Kobe Bryant and Jordan Hill were mentioned in recent trade rumors, but the Los Angeles Lakers are leaning towards keeping both players beyond the trading deadline in February.
Bryant, who surpassed Michael Jordan on the NBA's all-time scoring list on Sunday, will allegedly consider moving to a title contender or reunite with former mentor Phil Jackson, who is now the team president of the New York Knicks.
But when asked about the talks about Bryant's future in Los Angeles, Lakers executive vice president Jim Buss said that he cannot see the 16-time All-Star wearing a different uniform in his final years in the NBA.
"I love Kobe Bryant. I think LA loves Kobe Bryant," Jim Buss told ESPN. "I don't envision him going anywhere. I don't see it."
Lakers president Jeanie Buss, Jim's brother, also said that they are not planning to trade Bryant before the trade deadline on Feb. 19 despite their disappointing performance this season.
"I know what the realities are in this business," Jeanie Buss said. "It's never going to change what we've accomplished together. But I don't look forward to the day that Kobe Bryant's not in purple and gold."
However, Jeanie Buss quickly added that there could be things that are out of their control. They would like to keep Bryant until he retires, but she admitted that they had the same mindset before they eventually decided to part ways with superstar Shaquille O'Neal in 2004.
Bryant, who is playing in his 19th season in the league, is averaging 25.4 points to go along with 5.0 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game for the Lakers this season.
Meanwhile, the Lakers are also expected to turn down trade offers for Hill, who is having the best season of his six-year NBA career.
Sporting News reported that the Lakers are receiving calls about the availability of Hill, who is averaging 13.1 points and 8.8 rebounds per game this season. However, the Lakers, who signed the 27-year-old to a two-year deal worth $18 million in July, are determined to keep the 27-year-old power forward.
Hill averaged just 20.8 minutes in 72 games under former Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni last season, but he has received 30.3 minutes of playing time from new coach Byron Scott, who was impressed with the former Arizona standout's development this season.
