I can name off atleast 10 guys I'd pay more than Kobe right now if I'm an NBA GM.

 

And very few, if any, will leave a legacy on their franchise like Kobe has. LA wanted to keep him there, and that's what they did. I think they know whether or not it was a good business decision for them or not...

You are acting like he did something honorable and had a choice to make 30 million again. He didn't take a hometown discount. He was offered a new contract at a lower price and no one was going to pay him more.

 

No I am not. I think he has earned every penny and I think the Lakers did the smartest thing possible. You don't let a guy like Kobe go nor do you insult him at the end of his career. Especially when he is playing at a high level still.

 

Why did MJ retire the second time? Oh, that's right. It was because he still wanted 36 million a year and he wanted the Bulls to pay Phil and Scottie's worth also. Jerry Krause said hell no and then boom...2 years later Pippen has been a Rocket and then a Blazer and MJ is a Wizard. Phil moves on the Lakers. No way in hell should MJ have ever been anything more than a Bull. Even in ownership. The Lakers didn't make that mistake.

I can name off atleast 10 guys I'd pay more than Kobe right now if I'm an NBA GM.

 

Because of the rules of the collective bargaining agreement there ain't 10 guys who can make more than Kobe. Even if they are better. And there still isn't 10 guys better than Kobe either.

A bad team may of paid the same for ticket sales. No team with a shot of a title would of paid more than 12-15.

 

We'll never know. The Lakers made an offer he couldn't refuse.

So for everyone who thinks Kobe's extension is too much let me ask you.....if your boss comes to you and offers you more than you are worth are you going to take the money or are you going to give it back and tell them to give it people who are better than you so the company can persevere?

 

Why would any any pro athlete say that? Especially the most competitive athlete walking the face of this earth? The one guy who believes he can win a title with Mike D'Antoni and his system? The one guy who'd throw his momma off the train(or at least sue her) if it meant he could win a title? You all act like he's going to take the money and just coast. He's going to continue to kill himself to try to win a title before he retires. That's a helluva lot more than what Carmelo is doing for New York. And Melo will get a Max contract next year also. He's almost to Kobe money.

@mcten: 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"

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.

 

Which is the same thing that's going to happen to the Lakers if they get Kobe and another "max" player. You can only go so far over the cap by signing your own players or players you have bird rights to. Lakers won't be able to spend as much as you all think.

 

 

My main point was not how that worked with the cap but basically the cap number itself. I was saying Lebrons only getting 15-16 mil coming off back to back to back MVP seasons and Kobe is getting 33% more in his final years coming off knee/Achilles issues. As far as bargain or deals go give me the Lebron or Wade deals anytime.

So for everyone who thinks Kobe's extension is too much let me ask you.....if your boss comes to you and offers you more than you are worth are you going to take the money or are you going to give it back and tell them to give it people who are better than you so the company can persevere?

 

Why would any any pro athlete say that? Especially the most competitive athlete walking the face of this earth? The one guy who believes he can win a title with Mike D'Antoni and his system? The one guy who'd throw his momma off the train(or at least sue her) if it meant he could win a title? You all act like he's going to take the money and just coast. He's going to continue to kill himself to try to win a title before he retires. That's a helluva lot more than what Carmelo is doing for New York. And Melo will get a Max contract next year also. He's almost to Kobe money.

 

I was putting full blame on Kobe to start this thread until I saw the link that said the Lakers offered without Kobe coming to them. If that's the case I don't blame Kobe one bit you don't turn down money. I still think little Buss has a lot to learn because that is bad business.

Kobe can never ever say he cares more about titles than anything else. He chose the money option which is fine and I may have too in his shoes. They can not compete for a title now. Did Duncan take less so his team could compete? Yes. KG? Yes Kobe should have asked for less if he really wanted to compete.

I was putting full blame on Kobe to start this thread until I saw the link that said the Lakers offered without Kobe coming to them. If that's the case I don't blame Kobe one bit you don't turn down money. I still think little Buss has a lot to learn because that is bad business.

 

They are going to make a ton of money of Kobe in the next 2 years so in terms of business (making money). This was a great move. If you want to spin it as a bad basketball move that's a completely different thing.

But Kobe did take less......:lol: :lol:

 

 

 

Amazing...............................

But Kobe did take less......:lol: :lol:

 

 

 

Amazing...............................

$10M less in the first year and he's getting killed when they can still add a max player.

 

ESPN - Kobe Bryant says contract extension from Lakers "makes me want to run through a wall for them"

ESPN - Kobe Bryant says contract extension from Lakers "makes me want to run through a wall for them"

 

Bad business plan.

It's funny, the Lakers stepped up and offered Kobe a contract he couldn't refuse as a sign of loyalty and a desire to make sure Kobe rightfully retires a Laker. Had they came at him and insulted him with a contract offer and he left next summer Kobe would be getting killed for that also.