In response to comments made by Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol after Sunday night’s game against the Phoenix Suns, Mitch Kupchak issued the following statement:

“As a former player, I understand how the days leading up to the trade deadline can be nerve-wracking for an NBA player," said Kupchak. "Nonetheless, as General Manager of the Lakers, I have a responsibility to ownership, our fans and the players on this team to actively pursue opportunities to improve the team for this season and seasons to come. To say publicly that we would not do this would serve no purpose and put us at a competitive disadvantage. Taking such a course of action at this time would be a disservice to ownership, the team and our many fans."

"I wish [Lakers] management would come out and either trade him or not trade him," Bryant said. "It’s just tough for a player to give his all when you don’t know if you’re going to be here tomorrow. I'd rather them not trade him at all but if they’re going to do something, I wish they would just ... do it."