Kobe & Lakers Agree To Extension

[starbigd]

He didn't seem to have a problem sharing the spotlight last season with Dwight. He even became more of a facilitator.

Not really. His stats did not appreciably improve in that regard. He still took his usual TON of shots. And sharing the spotlight isn't JUST about passing the ball during the game.

Its about passing the ball in CLUTCH moments of the game. When you need to hit that last shot......Kobe is NOT going to pass. Doesn't matter WHO is on the floor with him, and doesn't matter how wide open they are. He's proven this his entire career, including last season.

 

[Heatles84]

To put this into perspective for those who are opposed to this deal -

Amare Stoudemire - 21.6m
Joe Johnson - 21.4m
Carmelo - 21.4m

Three contracts over 20m for guys who have never even played in a championship. You don't let greatness walk away to take a shot at potential hurting the Lakers brand is the last thing you want to do. The worst case scenario is the Lakers do not win a championship over the next two years, but they let a legend and Laker great play out his career in front of his home fans. The market next year has only one max deal player that would perform at the level of Kobe Bryant, so why would you let him go to sign a worse player and potentially help a team like Chicago, Dallas or San Antonio who could all sign him.

And both franchises are near the bottom of the East right now. Not saying Kobe's not a great player or wasn't ever a great player. But there was really no one else bidding for Kobe and he is 35 and coming off a ruptured achilles, which is about as bad as an ACL tear if not worse.

 

[BOTSLAYER]

Yes, but it's pretty complicated and you can get lost easily if you don't concentrate. But I'll try to make it as simple as possible. I'll do all the steps in order.

1.) Go to the post you want to quote.
2.) See the "Quote" button?
3.) Press it.

Good, now teach the couple of posters who are copy and pasting.

Does multi quote work for you? It does not work for me.

 

[Jims_Doors]

To put this into perspective for those who are opposed to this deal -

Amare Stoudemire - 21.6m
Joe Johnson - 21.4m
Carmelo - 21.4m

Three contracts over 20m for guys who have never even played in a championship. You don't let greatness walk away to take a shot at potential hurting the Lakers brand is the last thing you want to do. The worst case scenario is the Lakers do not win a championship over the next two years, but they let a legend and Laker great play out his career in front of his home fans. The market next year has only one max deal player that would perform at the level of Kobe Bryant, so why would you let him go to sign a worse player and potentially help a team like Chicago, Dallas or San Antonio who could all sign him.

None of those 3 players were coming off of a current major injury without playing a regular season game (to see how they look) when they signed their deals. They also weren't 35yrs old and have played over 50,000 minutes in their career.

 

[Jims_Doors]

Yes, but it's pretty complicated and you can get lost easily if you don't concentrate. But I'll try to make it as simple as possible. I'll do all the steps in order.

1.) Go to the post you want to quote.
2.) See the "Quote" button?
3.) Press it.

LMAO

 

[SDGuy73]

I don't think it's a fact of playing with Kobe, it's imo a fact of how much they think he has left in the tank. The reason why I say I loved chasing 2 instead of 1, is this new mindset that has PLAGUED the NBA....which is, who can I team up with? As for other options, Kobe and Melo have a STRONG friendship and I could see that factoring in SOME, but then again there's the Dantoni factor as well. You also can't throw out Love as well. I'd say the biggest thing we got going for us in these situations is that the Lakers situation is better than NY's and Minny's.

You keep mentioning Melo. Why in the world would you want Melo? He's a lousy leader, not a great shooter and like Kobe.....can't play any D. So, two ball-hogs who can't play D. Sign him!

 

[trojanfan12]

You keep mentioning Melo. Why in the world would you want Melo? He's a lousy leader, not a great shooter and like Kobe.....can't play any D. So, two ball-hogs who can't play D. Sign him!

He's probably mentioning 'Melo because many in the media keep throwing 'Melo's name out there. I don't get why they keep mentioning it either.

Aside from the fact that 'Melo has already shown that he's a horrible fit in D'Antoni's system, he's heading into the twilight of his career. It would make no sense for the Lakers to pick 'Melo up. Especially at the price he'll want.

And I agree about the D. The only difference is that Kobe will at least try to play D.

 

[shitsho]

Kobe has set himself up nicely. I don't get what the Lakers were thinking other than a Magic Johnson deal but I would never hate on a player getting paid for services rendered. I doubt the rebuild can commence until he retires. The only person I can see coming to LA as an FA now is a humbled all star or mid level player.

