NEW YORK — Before I go away for the summer (to camp . . . at least that's what my family is telling me), there are certain things I want to get off my chest.

No, I don't foresee the Lakers caving to Kobe's egomaniacal demands for a trade; for no other reason than each time he runs his mouth, or delegates an ESPN correspondent to mime his dirty work, his value increasingly diminishes.

Only losers like the Knicks, who cannot possibly give L.A. anything equitable in return, are psyched to headline Kobe's act.