It's still unlikely, but these teams would be in the mix

Pretty please? Kobe Bryant has made his stance clear: He wants out of Los Angeles. John W. McDonough/SI

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The NBA is buzzing over the latest in the ongoing Kobe Bryant soap opera.

The Lakers superstar has not practiced for three days, citing a case of tendinitis in his knee. Some wonder if it's more than a coincidence, coming shortly after L.A. owner Dr. Jerry Buss went public with comments saying he was still open to trading his franchise player.

"Something is going on there," said one Eastern Conference executive who wished to remain anonymous. "It sure looks as if Kobe is trying [to force his way out]."

It's still too early to say if this latest episode will be the final chapter in Kobe's L.A. story. As of late Wednesday, Bryant was saying the whole thing was overblown and that he would "strap it up" and play for the Lakers as soon as his knee felt better. Bryant also denied a report that he had cleared a lot of stuff out of his practice locker.

It's still a long shot the Lakers would trade Bryant right now. Only a handful of teams have the combination of players and draft picks that L.A. would want.

Throw in the fact that Bryant has a no-trade clause, a massive contract ($88.6 million over four years) and a 15-percent trade kicker, and it is easy to see why finding the right fit is all but impossible.

Most NBA types seem to think this storm will blow over, and that the Lakers will try to find a way to make it work -- at least until the trade deadline.

However, as one Western Conference executive noted, "if [Bryant] is unhappy and decides to shut it down, the Lakers might have to do something now."

Here's a look at the five most likely destinations (in reverse order of likelihood) if the Lakers were to decide to bite the poison pill right now and deal Bryant:

5. SUNS -- At least one Eastern Conference exec said he felt this was the team that could make the best offer, with a bona fide All-Star in Shawn Marion and some good young talent (Raja Bell, Leandro Barbosa). As for Bryant, he presumably would waive his no-trade clause for a chance to be on the receiving end of Steve Nash's passes in the sunny climes of Phoenix. But Marion isn't the kind of scorer L.A. would need to replace Kobe, and it is all but unthinkable the Lakers would trade Bryant within the Pacific Division. As one Suns insider says: "They'd rather cut off their right arm than trade him to us."

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