 

[RoboticDreams]

This was a business decision and a wise one. Kobe is still the most popular player in the league, if you go off last years All Star voting. He's going to continue to sell jerseys worldwide, as a Laker, and make them much more money than this 2 year contract.

 

[shitsho]

This was a business decision and a wise one. Kobe is still the most popular player in the league, if you go off last years All Star voting. He's going to continue to sell jerseys worldwide, as a Laker, and make them much more money than this 2 year contract.

I agree it was a business decision. I just thought the Lakers were always about winning a title. Nothing pays more money long term than winning. Dr. Buss must be rolling over in his grave.

 

[RoboticDreams]

I agree it was a business decision. I just thought the Lakers were always about winning a title. Nothing pays more money long term than winning. Dr. Buss must be rolling over in his grave.

Well winning and and also profiting aren't exclusive from one another. They need to continue to make money while they are coming up with a blueprint to make them a significant threat again. I just pray they don't sign Melo.

 

[LALakersboy24.7]

Well winning and and also profiting aren't exclusive from one another. They need to continue to make money while they are coming up with a blueprint to make them a significant threat again. I just pray they don't sign Melo.

Well said

 

[shitsho]

Well winning and and also profiting aren't exclusive from one another. They need to continue to make money while they are coming up with a blueprint to make them a significant threat again. I just pray they don't sign Melo.

As we say where I'm from "all money ain't good money". They could have signed him to a lesser contract and gave him some figure head cushy job as an executive after his 2 years. Buss needs to know how to structure his deals so they come out beneficial to the main thing which is winning.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

As we say where I'm from "all money ain't good money". They could have signed him to a lesser contract and gave him some figure head cushy job as an executive after his 2 years. Buss needs to know how to structure his deals so they come out beneficial to the main thing which is winning.

It's a catch 22 In many ways because Kobe sells tickets period in every arena in the NBA. When the Lakers show up, most teams have a sold out arena merely to see Kobe play. One player for one team and a chance to finish his career with that one team will really be historic and the flat out truth to the dismay of Laker fans is that is worth more to the NBA and to the Lakers then winning a championship.

It's a business and if you're Kobe Bryant - you are not going to take considerably less money from a team that can afford more. I don't like the deal and I think they could have done better, but it's not a deal breaker either. I think they already knew Lebron was a fantasy and will be looking to Carmello Anthony or Luol Dung. There are not a lot of choices out there and they know it, so they are going with what they believe will sell tickets and try to wait a couple of more years for that golden opportunity

 

[lakersrule]

There are not a lot of choices out there and they know it, so they are going with what they believe will sell tickets and try to wait a couple of more years for that golden opportunity

I tend to feel this way to. I think the front office realizes it won't get Lebron next summer and aren't interested in Melo. I think Mitch was just shoveling us some rhetoric when he says that they can still build a title contender around Kobe his last two seasons.

This deal still gives them cap flexibility in 2015 and 2016 for a couple big time players as well as locks up a major income generating player for a couple seasons. It essentially delays the rebuild by a year or so, but honestly I don't think it makes much of a difference to what the Lakers can do this upcoming summer. Lebron isn't coming whether Kobe signed for the minimum or maximum.

 

[lakersrule]

Not really. His stats did not appreciably improve in that regard. He still took his usual TON of shots. And sharing the spotlight isn't JUST about passing the ball during the game.

Its about passing the ball in CLUTCH moments of the game. When you need to hit that last shot......Kobe is NOT going to pass. Doesn't matter WHO is on the floor with him, and doesn't matter how wide open they are. He's proven this his entire career, including last season.

Kobe took 3 less FGAs and had 1.4 more APG last season compared to the previous. He was more than willing to share the spotlight with Dwight. Dwight wasn't. Dwight bitching about his FGAs last season? He is taking the exact number of shots this season.

 

[OutlawImmortal]

Someone using Dwight as "hard evidence"

 

[LAKERSUSCBAM]

He was more than willing to share the spotlight with Dwight. Dwight wasn't. Dwight bitching about his FGAs last season? He is taking the exact number of shots this season.

doesn't even merit a comparison between the two....one will go down as one of the greatest to ever play and the other will be regarded as someone who had all the attributes but didn't realize their full potential.

 

[BOTSLAYER]

Kobe, one of the greatest of all time


Maybe of SGs or GOverratedAT, he has a shot at that.

 

[OutlawImmortal]

Botslayer you sound like you just started watching basketball.