After missing out on all of the big free agents this summer, the Los Angeles Lakers are in full rebuild mode. They made a couple of nice moves, like signing Lou Williams and Brandon Bass and trading for Roy Hibbert, but the Lakers will still likely not be a playoff team. Kobe Bryant is also expected back this season after missing the end of last year with a shoulder injury. The Lakers shouldn't be at the bottom of the NBA but this is a franchise that is expected to compete for Championships year in and year out.
Williams, Bass and Hibbert were introduced to the media on Wednesday, as they are now officially Lakers, and were all asked if any of them had heard from Kobe Bryant yet. The result of that question was three blank stares and one big awkward silence, according to Baxter Holmes of ESPN. Bryant has reportedly not yet contacted any of the new Lakers, which may or may not be a big deal.
On the one hand Bryant is not known as someone who is good at forging relationships with fellow teammates. Whether it be the situation with Dwight Howard a few years ago, the Shaq situation a while back, or the story of Kobe making a teammate cry, he is supposedly not the best teammate in the world.
But on the other hand Bryant isn't required to reach out to new teammates when they join the Lakers. It is possible that he is unhappy with what the Lakers did this offseason and the fact that they likely won't make the playoffs again, but more likely is the fact that Kobe is rehabbing his shoulder and getting into game shape so he could play at a high level next season.
Yes, Bryant could have reached out to these new Lakers but first he is focusing on getting himself ready for the upcoming season. He will have plenty of time to acquaint himself with his new teammates during training camp, but he knows that the team has no chance of doing anything if he isn't healthy and at least near the top of his game.
It is reportedly asked of every new Laker whether they heard from Bryant when they first get there, and that should be expected considering he is an icon of Los Angeles and the sport of basketball, but this report shouldn't be made into too big of a deal.
