Lakers ensure more rings to come, dream team in place

[benji]

Kobe Bryant signed a two-year contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday.

The Lakers did not announce financial terms of the deal, but a source told ESPNLosAngeles.com's Ramona Shelburne that Bryant will remain the NBA's highest-paid player over the course of the extension.

Bryant, who is recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, will make over $30.4 million this season, the final year of his current contract with the Lakers.

The team announced the deal in a press release, saying that the signing "should ensure" that the 35-year-old Bryant finishes his storied career with the Lakers.

[JaoSming]

https://twitter.com/Chris_Broussard/sta ... 9092728832

Source: Kobe's deal: $23.5 mill '14-15; $25 mill '15-16

[shadowgrin]

Kobe with the ultimate sacrifice willing to let go of $11.5 million with his extension all for the good of the team whose future is unknown unlike quitters who sign together in one team in the pretense of sacrifice and winning just because they can't hack it.


That gift from Kobe can be used for Greg Monroe money.

[benji]

[NovU]

That's actually 8-10 millions more than what I initially thought. With Howard contract in place, the Lakers could have been doomed financially unless Buss was willing to go Prok and spend 200 millions for a tanking team that Nets are.

Good move, the Lakers will live and die with Kobe next two seasons. Full commitment, let's see where it goes.

[Sauru]

i like the deal but thats mostly because i really want to see him retire a laker. the man has earned them tons of cash and those ever so valuable rings so why not re-up him and give him a good going away contract

[NovU]

Like something Ainge should have done with Pierce instead of refusing to pay him then to send him away to 200 mil team that's built perfectly for tanking?

[Sauru]

Like something Ainge should have done with Pierce instead of refusing to pay him 10 more mils then to send him away to 200 mil team that's built perfectly for tanking?

no one refused to pay pierce

[NovU]

I think that was general perception up until Nets deal came up who was desperate for building a 200 mil tanking team.

[benji]

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-trian ... g-contract

ouch

[shadowgrin]

Zach Lowe butthurt that a team like the Lakers is capable of honoring a historic player like Kobe with that kind of extension.

[Andrew]

As I said in the Lakers thread, I guess he's content to chase the all-time scoring record, as it doesn't seem like they'll be in a position to make themselves a strong contender in the West. Still, he's earned the big bucks with the career he's had and it's only right that he retires a Laker.

[Phil89]

as it doesn't seem like they'll be in a position to make themselves a strong contender in the West.

Maybe they could have if Kobe had followed Tim Duncan's lead and accepted less money for the good of his team.

[Jackal]

I'm so lost as to where this franchise is headed.

[benji]

You don't have faith in Jim Buss?

[NovU]

Why Kobe Bryant is worth $328 million
What can you do though? The Lakers weren't gonna let him walk or retire unhappily and buy tons of criticism from fans. He's the ticket seller, TV rating go-to-guy, heart and soul of the Lakers team. The team probably paid more than his basketball value(in return for business) but kept him and kept him happy. Now, it's going to be interesting what kind of team the Lakers will become for next two seasons, final era of Kobe basketball.

[Jackal]

That's still a fuckload of money. He could've easily accepted 13-16 and retired a Laker while earning comfortably.

You don't have faith in Jim Buss?

You're a funny guy.

[Stress Fracture]

I wonder if Carmelo would leave NY now that Kobe re-signs with LA.

[benji]

You're a funny guy.

"Evaluating basketball talent is not too difficult," Buss said. "If you grabbed 10 fans out of a bar and asked them to rate prospects, their opinions would be pretty much identical to those of the pro scouts."

He later said he was trying to compliment Lakers scouts

[Jackal]

Why the heck does anyone even want Carmelo in LA? He'll be 30 by next year, not exactly the "future" of the franchise. Knowing Buss though he'll throw the max at him.

Monroe would only be 24.

[benji]

Kupchak: "Everybody forgets that Kobe would be a free agent this summer too. So we got who we feel is one of the top free agents available"

[shadowgrin]

Real talk.

[Alpha_]

Carmelo? Seriously? They'll not gonna add another "ballhog" in the team.

[YaoKnowWhat_I_Ming]

Zach Lowe butthurt that a team like the Lakers is capable of honoring a historic player like Kobe with that kind of extension.

Better than Bill Simmons...right?

[NovU]

Kobe Bryant Calls ‘BULLSHIT’ on Criticism of $48 Million Deal

“Most of us have aspirations for being businessmen when our playing careers are over,” Bryant said. “But that starts now. You have to be able to wear both hats. You can’t sit up there and say, ‘Well, I’m going to take substantially less because there’s public pressure, because all of a sudden, if you don’t take less, you don’t give a crap about winning. That’s total bull—-. I’m very fortunate to be with an organization that understands how to take care of its players, and put a great team out on the floor. They’ve figured out how to do both.”

“Most players in this league don’t have that. They get stuck in a predicament – probably intentionally done by the teams – to force them to take less money. Meanwhile, the value of the organization goes through the roof off the backs of their quote, unquote selfless players. It’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.” [...] “Bull—-,” Kobe Bryant finally again said on his way back to the locker room. “Pure bull—-.”

I can understand Kobe and he's right actually but that doesn't mean he's free of all criticism because fans are always/also gonna look at bang for the buck value in basketball terms.

Meanwhile, this is what the second highest paid player in the league says...
http://mavsblog.dallasnews.com/2013/11/ ... hoes.html/
Bad timing to speak out though as it makes Kobe look selfish.