<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">LOS ANGELES - Kobe Bryant wants to be sentenced to the Lakers for "life," so to speak. The troubled All-Star guard categorically denied a published report that he will not return to the Lakers next season. Bryant is eligible to become a free agent this summer but can sign a seven-year contract extension with Los Angeles worth $141 million. "I want to be a Laker," Bryant told reporters yesterday. "I've been a Laker fan my entire life; I want to be a Laker for the rest of my life. That hasn't changed."</div> Link
I think he'll end up movin on...the tension between him and Shaq is too difficult, and I think he'll end up with the Clippers...
I think it's a bad thing for the fans to bank on him sayin' he a Laker for life and wants to stay in LA. Look at Shaq,he say the same stuff in Orlando and he didn't think twice about goin' to LA.....I wouldn't have my heart set on Kobe stayin' in LA just yet....I think right now he just tellin' all the LA cats what they wanna hear.
Vowing to be a Laker fan? Kobe has sent signals to different directions this past week, and I think his eventual whereabouts will depend on his trial. If he gets convicted, he would be pleased to stay in a VIP cell . If he is sentenced innocent, I think he'll end up a Clipper or Sun, remaining in the Pacific.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Big Nasty:</div><div class="quote_post">I think it's a bad thing for the fans to bank on him sayin' he a Laker for life and wants to stay in LA. Look at Shaq,he say the same stuff in Orlando and he didn't think twice about goin' to LA.....I wouldn't have my heart set on Kobe stayin' in LA just yet....I think right now he just tellin' all the LA cats what they wanna hear.</div> Yeah, I agree, that's all it is now. He's trying to brush the media off, and calm down the situation because he wants to focus on this year first. Because if he was really a "Laker for life" he wouldn't hesitate to talk about contract extensions, but instead he's going to opt out. Hopefully he'll stay, if all goes bad we may be able to bring T-Mac to Lakerland. :bigthumbu In case you guys didn't see it in the Magic forum... <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">McGrady said Friday that he expects Shaq -- whom he calls his "Big Bro" -- to recruit him to join the Los Angeles Lakers if Kobe Bryant leaves the Lakers. "Absolutely," McGrady said Friday. "I know that. I know he will." He said "it all depends how things go during the offseason. I'm at the point that I want to win. I don't want to start rebuilding again. We'll see what happens." The Magic lost O'Neal to the Lakers in 1996 and realize keeping McGrady is the top priority. Says one Magic player, requesting anonymity, "Just talking with Tracy, they better be careful."</div> Link: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/bask...=orl-dp-3-promo
As a Laker fan i love seeing Kobe play but if he wants to leave go ahead. We dont mind. I hope if he leaves that the Lakers get T-Mac. Kobe wants to prove he can win it all without Shaw but he will realise that it isnt possible. I dont want him to leave but would love to see T-Mac play with Shaq. I think that they would make a perfect duo on the court.
People just answer the same old answers a free agent is supposed to say. I want to be a Laker for life, and I really want to stay in Los Angeles. But what happens? They later turn their backs on the franchise, and sign with another team. So Kobe saying this statement really doesn't bring me relief at all. It's just too typical. Purple N Gold just brought out an excellent note on Tracy McGrady. I'm not too hyped up about Tracy. I know he's one of the excellent players in the league, but I'm more of a Kobe fan that a T-Mac fan. Maybe if Kobe leaves, and Tracy ends up in LakerLand, I'll learn to love and appreciate the man.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">L.A. now stands for Laker Acres. America's second-largest market is now Ko-dependent, addicted to Kobe Bryant's every double dribble. The entertainment capital now yawns at the Dodgers, the Bruins, the hockey. It doesn't even seem to miss pro football -- USC scratches that little itch. Hollywood's sports psyche is now dominated by the ``Pulp Fiction'' churned out on a daily basis by its stranger-than-Tarantino NBA team. No star athlete in New York has ever quite had the city hanging on his every silly syllable the way L.A. gasps over every hint Kobe drops like childish cherry bombs. La-La Land is as gaga over its Lakers as Green Bay is over its Packers.</div> Official Article: http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews...rts/7979595.htm
I think it all depends on how the season ends, if they win the Finals...I think he will be back, but if they lose the finals, I think he will move on.
i think kobe will sign the laker contract and if he wishes to go somewhere do a sign and trade... teams looking for a total shakeup and build around him can do this, maybe tmac+howard+lue for Kobe... if TMac somehow irritates Magic and the organization can't take it nomore...
