Thanks in part to Kobe Bryant, Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak has been the most maligned man in the 213 for some time now. Most of the criticism has been deserved. The drafts, trades and acquisitons by Kupchak since taking over for Jerry West have been largely dreadful, and have set the Lakers into steady decline.

But Kupchak (and Jim Buss, to be fair) has stuck to his guns on Andrew Bynum. Considering the way Kobe called the kid out over the summer, Kupchak’s intractable, untradable stance on the former first rounder is astonishing. And as it turns out, correct.

In honor of all that, we bring you, via WITH LEATHER, Andrew Bynum in all his f-bomb dropping glory.

UPDATE: Man, this really sucks. Poor kid.

KOBE QUOTE CAUGHT ON AUDIO - “DR. BUSS IS AN IDIOT“: For those of you outside the 310 area code, move along - nothing to see here (we know Kobe fatigue has set in).

For us Angelenos who are still relishing Kobe Bryant exposing the absurdly incompetent Lakers front office, INSIDE HOOPS is the first to release a transcript of an audio tape attributed to Kobe Bryant “in early June“.

The highlight of the tape has Bryant saying “Dr. Buss is an idiot“. Complete transcript of the audio:

“Fan: Please tell us your staying!
Kobe: Huh?
Fan: Please tell us your staying.
Kobe: Get a Bulls uniform, fellas.
Fan: Are you serious?
Kobe: Yup.
Fan: Really!?!
Kobe: Yup.
Fan: It’s not worth it Kobe, you got to stay.
Kobe: Dr. Buss is an idiot.
Fan: That’s true, good luck man.
Kobe: Alright, thanks man.
Fan: See ya buddy.”

Dr. Buss is an idiot? Sounds a little harsh, until you examine the Lakers’ last 10 first-round picks. And the current two-headed jackass rodeo running basketball operations.

KOBE BRYANT ON LAKERS ORGANIZATION - “IT’S A MESS“: After torching the Lakers organization on his website and likewise on ESPN Radio in L.A. (audio) today, Kobe Bryant unleashed his strongest criticism of the team’s front office during an interview on the Lakers radio play-by-play home: KLAC-AM. (Click here for entire interview)

Why is Bryant talking now? The flashpoint came in a piece by Mark Heisler of the LOS ANGELES TIMES today, in which an anonymous Lakers “insider” claimed that Bryant was to blame for Shaq departing the team.

Bryant appeared on KLAC’s “Petros and Money Show” and said of the front office: “That place is a mess. What I’m speaking about is, I want us to get to a point where we’re contending for titles. It’s not about who has control. Now they want me to use me as a scapegoat with this Laker insider thing. Don’t throw me under the bus for something I did not say or do. I haven’t heard anything from anybody since my exit meeting. And I found out like you guys found out about Jim Buss dissing Phil on the radio.”

On the perception he pushed Shaq out of L.A.: “This is what really pisses me off. I assumed it was media guys talking about it or people assuming. Now I read this that a Laker insider says I ran Shaq off. I took it in stride the first time. Now I’m not taking a bullet season for something I did not say. I had nothing to do with that.

“I spoke with Phil today. I’m training, I still get up at 4:30am. Now the tone has switched and now I have serious trust issue. (Today) I asked Phil, ‘when you left in ‘04, what did they tell you?’. What he told me was that they didnt want to bring him (Phil) back because they wanted scale back and put in a long term plan. Dr. Buss wants to trade Shaq because he doesnt want to fork out $30M per year.

“That’s drastically different from what they told me. They said NOTHING to me about a long term plan. Absolutely nothing. Now I just found out about this today (from Phil). This had been the worst day, I have a headache. I love this city, my wife’s from here.”

Other ruminations from Bryant: “They traded my man, Caron Butler, he and I had been training together all summer. And then I get a call that he’s been traded. They called me and asked me what I thought, and I said ‘why are you asking me now? he’s already been traded.’”

“I look at what Kevin Garnett is going through in Minnesota. I don’t want us to go through that by any means.”

“Enough is enough, that’s why I’ve been very vocal. The truth is coming out. Lakers fan are finally hearing the truth.”

Meanwhile, Bryant also busted Buss, who coincidentally was arrested for DUI this morning, and the rest of the Lakers front office on his website on KSPN-AM.

