Bryant, who has played a total of 13 seasons with Fisher, said he was "shocked" by the trade.
"I think I was shocked just like everybody else...We've always been close and we'll continue to be close," Bryant told ESPN 710 Radio.
The trade of Fisher made room for the Lakers to acquire point guard Ramon Sessions from the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he had averaged 10 points and five assists this season.
But Bryant's shocked attitude will not last long. He knows, and the NBA knows, that the Lakers are a better team without Fisher at point guard. Sessions brings solid ball-handling and good offensive awareness to L.A. He also is a terrific facilitator, one that can set up Bryant for good looks throughout the floor.
That is why Bryant will be happy to see Sessions passing to him and getting open looks. Sessions has the ability to make Bryant look really good and he knows that, especially after scoring 28 points in Sessions' first game. From the LA Times:
"It makes my job a lot easier," said Bryant, who posted 28 points on nine-of-20 shooting, including five of eight from three-point range. "I get a lot of easier opportunities. I sit on the perimeter. I got a lot of spot-up shots tonight both from his break-down penetration and from teams collapsing on Andrew [Bynum]."
Fisher was just that veteran the team wanted to keep around for all the great things he has done for the franchise. He could not facilitate the ball and he was not reliable enough for the team to win with Fisher at point. Towards the end, Bryant was forced to penetrate the ball and create for himself.
Now, Sessions will be able to do that.
Sessions is everything Fis...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
