--The Times' Broderick Turner talks with former Lakers Assistant General Manager Ronnie Lester, who criticized the Lakers for not fully explaining their decision to part ways with about 20 employees because of the NBA lockout.

--Sports Illustrated's Sam Amick reports that Kobe Bryant made more than $400,000 this past weekend by playing in a pair of exhibition games in the Philippines. 

--The Orange County Register's Jeff Miller says many of the Lakers aren't spending their time wisely during the NBA lockout. 

--ESPN Los Angeles' Andy and Brian Kamenetzky discuss in their latest podcast the prospects of Bryant playing overseas and Andrew Bynum's maturity. 

--Fox Sports West's Matt "Money" Smith says Bryant won't know how to take it easy this offseason. 

--Sports Illustrated's Ian Thomsen talks with Derek Fisher, who doesn't want the NBA to have a similar structure to the NFL. 

--Silver Screen and Roll's DexterFishmore provides a lighthearted Q&A on the NBA lockout. 

--Lakers Nation's David Brickley looks at the Lakers' top-10 must-see games of the 2011-12 season, assuming there is one of course. 

Tweet of the Day: "Kobe Bryant is 'nowhere near any kind of a deal,' in Turkey, source tells Y! 'Not even close.' He's listening to offers, but that's all now." -- WojYahooNBA (Yahoo! Sports NBA columnist Adrian Wojnarowski)

Rick Friedman Reader Comment of the Day: "Bynum will mature, but at only a slightly more accelerated rate than Ron Artest, aka 'Metta World Peace' or as his close friends know him 'Metta World Piece.' " -- Jon K. 

-- Mark Medina

Email the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

Photo: Lakers Assistant General Manager Ronnie Lester, left, and GM Mitch Kupchak study their options before the 2008 NBA draft. Credit: Los Angeles Times

They have had different roles and histories with the Lakers organization, but there's a common thread that's tied Kobe Bryant, Brian Shaw and Ronnie Lester together.

The commonality goes beyond the 13 combined NBA championships they won with the Lakers. It points recently to their frustration over the front office's apparent lack of communication over important issues. The examples prove to be wide-ranging.

Bryant reportedly has been upset that management apparently didn't consult him and give him a heads-up about the hiring of Mike Brown as coach. Shaw, formerly the top assistant on Phil Jackson's staff, wishes he'd been told directly by the team that he wasn't getting the head coaching job, instead of learning of it through media outlets. And Lester, a former assistant general manager for the Lakers, feels offended that they provided little information on the 20 or so Lakers staffers, including himself, who were let go after their contracts expired June 30 and the NBA imposed a lockout.

The circumstances are different, but these examples involving Bryant, Shaw and Lester reveal that some of their misgivings could've been minimized with a simple phone call and more respect. Below is a more detailed look at all three situations. 

We'll have a chat at 12:30 p.m. Bring all your questions!

--The Times' Mike Bresnahan and Broderick Turner report that Kobe Bryant had a derivation of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy on his right knee about a month ago in Germany.

--The Times' Baxter Holmes reports that Bryant might play exhibition games in China.

--The Times' Douglas Farmer notes that NBA websites have been stripped of player images during the lockout.

--The Times’ Lisa Dillman details how the NBA lockout is affecting players, including members of the Lakers.

--The Times' Mark Heisler doesn't see much progress being in the near future on resolving the lockout.

--The Times' Lance Pugmire compares and contrasts the NBA and NFL lockouts.

--Sports Illustrated's Sam Amick looks at how the NBA lockout could affect player routines.

--The Orange County Register's Janis Carr looks at possible odd jobs that NBA players could do during the lockout.