This was reported on the Dan Patrick Show this morning. One angle to the Kobe trade talks that hasn't been discussed much is Kobe's extension demands. FORBES magazine recently reported Kobe is already the highest paid basketball player in the world.</p> Kobe Bryant has turned into Shaq. This is exactly the same type of crap Shaq pulled when his extension was coming up.</p>
No player is worth $30M per season. He'd account for over half the salary cap so we wouldn't be able to afford anyone else.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bacon Smeller)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> But as long as Kobe can stay a Lakers then thats good for me won't you say.</p> </div></p> </p> No. 30mil/year is too much for anyone.</p>
Hopefully the Lakers don't make the same mistake they did when they traded Shaq for crap.</p> Kobe should bring them at least 3 better than average players.</p>
So Kobe wants 30 million per year....</p> Well, until I get an official source, I find that really hard to believe. If this is indeed true, I really won't know what to say. Kobe's my favorite player in all of sports, and he is the one who actually got me interested in the Lakers and the NBA. But recently, I've just grown tired him. Either get your ass on the court and play, or leave LA. I doubt he is stupid enough to demand a 30 million per year type of deal, but you never know these days</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumpman)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> So the message is, trade me to the Bulls or pay me $30M.</p> </div></p> No the message (according the radio show) is whoever, he's traded to needs to agree to extend Kobe $30M.</p> </p>
Pay the man or trade him. This whole thing is becoming a distraction and the Lakers are going to play crappy basketball if the distraction stays...and they'll play crappy basketball if we trade him. We screwed Kobe over, now he is screwing us over...what goes around comes around, survival of the fittest, it's a dog eat dog world out there....whatever metaphor you want to use, it's happening now. We f'd Kobe, now he's f'ing us.</p>
Magic was talking about the trade on TNT and said that without Deng being inluded, nothing will happen. Same thing I've tried telling BG7 that they won't fool the Lakers front office by offering just Gordon and garbage for Kobe.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> Magic was talking about the trade on TNT and said that without Deng being inluded, nothing will happen. Same thing I've tried telling BG7 that they won't fool the Lakers front office by offering just Gordon and garbage for Kobe.</p> </div></p> I never said that Paxson would fool the Lakers front office into taking Gordon and filler for Kobe. I said that Paxson should play hardball, and let the Kobe situation completely blow up in LA, and force the Lakers to trade Kobe for a Hinrich package, or just let Kobe sit out until he opts out.</p> </p>
I don't think the Lakers should trade or pay Kobe at this point. They need to consider option 3, let his ass opt out and walk. The Lakers aren't going to get anything of equal value in a trade since Kobe can veto any deal. He's not worth $30M a season and with the salary cap the NBA has no one is. So call Kobe's bluff and let him walk. Free up the money and go after free agents. LA is still one of the most desirable cities and franchises around and the endorsement money is an added bonus.</p> If a team wants to make a fair deal now or in two years via sign and trade then go for it, but until then let him continue to ruin his legacy.</p> </p> </p>
I highly doubt any team would want to pay him 30 million per year. That is just bullshit, and if Kobe is actually demanding this type of money, I feel ashamed to call myself a fan of his</p>
Players won't wont to come to L.A. when they realize how fucked up the management is, though. Kobe is exposing the Buss' family for the corrupt, screwed up individuals that they are.</p>
Everybody knows the Lakers front office is inept, and nobody will want to come here unless changes are made. But changes will not be made because Jim Buss will be heir to the throne no matter what. If I am a star player, no way would I want to come play for the Lakers after seeing how horribly they treat their star players. Kevin Garnett himself even said a main reason why he chose the Celtics over the Lakers is because the Lakers front office is unable to make any move. Everybody knows our management sucks, and it's only going to get worse in the future when Jim Buss gets full power (if he already hasn't)</p>
A lot of players have gone on the record saying they'd like to play in LA. Baron Davis, Gilber Arenas etc. to name a few. They're both natives of LA, but also a lot of players in the league grew up during the Lakers dynasty so there's a nostalgia to wanting to wear the P&G. The problem the Lakers management has dealt with since dealing Shaq is not having the cap flexibility to pursue these players.</p> Once the decision is made on Kobe's future in LA, I'm sure we'll see more changes with the roster and within the organization. Every recent interview with Dr. Buss shows him calm, cool, and collective. He's very confident in his abilities and his inner circle of advisors.</p> He reminded everyone the Lakers has been in this position before after Magic contracted the HIV virus and they reloaded with Shaq & Kobe.</p> Time to reload.</p>
Except back then Jerry Buss was running the show. This isn't the same as way back when. Jim Buss is running the show along with his puppet Mitch Kupchak. It has been said that Jerry Buss has been out of the loop for the past two years or so, if I remember correctly. I have no faith in this new management to get anything positive done, but we'll see what happenes.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brian)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> Except back then Jerry Buss was running the show. This isn't the same as way back when. Jim Buss is running the show along with his puppet Mitch Kupchak. It has been said that Jerry Buss has been out of the loop for the past two years or so, if I remember correctly. I have no faith in this new management to get anything positive done, but we'll see what happenes.</p> </div></p> Jim Buss has taken on more responsibility, but Dr. Buss is still very involved with the Lakers. Magic Johnson is also involved in a lot of decision making along with PJax. They've actually given PJax the final word on what to do with Kobe. If Kobe is going to tune out PJax and his teammates he's done in Lakerland.</p> I'm concerned about how Jim Buss is perceived by other GMs at this point. They don't hold him in high regard and don't feel he's earned his position within the Laker front office. That's going to be an obstacle for this franchise, but hopefully they replace Kupchak with someone who balance out Jim Buss. I have no idea who the canidates would be at this point, but there's a lot of young talented GMs who would jump at the opportunity to rebuild the Lakers given the cap space to do it.</p> I don't see how the Lakers can justify holding onto Kupchak if/when Kobe is gone. Here's a GM who allowed two Hall of Fame players to leave under his watch.</p> </p>
