Kobe agrees to contact extension with Lakers

[RayBan-Sematra]

If Kobe wanted a competitive team... He should of done a Tim Duncan and taken a pay cut... As mentioned already.

Would it really hurt if he took a 30 million, 2 year deal?

His endorsement deals would still be massive and a competitive Lakers team would still benefit him off and on court...

I don't disagree with your logic and I don't think Kobe is a Top 5 player anymore (wasn't even Top 10 from 2011-12) however who could the Lakers sign in the next two years?
Which free agents are available who would be willing to come to a Kobe led Lakers team?

Maybe Kevin Love... can't think of anyone else.

[TheGarden]

How can carmelo anthony be a top 5 player? Top 5 should be the best in the league and take their team places...
what has melo done and the knicks currently have one of the worst records in the league?

talent wise, he is

12 games this year is not going to make a case for anyone, over the past couple of years he's been a top 5 player

thats my opinion obviously you feel differently and thats fair I wont judge your list, I have no right to judge how you rate basketball players

talent is one thing, performances are another

there is no way carmelo anthony is a top 5 player...look at his playoff record, his stats compared to other top 5 players etc...
if you say top 10 or 15, then yeah/probably but not top 5

I dont judge players off of their playoff records

for example

every team Melo has faced in the playoffs has either won the conference, made the conference Finals or won the title so he's always faced superior talent, along with doing everything he's done without a true #2

I dont judge players on stats, they dont tell the whole story, not even half of the story

Melo's knock has always been 2 things, efficiency and consistent defense and you can add team play if you want but I've seen him for the most part improve each aspect, now this year his FG% isn't great but he's coming around and he's doing other things on the floor

Melo is a top 5 player, this year he's not performing like one of the top 5 players but overall I cant name 5 players more talented than Carmelo Anthony on a basketball court and who can take over a game like he can

but thats my opinion and you are free to disagree

have a good day

[thamadkant]

If Kobe wanted a competitive team... He should of done a Tim Duncan and taken a pay cut... As mentioned already.

Question. What players is Kobe's contract preventing LA from getting?

The lakers have a bunch of contracts expiring in 2014 from my understanding.
They could of enticed a couple of productive free agents or make a trade absorbing contracts.

In the end 24 million dollar contract is what superstar players on their prime are due for.

[Ettorefm]

My point was that they weren't a succesful team with two top 5 players. And fine, if you're dilusional enough to think Dwight isn't a top 5 player, than fine. They were hardly a factor in the west with two top 10 players. Kobe has regressed significantly as an overall player since 2010. But you're refusing to acknowledge this because you don't think defense is a part of the game. Just wait till Kobe doesn't have a rim-protector to save his defense lapses, it's going to be ugly. Bottom line is Kobe is not worthy of this contract, not at all. This is going to kill any flexibility the Lakers have, and if Kobe was all about winning a title he would have taken a pay cut, or a reasonable contract, to let the Lakers surround him with players that can make the Lakers a contender. - See more at: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1286212&p=37596098#p37596098

.
Wah?
.
When did I say that? How confused are you?
.
I clearly stated that Dwight IS top 5, but wasn't last season. Just look at the MVP race. Dwight didn't have a single vote. Not even for third place. He was all-nba 3RD TEAM, DUDE. 3rd team. He was not even the best center by the NBA coaches, clearly not top 5 last season
.
But okay, ignore my post and say 'you keep sayin dwight is not top 5' I'm done trying to argue when you don't read and understand the difference between being overall top 5 and being the top 5 performer in a single season
.
And about Kobe...when did I say that? I agree he has regressed since 2010. And I think defense is very important. Find where I said it is not important

[EricAnderson]

You cant be nostalgic in business all the Lakers are doing is guaranteeing being on a treadmill the next few years

[Talent Chaser]

If Kobe wanted a competitive team... He should of done a Tim Duncan and taken a pay cut... As mentioned already.

Question. What players is Kobe's contract preventing LA from getting?

