The trade talks about sending Kobe Bryant to Chicago trade talks "are very real, and they've been real for a while," according to a story Saturday night (Oct. 27th) on espn.com.

The site reports that the Lakers and Bulls have been having "daily discussions about Bryant trade possibilities for at least the past week." Bryant's no-trade clause seems to be a sticking point in the discussions, they claim a source has said.

Another problem is the conflicting opinions on the Lakers management, which includes owner Jerry Buss and his son, Jim; his daughter Jeanie (and her boyfriend, who happens to be Lakers coach Phil Jackson); and Mitch Kupchak, the general manager.