Kobe re-signs for 2 yrs - richest deal in NBA (again)

[Axel]

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

— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) November 25, 2013

[Axel]

It still leaves them room to sign a Max UFA but you would have thought that Kobe would take a little less to make it easier to field a competitive team.

[tucas]

So stupid.

[white men can't jump]

It still leaves them room to sign a Max UFA but you would have thought that Kobe would take a little less to make it easier to field a competitive team.

You would think most players would. Not Kobe. No way this guy's ego lets him take a paycut. I wouldn't be surprised if he retired if he wasn't getting a max offer to keep playing.

*I guess technically it's a paycut. But he's still the highest paid player in the league, so that should be good enough for his ego.

[isaacthompson]

Yeah, well.. Kobe has all the leverage in this situation. Either pay him that, or lose him and have the entire fanbase go bonkers.

[Axel]

Smart longterm thinking. They create goodwill with other stars, while at the same time continuing to draw fans at their huge ticket prices over that time. They won't win a title, and Kobe will do no good, because he'll spend all his time going after personal records, but they probably weren't going to win anyway. What I'm wondering now is, will they limit their free agency signings to 2-year deals in the summer, hoping to clear the books entirely by the time of Kobe's retirement.

Which could coincide with Durant's UFA....just saying...

[rocwell]

Wow...

[RandomGuy]

Kobe is making them money, not vice versa. So he's rather a business investment.

[rocwell]

Kobe is making them money, not vice versa. So he's rather a business investment.

Yep, but he is 35 years old, injured player and he takes more than $20M+ from salary cap.. That's a lot.

What can you say.. Kobe helped big time to get 5 rings for this organisation.. That's the Busses way to say thank you, Kobe.

[Axel]

Yep, but he is 35 years old, injured player and he takes more than $20M+ from salary cap.. That's a lot.

What can you say.. Kobe helped big time to get 5 rings for this organisation.. That's the Busses way to say thank you, Kobe.

KG and Duncan took 50% less on their deals at this point in their careers and I question how long Kobe can even keep playing. The Lakers make money with Kobe there's no doubt, but you'd think winning would make even more, and it's going to be hard to build a championship team around Kobe making that much.



This team's success will come from the block; low post, high post and trade.

[S.R.]

It was kind of fun to have the Lakers-Celtics reignite their high profile rivalry, but I've had enough of them.

Current management in Lakerland is incompetent. Their competitive days are over until Buss Jr. gives up control of basketball operations. Until that time, they're set to become the West Coast Knicks.

[LBF]

nice

[ceez]

after this year they have a ton of cash to spend, even more if they somehow get rid of nash.

the deal is terrible, but they kind of had to.

[The Great One]

He's Kobe Bryant. That is all.