Kobe Bryant has officially announced that he would be leaving the Los Angeles Lakers soon. With one big man out, questions were rising on who best would fill his spot. Prior to his retirement announcement though, NBA trade rumors that Russell Westbrook from Oklahoma City Thunder may purportedly become a great addition to the Lakers.

In a report on Complex, it was mentioned that using the ESPN Trade Machine, getting Russell Westbrook from OKC would mean having to trade three Lakers players - Nick Young, Julius Randle and D'Angelo Russell. Bryant was not included in the trade machine choices but with him leaving his team soon, it was not clear if the LA Lakers can afford losing more players amid the NBA trade rumors.

As reported by ESPN, The Black Mamba wrote a piece he shared on social media to announce his retirement.

"You gave a six-year-old boy his Laker dream and I'll always love you for it," a part of the piece aptly titled "Dear Basketball" read. "But I can't love you obsessively for much longer. This season is all I have left to give. My heart can take the pounding, my mind can handle the grind but my body knows it's time to say goodbye."

In the same piece, The Black Mamba said that he's ready to let go of the sport but pointed out his love for the game will never wane.

Over at Twitter, many netizens lauded The Black Mamba over his plans and what he has given basketball.  Other believed though that he will get bored of retirement and return at some point.

There's no word yet what will happen to the Los Angeles Lakers once Kobe Bryant leaves or if Oklahoma City Thunder player Russell Westbrook will have more chances in the rumored trade because of this. But prior to the NBA trade rumors, the Black Mamba himself admitted that he sees some similarity in game play Westbrook. According to AXS, Bryant said he and Westbrook had the same level of intensity in the hardcourt.