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LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles Lakers guardbarbour jackets called out team management Sunday, stating a decision needed to be made regarding the future of forward Pau Gasol. The Lakers responded in turn on Monday, just not in the manner Bryant wanted. The Lakers released a statement by general manager Mitch Kupchak prior to the Lakers' game against the Portland Trail Blazers. "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," Kupchak said in the statement. "To sayhttp://www.shopbarbourjackets.com 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." Bryant came to the defense of Gasol following the Lakers' 102-90 road loss to the barbour quilted jacket on Sunday, saying that the four-time All-Star could not be expected to be fully invested in the season with all the trade speculation attached to his name. "It's just tough for a player to give his all when you don't know if you're going to be here tomorrow," Bryant said. "I'd rather them not trade him at all. If they're www.officialbarbourshop.comgoing to do something, I wish they would just (expletive) do it. If they're not going to do it, come out and say you're not going to do it." Kupchak did express empathy with Gasol's situation, barbour coatsdespite not taking any clear stance on Gasol's security in L.A. or even addressing Gasol by name. "As a former player, I understand how the days leading up to the trade deadline can be nerve-wracking for an NBA player," Kupchak said inhttp://www.barbourjacketsshop.com the statement.The NBA trade deadline is on March 15, about three weeks away.