Bryant earlier today to KSPN-AM’s Steve Mason and John Ireland (click here for entire interview): “A Laker insider is saying I ran Shaq out? That’s tough for me to deal with. I’m beyond furious. That’s an understatement. They know I had nothing to do with it. Whoever that Laker insider is, I know what Jerry Buss said to me and the direction he wanted to take the organization. I kept quiet and took a bullet for them last time.”

Bryant also made it clear during the radio interview that he seriously considered leaving the Lakers for the Clippers or Chicago Bulls after his contract ran out with the club in 2004, only re-signing with the team after assurances that a plan was in place to win immediately.

But Bryant now says he was deceived by Buss and his minions, and that they instead planned on a five-year rebuilding plan: “Before I signed, I didn’t know about a five year plan. It was all about winning right now, being aggressive. That’s the reason I re-signed. I was willing to go to the Clippers who had a good team, good young talent. And Chicago. I didnt know we were on a 5-6 year plan, I had no idea about that.”

Lakers management has been widely criticized for its inactivity over the past three years, as impact players like Baron Davis, Carlos Boozer and Ron Artest were all made available.

When asked about that trio of players in particular, Bryant said that all three had contacted him about joining the Lakers, but that team management wasn’t interested in each case: “All those guys called me first. Baron, Boozer, Artest. But they (Lakers front office) always had a reason not to do a deal“.

Despite his profound discontent, Bryant isn’t ready just yet to demand a trade, instead ending his diatribe with, “If I want a trade I’ll ask for one. I want to work this stuff out. I want to be Laker.“

JIM BUSS BASHING NOW NOT LIMITED TO FAMILY MEMBERS: More of the bizarro dysfunction that is the Los Angeles Lakers’ front office was on display this morning, and this time it involved former Laker player and current Assistant Coach Kurt Rambis.

Rambis, who often makes it plain that he is a Phil Jackson loyalist, guested on KLAC-AM’s “Roggin and Simers Squared” and took the opportunity to defend Jackson on multiple fronts.

During the interview, Rambis denied that Jackson was ever fired by Jerry Buss (”Phil wasn’t fired the last time he left the Lakers“), which is fact that is disputed by Jackson’s girlfriend Jeanie Buss (the daughter of owner Jerry, who also defended Jackson last week on the same show).

And then things got really good, as Rambis lit into defacto team President Jim Buss, who recently criticized Jackson on KLAC-AM’s “Loose Cannons” midday show.

Rambis: “Jim Buss was puffing up his chest a little bit and trying to take charge and make his voice heard and make his voice known. But some of the comments he said (about Jackson) … flat out weren’t right. Like when he said Phil doesn’t know how to work with young players or coach young players. We’re working with our young guys.

“We’re working with our young guys constantly on a daily basis to improve them. But Jim doesn’t know that because he doesn’t come to practice. So he doesn’t see the amount of time we spend working with the young ballplayers.”

(Audio of entire Kurt Rambis interview on KLAC-AM - Buss comments begin at 6:30)

JEANIE BUSS SLAMS BROTHER JIM FOR BOYFRIEND BASH: It’s well-known (at least here in L.A.) that the son of Jerry Buss, Jim, has already essentially taken over the basketball operation of the L.A. Lakers from his father.

Last Friday Jim Buss guested on KLAC-AM’s “Loose Cannons” midday show and said that he didn’t appreciate Phil Jackson criticizing Laker players in the media (read: players that Buss and GM Mitch Kupchak had acquired).

Meanwhile, Phil Jackson’s girlfriend also happens to be the sister of Jim Buss - Jeanie - who is heavily involved in the Lakers business operation.

She appeared on KLAC-AM’s “Roggin & Simers Squared” this morning and took the opportunity to slam her brother for his criticism of her boyfriend - in more ways than one: “I was disappointed, my brother was on this station last week and he talked about his disappointment in Phil, and Phil calling out players in the media and the fact that he didn’t appreciate that, which I thought was interesting because that’s what he was doing to Phil in the media (on the show).

“If he doesn’t appreciate it (critizing club personnel in the media), then why is he doing it to Phil? Phil has such an open door policy to my family that any question that my brother would have, Phil would welcome sitting down and talking to him about it. It was kind of surprising to hear it on a radio station as opposed to him just sitting down with Phil.”

Also surprising was Jeanie Buss’ response when asked by Tracy Simers if Jackson will sign a contract extension with the club after his deal expires following next season: “I don’t know. Maybe they’re not happy with him? I think he’s done a good job. He wants to be here.”

Audio link of complete Jeanie Buss interview on KLAC-AM’s “Roggin & Simers Squared”.