The Lakers’ veteran, captain and decorated MVP Kobe Bryant is bewildered, and so are we. Why would the management break the winning formula with a super but weird trade? In comes Mavs great, Chris Paul and out goes power forward Lamar Odom who has been part of that strong equation that summed with Bryant, Pau Gasol, Metta Word Peace (TBFKARA – the basket player formerly known as Ron Artest), and Derek Fisher, in a season when they also lost Hall of Famer and coach Phil Jackson to retirement.

“To be honest with you, I don’t like it,” Bryant said on their third day at training camp.

“It’s tough to lose Lamar. Pau is still here, we’re all thankful for that. It’s hard when you’ve been through so many battles with players just to see them go somewhere else. It’s tough,” he continued.

Odom is being sent to Dallas for a first round pick, with an $8.9 million trade exception.

“I don’t think Mark Cuban (Dallas Mavericks owner) is protesting this trade,” Bryant added.

Though I plainly agree with this, time will tell if the Lakers or Chris Paul can create immediate chemistry.

Paul is a four-time NBA All Star, 2006 Rookie of the Year and more.