The lakers have a bunch of contracts expiring in 2014 from my understanding.
They could of enticed a couple of productive free agents or make a trade absorbing contracts.

In the end 24 million dollar contract is what superstar players on their prime are due for.

This is prime Kobe? I guess the Nets have prime Pierce and KG then.

[An Unbiased Fan]

If Kobe wanted a competitive team... He should of done a Tim Duncan and taken a pay cut... As mentioned already.

Question. What players is Kobe's contract preventing LA from getting?

Someone who wants to win titles? They ain't doing that with Kobe taking up that much of the cap.

You just evaded the question. Who specifically is prevented from coming to LA due to Kobe's contract?

The reality is that there isn't much for LA in the 2014 FA list. Lebron ain't coming here, and Melo is a huge IF due to his relationship with MDA, age. other than them, who is commanding max dollars??

[Talent Chaser]

My point was that they weren't a succesful team with two top 5 players. And fine, if you're dilusional enough to think Dwight isn't a top 5 player, than fine. They were hardly a factor in the west with two top 10 players. Kobe has regressed significantly as an overall player since 2010. But you're refusing to acknowledge this because you don't think defense is a part of the game. Just wait till Kobe doesn't have a rim-protector to save his defense lapses, it's going to be ugly. Bottom line is Kobe is not worthy of this contract, not at all. This is going to kill any flexibility the Lakers have, and if Kobe was all about winning a title he would have taken a pay cut, or a reasonable contract, to let the Lakers surround him with players that can make the Lakers a contender. - See more at: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1286212&p=37596098#p37596098

.
Wah?
.
When did I say that? How confused are you?
.
I clearly stated that Dwight IS top 5, but wasn't last season. Just look at the MVP race. Dwight didn't have a single vote. Not even for third place. He was all-nba 3RD TEAM, DUDE. 3rd team. He was not even the best center by the NBA coaches, clearly not top 5 last season
.
But okay, ignore my post and say 'you keep sayin dwight is not top 5' I'm done trying to argue when you don't read and understand the difference between being overall top 5 and being the top 5 performer in a single season
.
And about Kobe...when did I say that? I agree he has regressed since 2010. And I think defense is very important. Find where I said it is not important

Flip back a page and see he where you said Kobe hasn't played defense since 2007 and has been a top 5 player. Oh and Kobe is a top 5 player, look at how many MVP shares he had last season. The argument can goes both ways you know

[Ettorefm]

I don't think Kobe will be top 5 form now. That doesn't mean that he's not a 1st option anymore. As I said, I can find tons of not even top 10 players that are 1st options or can be 1st options. They don't have to be MVP candidates.
.
Parker, Curry, Melo, Dirk are good enough to be 1st options (as they are for their teams), even though they're not top 5 in the league or gunning for MVP (or even the title).
.
Kobe can still get 22/5/5 on 44% or something like it, and he'll be the 1st option for the Lakers until he retires - not only vbecause he's a legend there, but because he's good enough for it. And he would be a first option on most teams - even though he's not top 5, as I said

[An Unbiased Fan]

If Kobe wanted a competitive team... He should of done a Tim Duncan and taken a pay cut... As mentioned already.

Question. What players is Kobe's contract preventing LA from getting?

The lakers have a bunch of contracts expiring in 2014 from my understanding.
They could of enticed a couple of productive free agents or make a trade absorbing contracts.

In the end 24 million dollar contract is what superstar players on their prime are due for.

But they still can sign productive free agents. Even if they re-sign Pau, they'll have around 13 million left over in cap room.

[RayBan-Sematra]

I clearly stated that Dwight IS top 5, but wasn't last season.

I agree though Kobe likely also wasn't Top 5.
He was great offensively but a clear negative defensively and I don't think his offensive impact was as good as his actual offensive numbers.

Dwight was all-nba 3RD TEAM, DUDE. 3rd team.

All-NBA teams are more opinions pieces then facts and have many times been given out to the wrong player.
Dwight may have been the best C last year especially in the 2nd half of the season when he improved noticeably.

