Kobe Bryant is being mentioned in trade talks over the past several weeks with rumors suggesting that the superstar guard will likely be dealt to the New York Knicks before the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 19.
But according to Mitch Lawrence, a sports analyst from Forbes, the Lakers won't even consider trading Bryant to any team before the trade deadline for business reasons.
The Lakers are one of the most disappointing teams this season, which means that trading Bryant will affect their revenue significantly.
"I don't see them trading Kobe, not at all," an NBA team president told Forbes. "The Lakers almost have to keep him, as much for business reasons as anything else, and I believe that's what they're going to do."
The Lakers have a 25-year television, $5 billion deal with Time Warner. According to Forbes, the Lakers will get additional money based on ratings, which means that trading Bryant will affect their yearly revenue as well.
Sources said that their TV ratings dropped 54% last season after the 36-year-old superstar missed 76 games due to Achilles tendon and knee injuries.
"Kobe brings eyes to the TV," a rival NBA executive said. "No, he's not the same player he once was, but people are always going to watch Kobe Bryant."
Bryant, who is averaging 27.3 points to go along with 5.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists this season, also has a no-trade clause in the two-year, $48.5 million deal that he signed in November last year. The 16-time All-Star recently said that he is not planning to ask for a trade even if the Lakers are not expected to contend for a title this season.
"I hear the chatter of Kobe should ask out and he should go and play for a contender in this latter stage of his career," Bryant told Yahoo Sports earlier this month. "But that's not what I do. I'm extremely loyal to the Lakers."
The Lakers are currently at the cellar of the Western Conference standings with their 1-9 record. They will look to snap their four-game losing skid when they face the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday.
