Report: Kobe Bryant Wants Derek Fisher, Lamar Odom Back on the Lakers


According to an NBA.com report, Kobe Bryant is working behind the scenes to try and see if there’s a way for him to re-unite with former teammates Derek Fisher and Lamar Odom next season: “Kobe Bryant is planning a hard push to recruit Derek Fisher and Lamar Odom back to the Lakers as free agents in the summer, a source familiar with Bryant’s thinking told NBA.com as Fisher prepares to return to Staples Center as a member of the Thunder. Whether either would be receptive is unclear – Fisher and Odom loved their seasons in Los Angeles, but were hurt to be traded within the last 3 ½ months. It is known, however, that Bryant plans to use his close friendship with both to convince them that a reunion is in everyone’s best interest, bruised egos and all. Management — unable to comment on interest in players on another roster — will have to be convinced as well. […] Bryant has kept in contact with both, though he said conversations center on personal matters and not basketball. He has kept in particularly close contact with Fisher, part of the Bryant inner-circle like few others, and says, again, they have not talked about what happens in free agency. Still, it is clear from people with knowledge of Bryant’s thinking that he will be lobbying to have the two very popular former Lakers return to the fold. Asked about the possibility late Tuesday night, after the Lakers played in Oakland, of a reunion with Fisher, Bryant said, ‘I don’t know. I would hope so. But I don’t know. When Fish and I talk, it’s about personal things because we’ve known each other for so long. Lamar too. We keep that other stuff out of it. It’s family, how are you doing, stuff like that.’ Has he talked to Odom about the idea? ‘No, not about that, because I don’t want to interfere with what he has going on in Dallas,” Bryant said. ‘Right now, it’s just more about him being OK and making sure that he’s doing what he can to help the Dallas Mavericks out.'”