And about Kobe...when did I say that? I agree he has regressed since 2010. And I think defense is very important. Find where I said it is not important.

Kobe was I thought still good defensively in 08 & 09. Since 2010 though he has been a poor defender.

[og15]

Then why would they give Kobe that contract? He's not a #1 option anymore and this really hurts their flexibility in the future. If Kobe was about building a contender he wouldn't have taken this much money, yet all you ever hear about is how he wants to win at all costs. Ha, what a joke.

.
Kobe's not a first option? Are you serious?
.
Posters these days Wait, so Paul George is a first option in a contender but Kobe is not anymore? The dude that last season had 27/6/6 on 46%FG and a 23 PER cannot be a first option?

He's obviously not a first option. Have you ever heard of this thing called defense? Kobe hasn't played that for a while now. If he is a true #1 option why couldn't he lead a team with the best center in the game out of the first round? Let's not act like Kobe isn't going to be slowed down by his Achilles either, that's a devastating injury for a player who has played as many minutes over his career as he has. He's going to be a glorified jump-shooter at this point in his career. Father Time is undefeated. Not to mention the Lakers handed out this contract before even seeing him play in a game post-injury.

Do you know what the definition of a first option is? What exactly do you mean by first option? Yes, Kobe is still a capable first option unless he has some drastic decline, nothing suggests otherwise.

[INKtastic]

Kobe should retire a laker, but 48.5 million over two years is too much money. How is he going to go out on a contender taking up that much cap space? The whole roster expires this year. Nash, Kobe, one max guy that is doubtful to be LeBron and a bunch of league minimum guys isn't going to contend.

[Talent Chaser]

.
Kobe's not a first option? Are you serious?
.
Posters these days Wait, so Paul George is a first option in a contender but Kobe is not anymore? The dude that last season had 27/6/6 on 46%FG and a 23 PER cannot be a first option?

He's obviously not a first option. Have you ever heard of this thing called defense? Kobe hasn't played that for a while now. If he is a true #1 option why couldn't he lead a team with the best center in the game out of the first round? Let's not act like Kobe isn't going to be slowed down by his Achilles either, that's a devastating injury for a player who has played as many minutes over his career as he has. He's going to be a glorified jump-shooter at this point in his career. Father Time is undefeated. Not to mention the Lakers handed out this contract before even seeing him play in a game post-injury.

Do you know what the definition of a first option is? What exactly do you mean by first option? Yes, Kobe is still a capable first option unless he has some drastic decline, nothing suggests otherwise.

A 1st option is a player who can be the best player on a team that can make a deep run in the playoffs. Kobe is being payed like the greatest 1st option in history at this stage in his career, he's not worth that. I really expect Kobe to look like Wizards Jordan when he comes back. But he's being paid 48.5 mil over two years, that's an expensive farewell tour.

[TheBargnaniRule]

Question. What players is Kobe's contract preventing LA from getting?

Someone who wants to win titles? They ain't doing that with Kobe taking up that much of the cap.

You just evaded the question. Who specifically is prevented from coming to LA due to Kobe's contract?

The reality is that there isn't much for LA in the 2014 FA list. Lebron ain't coming here, and Melo is a huge IF due to his relationship with MDA, age. other than them, who is commanding max dollars??

You're also kinda missing the point. The point is that the Lakers just signed up to be on the treadmill for the next two years. Signing Kobe to that extension greatly reduces their chance of acquiring enough talent to be a contender over the next two years. Starting to see why Dwight wanted to bail LA.

And just to clear it up, I don't have a problem with Kobe taking the money. Guy has obviously quit on getting his 6th title and just wants to make as much as he can before he signs out. Which is fine tbh, dude has earned that right. I'm just amazed that the Lakers management would be willing to shell out something like that given the circumstances.

