Losing Lamar Odom hurts, but not as much as facing the fact that the league's best sixth man will be playing for a team that humiliated the Lakers with a sweep in the NBA playoffs last year.
"We're supposed to come back and get them back," said Kobe Bryant at Sunday's Lakers media event. "It's still hard to see one of my friends, one of our great players, go somewhere -- especially to that team for seemingly nothing.
"I don't think (Mavericks owner) Mark Cuban will be protesting this trade."
That's a reference to Cuban's interview with ESPN Dallas in which he said he supported the commissioner's decision to block a trade proposal Thursday that involved Odom and New Orleans guard Chris Paul. Odom did not report to the opening day of training camp Friday after learning of the trade.
The Mavericks and Lakers deal was announced Sunday.
When asked whether he thought the Lakers received too little in return for Odom, Bryant smiled and asked: "Who'd we get?"
The Lakers traded Odom for a second-round draft pick and an $8.9 million trade exception. Bryant added that he's waiting to see whether GM Mitch Kupchak can build around the remaining talent.
"You've got to let Mitch do his job," the Lakers guard said. "Mitch has proven himself over the years that he's able to build a great team."
The Mavericks swept LA in the second round of last year's playoffs. The two teams will meet Jan. 16 at Staples Center.
Odom is expected to participate in the Mavericks' media day on Tuesday.
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