Will kobe take a paycut?

[Luxury]

Akiho.. you brought up a good point. Nice man.

[lakersfanatic]

If kobe takes a paycut.. then my respect for him will grow to a total another level. I think the league will respond the same as well...as with TD and KG.

[TruSkool]

never. ever.

[ClubLakers KB8]

Hah.

Kobe loves money more than winning.

[Dr Aki]

he was the only one to vote against capping max salary

[TonyMontana]

Hah.

Kobe loves money more than winning.

Your kidding right?

[One Love]

The NEW KB24 will opt out and take $20 million a year for 5 years which will allow the Lakeshow to resign Ariza and company... He WANTS to win too much and will take a KG, Shaq deal... With Gasol & Bynum both making over $15 million each and KB24 at $20 million we have over $50 million (CAP is currently $58 million and some experts predict it will go down next year given the economy)... Lets keep our fingers crossed...

[hermes]

i don't think he'll take a paycut

might NOT take a pay raise

[Verbal]

He might want to keep the "TK" and "No-Trade-Clause" in case he gets played.

[LAKESHOW]

just dump lamar, that should solve the problem.

[J Rob]

No way he takes a paycut.

The Busses have basically said they'll pay whatever they have to in order to keep him.

And honestly, why would he?

1. Ridiculously expensive lifestyle with this maybe being his last NBA contract.
2. When there's a tax-free $50 mil being offered overseas, would you want to take a paycut...especially with the new Obama tax structure coming?
3. Jordan made 35 and 36 mil his last two years.
4. They have the rights to all the players they need for a 5 year run (probably the length of his new contract) and taking 5 mil a year less won't exactly free up cap space...especially if Ariza and Farmar get resigned.
5. He knows he's the best player in the league and probably wants to be paid the most money out of anyone in the league. I don't even think he's ever been top 5 up to this point.

[Dr Aki]

5. He knows he's the best player in the league and probably wants to be paid the most money out of anyone in the league. I don't even think he's ever been top 5 up to this point.

isnt he like #5 currently?

[Verbal]

KG?


What are you guys talking about?

[milesfides]

No way he takes a paycut.

The Busses have basically said they'll pay whatever they have to in order to keep him.

And honestly, why would he?

1. Ridiculously expensive lifestyle with this maybe being his last NBA contract.
2. When there's a tax-free $50 mil being offered overseas, would you want to take a paycut...especially with the new Obama tax structure coming?
3. Jordan made 35 and 36 mil his last two years.
4. They have the rights to all the players they need for a 5 year run (probably the length of his new contract) and taking 5 mil a year less won't exactly free up cap space...especially if Ariza and Farmar get resigned.
5. He knows he's the best player in the league and probably wants to be paid the most money out of anyone in the league. I don't even think he's ever been top 5 up to this point.

Spot on. First of all, if there's a player that shouldn't take a paycut, it's Kobe. Please, don't talk about Duncan. First of all, the respective situations are completely different:

1. Duncan isn't a major marketing icon
2. Spurs are a small market team
3. Duncan's paycut had a direct impact on Spurs' flexibility in terms of the cap

On the other hand

1. Kobe is a huge marketing draw. There's a reason why Euro teams are actually serious about Kobe.
2. Lakers is second to the Knicks in terms of value, but the Lakers' profit margins are huge while the Knicks are in the red
3. Kobe could play for free and the Lakers would still be over the cap. Think about that.


The only reason Kobe would take a paycut is for Buss to pay less luxury tax. It shouldn't have any sort of impact on how this current team is run.

A paycut might be seen as a nice gesture, as nice a gesture could be when an employee gives money to his boss.

But no, Kobe has made Buss a crapload of money, and will continue to do so. He's worth it, just like Jordan was worth 30 million (hey what happened to the Bulls when Jordan left? Oh, irrelevance). Without kobe, we'd no longer be contenders, instead, something like that Portland Trailblazers, two good post players and some nice young talent. Although probably not quite as good because aside from Kobe, we don't have any guard even remotely close to Brandon Roy.

No, I really think it's illogical and almost inappropriate for Kobe to take a paycut, just like how I think Odom shouldn't take a paycut.

The Lakers make a lot of money due to these incredible athletes who devote their entire lives to the team over a few years, and in the process, break their bodies and give their youth. The Lakers go on, the machine goes on, the business and show goes on, but these players are left behind, only with memories and hopefully a good amount of cash.

Kobe doesn't owe the Lakers a thing except best-in-the-world basketball, and the Lakers owe him best-in-the-world money.

[Patterns]

If we win the championship, he might. Then again, if we win the championship, Buss would pay anything to anyone.

[Sedale Threatt]

Why am I not surprised...

[El Hardee]

Kobe read this homer thread then proceded to play C.R.E.A.M. by the Wu tang clan from his iPod.
"Cash rules everything around Cream, get the money dollah, dollah bill ya'll."