[Ettorefm]

Flip back a page and see he where you said Kobe hasn't played defense since 2007 and has been a top 5 player. - See more at: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1286212&p=37596286#p37596286

.
Nash is a worse defender and rebounder than Kobe and was top 5 for many years. And did deserve (at least the second one, if you prefered another guy in 2004/05) his MVPs.
.
Defense is important, but you have to balance it out, get an average 'rating' and impact. Nash was always just average on defense, but he was the best offensive player for tons of seasons, and his impact is much bigger than just his numbers. On average, he got just being 'great', not 'superstar' like LBJ because of his defense. And MElo is the same thing. Amazing offense, poor defense, on average, just great player.
.
Kobe is the best scorer in the league (or was, let's say), and played good defense for most of his career, than starter gambling and being lazy. Last season, he was a mess, but had his best offensive season in the last 4 years. He was so good that he was voted for MVP for many coaches and was 5th in my MVP list. Almost 6th, and I would even agree putting him on 6th, but anyway...
.
Defense is important, sure, but you have to see the average impact.
.
And I'm not even a Kobe/Laker fan, I'm a Suns fan that doesn't like Kobe

[RayBan-Sematra]

Do you know what the definition of a first option is? What exactly do you mean by first option? Yes, Kobe is still a capable first option unless he has some drastic decline, nothing suggests otherwise.

I don't think Kobe has been a capable first option since 2011.
Now when I say that I only mean he isn't a good first option if he wants a very hige usage + volume shooting role.

I think his performance in playoff elimination in 2011 & 2012 proves the above opinion.

He could still be a "first option" technically on a more balanced offense where he would tone down his usage rate and ppg.

[Picklewagon]

In this thread all the Kobe Stans rush to defend their hero.

[Ettorefm]

A 1st option is a player who can be the best player on a team that can make a deep run in the playoffs. Kobe is being payed like the greatest 1st option in history at this stage in his career, he's not worth that. I really expect Kobe to look like Wizards Jordan when he comes back. But he's being played 48.5 mil over two years, that's an expensive farewell tour. - See more at: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1286212&start=165#sthash.7Uz1SId6.dpuf

.
Finally something we agree. First, I don't care about his paycheck. That's not what I'm talking about here. He is overpaid, of course. This is obvious
.
But Kobe is still a capable first option. Was his last season worse than Duncan's/Dirk's (forget the playoffs, just regular season)?
.
Kobe can't get a team to win in the playoffs because he doesn't have...a team. No coach, no players, no defensive scheme (and he became lazy, obviously).
.
Let's put first option as this - if you put him to be the primary scorer and leader of a good team, can he do it? I think he can
.
Just imagine him playing with a good supporting cast such as the Grizzlies. Let's subtract Tony allen and put Kobe.
.
Conley/Kobe/Prince/Randolph/Gasol. Do you think this team is a contender now? Do you think he can take the scoring load and make the difference in the playoffs against other teams, or at least be a leader and top scorer?
.
If he can, he IS a first option. You don't need to be top 3 in teh league or in your prime to do that. Change Kobe for Joe Johnson in that Grizzlies team and they don't get that much better. Put Gay and they get worst. But put Kobe, or Melo, or Curry (not top 5) and that team now is a clear contender with no problems on offense
.
Being a 1st option is being a go-to guy on offense when the team needs it. Is drawing attention so that other players can get more space and open looks. Being a 1st option is being doubled and having defensive schemes drawn to get you not to score. And my friend, teams still do that against Kobe, no matter against who, where or when. That is because he can still have many (MANY) 35+ point games as he already did last season. And in a good efficiency, as he was a 46% FG player last season
.
Is he the old kobe? No. Is he as good as he was in his last championship run? No. Is he top 3, or top 5? I don't think so, because of his injury. But we all thought he was over, and he was one game away from being the season's top scorer in 12-13. Best career averages in the last 4 years. 5th highest PER in his career. Amazing athleticism when we thought he was over.

[JellosJigglin]

I'm thrilled Kobe will finish his career a Laker. It's amazing to see the two greatest players of this generation stay with one team their entire careers.