Is there a doctor in house?

Kobe gets Shaq traded from one of the greatest teams of all time and then cries later that he’s leaving unless he gets some help. Then, after publicly demanding to be traded and calling his boss a liar, he gets his panties all in a bunch when Buss actually acknowledges that he is acquiescing to his petulant trade demands.

Maybe after all these years of dating 19-year-old girls, Jerry Buss is so used to this type of behavior that he actually likes it.

William David Stone

Beverly Hills

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Dr. Buss, you fancy yourself a gambler, so I’m waiting to see how you play this hand.

You’re holding an ace-high flush. Kobe’s got a pair of threes and is bluffing. He has no leverage whatsoever.

If you’re smart, you don’t trade Kobe under any circumstances. If he opts out of his contract in two years, fine. You signed him as an unrestricted free agent three years ago, so you’re playing with the house’s money.

No trade: Kobe for two-plus years, a chance to win, $24-million cap space afterward and superstars lining up for the money. Trade him now: Mediocre players for two-plus years and no cap room after.

You misplayed your hand with Shaq. Let’s see if you play this one right.

Eric Christenson

Santa Monica

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Here’s the fact of the matter: If trading Kobe Bryant is the only trade the Lakers can make, then it proves that the team has become ineptly run and longtime Lakers fans would be well within their right to run from this sinking ship as quickly as possible.

Jeffery Lakes

Los Angeles

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If you reread his interview, Dr. Buss was trying to defend his son Jim. Reporters are catching on that it has been stubborn and clueless Jim who has been pulling the strings, resulting in years of Lakers mediocrity.

Dr. Buss needs to put his girlfriends, his poker games and alcohol aside and give Jim some direction real soon because Jim is remaking the Lakers into the L.A. Strings.

Gary Bart

Beverly Hills

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This whole Bryant-Buss thing has made L.A. sports talk radio almost as painful to listen to as the NBA is excruciating to watch.

Chad L. Budde

Pasadena