I read a article that I saw in the Orlando thread, and it really got me thinking about the future of L.A. As the article said, there would be a posibility that McGrady might opt out to join Shaq here in L.A. should Kobe leave this offseason. In the end, I think the Lakers will have to end up making a dicision whether to finally make Kobe the man in L.A. or ride off Shaq's back for the few years he has left. Although I as a Laker fan would like all this talk about Kobe leaving to end as well, I don't see this situation as simple as resigning Kobe this offseason. Phil's comments about the Lakers being Shaq's team every year out of no where (even when they're playing good team ball) surely doesn't help us resign Kobe. Every year no matter what the situation is, it seems like Phil needs to state that its not Kobe's team, and although that is true, it isn't something necessary to state. Some might just see it as just a big loss in their lineup, but it is deeper than that. As we know here in L.A. there are many diehard Kobe fans, and it sure as hell won't help anything if Kobe doesn't end up in a Laker uniform next season. Even if McGrady was signed, there will be more to it than just saying Kobe was replaced and it is done with. I personally would pabably never watch a Laker game with Shaq in it ever again if he ends up being the reason why Kobe leaves L.A. Hell, he might not even leave Los Angeles, he might go to the Clippers, but I really want to see Kobe a Laker next season. Kobe is only 25, and although his legal situations are in effect, Shaq will be 32 this year and he has already had multiple problems with his legs and feet. Shaq is seeking a huge extension again, though I remember him stating a few years back that he wanted to retire before he started suffering from ankle/knee problems like some big men do. If L.A. does extend Shaq's fat contract, they will be probably stuck with a big overpaid injury-prone big man for the last few years. Kobe will be much cheaper to keep over the years, and he has much more life left in him. This season will keep all of us here in L.A. very busy wondering what will happen, unfortunately right now there is too much chance Kobe might not be a Laker next season.
I also heard about some McGrady stuff. David Aldridge made a big article about it earlier in the year about McGrady possibly being a Laker, if Kobe doesn't re-sign. He says T-Mac and Shaq are like "brothers". But we have to re-sign Kobe, he has already made his mark in LA, and he should finish his career off as a Laker, and I'm sure the Lakers will do whatever it takes to try to get him to re-sign. His wife's family lives in LA and they already seem settled, especially how all the support Kobe has gotten from LA, so possibly that can convince him to stay as a Laker, of course if he's a Clipper next year it won't effect any of that though. Nobody in the league that the Lakers are capable of getting can match the talent of Kobe Bryant, this could not only be a huge loss for now, but obviously for the future. Let's be real here, Shaq says he's playing about 7 years more? Those won't all be years of dominance, he'll probably end up retiring before due to an injury, so we basically depend on Kobe to take us where we need to go for the future. If Kobe does leave, their will be plenty of talent floating around the F/A list, and the Lakers may be able to put something together with Shaq-Malone-Payton and another star who they could sign. However, Kobe or not, I'm a laker fan for life, I bleed purple and gold. I want to see what's best for Kobe, and not just from a Laker fans stand point. But in all honesty, if he really wants his "own team" he probably wont' even be contending for a championship anywhere in the near future. Then again, if I was him I wouldn't want to put up with such comments made by Phil/Shaq year in and year out. It's almost like Shaq may possibly stopping Kobe from shining as that main superstar, and in that case Kobe may look at it as it's best for him to leave. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
To me it isn't that I am a Laker fan because of Kobe, to me it's more about the terms he leaves on. If he leaves just because he would rather have his own team and start over, fine I wish him the best. However, if the Lakers allow Kobe to slip away because of Shaq and his selfishness, I won't forgive the team for that one. A player's selfish act should never go to the point where he is the reason for a superstar to not resign to their team. It's time for them both to grow up and forget about the "who's team" thing, and Phil has to shut his mouth and stop reminding them. If Kobe does stay, we all know it is just a matter of time until Shaq starts breaking down and it becomes Kobe's team. It'll be fun to see what happens this summer, hopefully we'll have another ring on our side to make that dicision for Kobe a little easier.
