Henry Abbot: Lakers FO can't wait for Kobe to retire

[Vinsanity89]

In ESPN Magazine, Abbott cites multiple Laker sources claiming that the Buss family are finally done with Kobe and are waiting for him to retire. Claims his ego has rotted the Lakers brand and nobody wants to play with him (also cites multiple agents). Kobe is basically hurting the Lakers ability to rebuild.

[TheKingofSting]

They should have amnestied him.

[Vinsanity89]

Per Abbott, “The view in the Lakers front office is that any rebuild will have to wait until after Bryant’s retirement. Major players don’t want to play with Kobe, and Jimmy is waiting for him to leave.”

[NyCeEvO]

Jimmy is waiting for him to leave.”

I think Lakers fans are waiting for Jimmy to leave lol. He's terrible.

[MrBigShot]

They should have amnestied him.

Amensty one of the greatest players in their franchise's history who helped bring them 5 championships? I disagree.

[MistyMountain20]

Interesting since Buss will step down if the Lakers aren't contenders in 3-4 years. You'd think he'd give himself more time to right the ship.

I'm still curious who the Lakers have lost that they could have feasibly gotten if it weren't for Bryant. LeBron? Melo?

[Shock Defeat]

They only signed him because letting him go would be a PR nightmare.

[JF5]

They should have amnestied him.

Amensty one of the greatest players in their franchise's history who helped bring them 5 championships? I disagree.

This, they couldn't do it with his history with the Laker Organization...

[markjay]

If this is true, this says more about them than about Kobe. Why in the world did they sign him for $48 million if they don't want to keep him?

[Rockmaninoff]

Kobe for Amare works. Who says no?

[mg]

Apparently everyone but the Lakers FO knew it was a bad idea to give Kobe that $48 mil extension last year.

You have to respect everything Kobe has done for that franchise but giving him that extension just handcuffed the team for the next two seasons.

[Imon]

The Lakers front office offering Kobe that 2-year $48 million contract resulted in them having their hands tied behind their back. You add Nash's almost $10 million salary for this year and Kobe & Nash account for about half of the Lakers cap space.

Nash will come off after this season and Kobe the year after that so the Lakers will have the money to throw at the 2016 free agents. They still have the built-in advantage of being in one of the two biggest markets in the NBA.

I think most of the blame goes to the Lakers FO for offering Kobe that massive contract in the first place. If they have misgivings about the state of the Lakers a lot of it is their own doing.
As for Kobe, he's a smart guy, he knows that accepting a contract where he takes up 35% of the cap space means he's gonna be playing on a crappy team so I'm just gonna shake my head when Kobe is angry later on this season and talks crap about his teammates. What did you expect?

[JDR720]

Its their fault for signing him to that crazy contract

[markjay]

Kobe for Amare works. Who says no?

Lakers say no, obviously

[Rockmaninoff]

Kobe for Amare works. Who says no?

Lakers say no, obviously

Why?

[TheKingofSting]

Let's get this deal done now.

[RayBan-Sematra]

I find it hard to believe that the LAL FO would talk bad about Kobe.
Maybe some of them do have those views which aren't really unreasonable but why talk bad about him when you've already signed him?
Either way it doesn't effect anyone if they said that stuff or not.
Kobe is the only draw for them right now so they'll probably keep him around and pay him what he wants until he decides to retire.

Amensty one of the greatest players in their franchise's history who helped bring them 5 championships? I disagree.

Not that I disagree with what you're saying but they did let go of Shaq after he led them to a 3peat.
Shaq was also much better & healthier the year before they let him go compared to current Kobe.

Different situation though obviously since they had a relatively young Kobe to run with at the time and since Shaq was asking for a really long extension if I remember correctly.

[John Long]

I find it hard to believe that the LAL FO would talk bad about Kobe.
Maybe some of them do have those views which aren't really unreasonable but why talk bad about him when you've already signed him?
Either way it doesn't effect anyone if they said that stuff or not.
Kobe is the only draw for them right now so they'll probably keep him around and pay him what he wants until he decides to retire.

Amensty one of the greatest players in their franchise's history who helped bring them 5 championships? I disagree.

Not that I disagree with what you're saying but they did let go of Shaq after he led them to a 3peat.
Shaq was also much better & healthier the year before they let him go compared to current Kobe.

Different situation though obviously since they had a relatively young Kobe to run with at the time and since Shaq was asking for a really long extension if I remember correctly.

No Shaq flat out asked to be traded and Dr Buss obliged.

[TheKingofSting]

Kobe should do the right thing and demand a trade.

[Pharmcat]

they shouldn't have given him that extension, it was a horrible deal and ruined their cap space to attract multiple stars this past offseason