kobe is. Kobe knows how Pau is and they'll do a good job of figuring each other out." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Los Angeles, Mike Brown 

Bryant did not speak to reporters after shootaround. Gasol did and focused on the team's predicament rather than any interpersonal relationships that may be fraying. "We're thinking about winning this one and going from there," Gasol said. "Every game is obviously a different story, as we experienced throughout the playoffs. So, we're tuning in to this one and understanding that our life is on the line and to be able to stretch this out and give us an opportunity, we have to be able to win (Game 5) here in Oklahoma with all the momentum that they have right now." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol 

Durant, 23, knew how to react after watching enough highlights of game-winners and studying the mannerisms of other players who have established reputations for clutch performances — including his opponent in this series, Kobe Bryant, and Michael Jordan before him. Closers are cold-blooded. Closers don’t reveal emotion. Closers understand being lethal is routine. “That’s the role I want,” Durant said. “Coming in, being one of the main guys, I want to take those shots. I got to live with what people say when I miss them and I can’t get too happy about what people say when I make them. I’ve got to know that if I make a shot in the closing seconds, I got to walk off as if I’ve done it before and if I miss it, I got to walk off like I made it.” Washington Post

Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant 

But the Gasol turnover is what happened and what will be remembered. "It was a bad read by Pau," Bryant said. "It happens." Los Angeles Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol 

After Bryant tied it at 98-98 with two free throws, Westbrook slipped on the court -- a fairly common occurrence on a day when the Clippers and Lakers both played playoff games on different courts laid over the ice surface at Staples Center -- giving the Lakers one more realistic chance to hold on. Bryant passed to Gasol along the baseline, about 10 feet from the basket, but Gasol threw an errant pass for Metta World Peace for a turnover leading to Durant's deciding 3-pointer. "He's just looking to swing the ball too much," Bryant said. "He's got to shoot it." CBSSports.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol 

The Lakers, on their way down in the second round for the second straight year, forgot about Bynum down the stretch as Bryant went 2-for-10 in the fourth. After scoring 14 in the first half, Bynum had only four after halftime and two in the fourth. "In the second half what they did was front Andrew," said Bryant, who had 38 points, but only seven in the fourth. "So when they front Andrew, and in the fourth quarter they crowd me, the other guys have got to be more aggressive. Simple as that." CBSSports.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum 

“I don’t give a [expletive] what you say,” Bryant told Yahoo! Sports late Friday. “If I go out there and miss game winners, and people say, 'Kobe choked, or Kobe is seven for whatever in pressure situations.' Well, [expletive] you. Yahoo! Sports

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant 

“Because I don’t play for your [expletive] approval. I play for my own love and enjoyment of the game. And to win. That’s what I play for. Most of the time, when guys feel the pressure, they’re worried about what people might say about them. I don’t have that fear, and it enables me to forget bad plays and to take shots and play my game." Yahoo! Sports

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant