The Los Angeles Lakers gladly welcomed the 2015 All-Star break after falling to the Portland Trail Blazers Wednesday night for their sixth consecutive loss and 40th overall. Focus around the league has shifted to the big weekend in which no Laker will partake in.
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Despite being voted in for the 17th time, Kobe Bryant won’t make an appearance for the All-Star festivities in New York as he continues to recover from surgery via Bleacher Report’s Kevin Ding:
Kobe Bryant remains someone both fans and reporters want to see and hear from more than almost anyone in the NBA, but Bryant will not be attending the upcoming All-Star Weekend in New York, according to league sources.
Bryant won’t be available to play, but he remains among the league’s most popular players. Bryant received the fourth most votes, behind Steph Curry, LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Although his draw is unquestioned, making sure he will be healthy in time for next season has to be the highest priority for Bryant.
Bryant is expected to be healed from his torn rotator cuff around the end of October, when the NBA season typically begins. Should he be selected for another All-Star appearance and be healthy around mid-February, Bryant will probably be making his final trip for an All-Star Game.
As for the Lakers, the NBA trade deadline is coming up on February 19, and the team will have to decide if they want to make any changes to their roster as well as the direction they want to take for the off-season. There has been rumored interest in Phoenix Suns guard Goran Dragic, but the Lakers would likely have to give up a first round pick.
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