For the record, the Lakers receive 200 million PER YEAR from Time Warner fo their TV contract ALONE.

Kobe Bryant signs two-year contract extension with Los Angeles Lakers - ESPN Los Angeles

 

 

 

The source also said the Buss family was unified in wanting to see Bryant continue to be the league's highest-paid player, and that the owners wanted the extension finalized before Bryant's return to the court as a way of demonstrating his importance to the franchise.

When it comes to Kobe, Haters Gonna Hate...

 

#BlackMamba

Good for Kobe for getting his money.

 

This decision by the Lakers wasn't to win basketball games. It was too make money and have Kobe ride off into the sunset as, dare I say the greatest Laker of all-time?

So just alienate 99% of your fan base to play hardball with Kobe. The Lakers print money. Going over the luxury tax threshold isn't going to be a problem. They can still get a 2nd max player so it doesn't really hurt that bad. It might cost them a role player on the roster. If they were smart they would be trading Gasol for younger players or picks this year.

 

If you win the fan base forgets quickly.

What did Bird make in his final year when he couldn't walk because of his back? Barkley? Your Airness? Magic? Kareem?

 

Show me one top 10 player of all time who took a hometown discount in their last two years of playing. And technically, this is a hometown discount. And anyone who thought the Lakers wouldn't pay Kobe and anyone who though Kobe wasn't going to get paid is being naive. The Lakers got a steal. Like the Knicks wouldn't have given him 30 million. Please. Kobe made 320 million off of the Lakers. How much did the Lakers make off of Kobe during his 17+ year career? Do you guys know anything about business?

 

Jordan's last year at the Bulls he won a title , if Kobe when's a title then I'll eat crow.( I have no idea what Jordan made in Washington because he was an owner) Magic's last year he was in the NBA Finals. Kobe isn't going to the NBA finals. Barkley took less money to go to Houston to try and get a ring. I have no clue on Kareem I'd have to look it up.

 

KG and Duncan took less money to try and win titles. A title was apparently more important to them.

KG and Duncan took less money to try and win titles. A title was apparently more important to them.

 

Probably because they don't have as many as Kobe.

I still find it funny that Kobe left around 10 million on the table and people still have a problem with that. The Lakers can still get a max player, Kobe takes a pay cut but people have issues? You kidding me?

 

That's a shame. :no:

Jordan's last year at the Bulls he won a title , if Kobe when's a title then I'll eat crow.( I have no idea what Jordan made in Washington because he was an owner) Magic's last year he was in the NBA Finals. Kobe isn't going to the NBA finals. Barkley took less money to go to Houston to try and get a ring. I have no clue on Kareem I'd have to look it up.

 

KG and Duncan took less money to try and win titles. A title was apparently more important to them.

 

What did Larry Bird make his last year? When he couldn't walk. How much? Isn't Kobe's contract called The Larry Bird Rule? :lol:

 

And KG also left Minnesota to get that title also. And didn't KG sign the richest contract ever(at the time) while in Minny?

 

LA adds Lebron they don't go to the finals?

What did Bird make in his final year when he couldn't walk because of his back? Barkley? Your Airness? Magic? Kareem? Show me one top 10 player of all time who took a hometown discount in their last two years of playing. And technically' date=' this is a hometown discount. And anyone who thought the Lakers wouldn't pay Kobe and anyone who though Kobe wasn't going to get paid is being naive. The Lakers got a steal. Like the Knicks wouldn't have given him 30 million. Please. Kobe made 320 million off of the Lakers. How much did the Lakers make off of Kobe during his 17+ year career? Do you guys know anything about business?[/quote']

 

I'm not saying cut him or not re sign him all I'm saying is if Lebron and D Wade settle for 15-16 mil in the "prime" of their career it's not going to hurt Kobe to take the same. Of course he had to demand more. I just think Kobe let his ego get In the way, deal should have never been more than 15 mil a season, that's certainly fair as that is around the base salary for most max deals across the league. Even if it's just five million saved that's five million to go out and get a shooter or rebounding specialist.

I'm not saying cut him or not re sign him all I'm saying is if Lebron and D Wade settle for 15-16 mil in the "prime" of their career it's not going to hurt Kobe to take the same. Of course he had to demand more. I just think Kobe let his ego get In the way, deal should have never been more than 15 mil a season, that's certainly fair as that is around the base salary for most max deals across the league. Even if it's just five million saved that's five million to go out and get a shooter or rebounding specialist.

 

Come on man.....Lebron and DWade took 15 million a piece because Bosh took 16 million. Bosh is the highest paid Heat. Kobe is not Lebron and it's foolish to expect Kobe to want or need two more max superstars on his team. Especially when he has 5 titles with only one other superstar on the team.

 

Do you honestly believe Lebron and Wade would only be at 15 million per if Bosh wasn't on the team? And what is the max they can make anyways?

They are in the business of making money first and foremost and this does nothing but help that. You can't just let one of the best players in franchise history walk. They overpaid no question but I honestly think Kobe could have demanded more.

 

Cardinals let Pujols walk and the fans are still supporting them. Sometimes a business decision is not what the fans want but it is in the best interest of the team.

I'm not saying cut him or not re sign him all I'm saying is if Lebron and D Wade settle for 15-16 mil in the "prime" of their career it's not going to hurt Kobe to take the same. Of course he had to demand more. I just think Kobe let his ego get In the way, deal should have never been more than 15 mil a season, that's certainly fair as that is around the base salary for most max deals across the league. Even if it's just five million saved that's five million to go out and get a shooter or rebounding specialist.

 

And also keep in mind that they all took such a great paycut to play together that the rest of the team has to agree to rookie contracts and league minimums just to field a team.

Cardinals let Pujols walk and the fans are still supporting them. Sometimes a business decision is not what the fans want but it is in the best interest of the team.

 

 

Kobe means more to the Lakers than Pujols has ever meant to the Cardinals.

Kobe means more to the Lakers than Pujols has ever meant to the Cardinals.

 

True a little bit. Pujols was a God in STL.