Kupchak: Kobe not Obstacle to Lakers Rebuild

chrismikayla · Post #1 » by **chrismikayla** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 12:21 am

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/stor ... re-win-now

Post #2 » by **jbk1234** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 12:25 am

Well the fact that they probably won't have their pick next year should accelerate their time table even if Kobe's retirement won't.

giberish · Post #3 » by **giberish** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 12:42 am

While I suspect that the Laker FO is dangerously delusional about Kobe's current and future on-court ability - I'd be saying the same things in public as well. There's only downside to any other public answer.

Yoshun · Post #4 » by **Yoshun** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 12:55 am

I don't really think they're delusional at all. I think they're well aware of Kobe's on court ability, that's why they only signed him for 2 years. The Lakers signed Kobe to that deal so people have a big name to watch while they rebuild. It's pretty obvious they have some kind of plan.

trustykilo · Post #5 » by **trustykilo** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 12:57 am

Stay delusional, Lakers front office.

laploutocratie · Post #6 » by **laploutocratie** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 12:59 am

Yoshun wrote:I don't really think they're delusional at all. I think they're well aware of Kobe's on court ability, that's why they only signed him for 2 years. The Lakers signed Kobe to that deal so people have a big name to watch while they rebuild. It's pretty obvious they have some kind of plan.

Yup, that plan is to convince Kobe to sign another contract in 2016.

In a wide-ranging interview with USA TODAY Sports, the Los Angeles Lakers president and governor said she wants the 36-year-old Bryant to sign another contract when his two-year, $48 million extension comes to an end after the 2015-16 season.

“I hope not,” Buss said with a laugh when asked if she thought Bryant would retire then. “I really hope not. I mean I’m a person who watched Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar) play until he was 42 (years old). Jimmy Connors played on my World Team Tennis team (of which she was the general manager), the LA Strings, that summer that he went into the US Open at age 39 and made the semis at 39 years old. So I’ve seen it. I know you can’t beat Father Time, but there are those athletes who can transcend the average age of retirement. And if anyone can do that, my money is on the Black Mamba.”

Amish Mafioso · Post #7 » by **Amish Mafioso** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 1:03 am

Lol, they don't seem to think much of the intelligence of their fans. Kobe's contract and ego/personality are definitely obstacles. Don't see them getting back to relevance until he retires. Maybe Kobe will surprise everyone and accept a lesser role, but if L.A. tries to compete next year with Kobe still on the team, I could see some friction with Kobe still wanting to be the man.

gipper08 · Post #8 » by **gipper08** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 1:06 am

Kupchak: "water is not wet and 2 + 2 = 5"

Yoshun · Post #9 » by **Yoshun** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 1:12 am

laploutocratie wrote:
Yoshun wrote:I don't really think they're delusional at all. I think they're well aware of Kobe's on court ability, that's why they only signed him for 2 years. The Lakers signed Kobe to that deal so people have a big name to watch while they rebuild. It's pretty obvious they have some kind of plan.

Yup, that plan is to convince Kobe to sign another contract in 2016.

In a wide-ranging interview with USA TODAY Sports, the Los Angeles Lakers president and governor said she wants the 36-year-old Bryant to sign another contract when his two-year, $48 million extension comes to an end after the 2015-16 season.

“I hope not,” Buss said with a laugh when asked if she thought Bryant would retire then. “I really hope not. I mean I’m a person who watched Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar) play until he was 42 (years old). Jimmy Connors played on my World Team Tennis team (of which she was the general manager), the LA Strings, that summer that he went into the US Open at age 39 and made the semis at 39 years old. So I’ve seen it. I know you can’t beat Father Time, but there are those athletes who can transcend the average age of retirement. And if anyone can do that, my money is on the Black Mamba.”

Eh, I think that's more PR to be honest. If they really wanted him for more than 2 years, I think they would have signed him to it.

Amish Mafioso · Post #10 » by **Amish Mafioso** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 1:17 am

jbk1234 wrote:Well the fact that they probably won't have their pick next year should accelerate their time table even if Kobe's retirement won't.

Looks to me like they will almost certainly keep the pick. Top 5 protected and they're sitting at 4 now.

Post #11 » by **jbk1234** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 1:19 am

Amish Mafioso wrote:
jbk1234 wrote:Well the fact that they probably won't have their pick next year should accelerate their time table even if Kobe's retirement won't.

Looks to me like they will almost certainly keep the pick. Top 5 protected and they're sitting at 4 now.

Right but that pick is only top 3 protected next year and even with Byron Scott driving the tank it's hard to guarantee that level of bad.

Post #12 » by **LLcoleJ** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 1:28 am

jbk1234 wrote:
Amish Mafioso wrote:
jbk1234 wrote:Well the fact that they probably won't have their pick next year should accelerate their time table even if Kobe's retirement won't.

Looks to me like they will almost certainly keep the pick. Top 5 protected and they're sitting at 4 now.

Right but that pick is only top 3 protected next year and even with Byron Scott driving the tank it's hard to guarantee that level of bad.

Top 5 protected.

Post #13 » by **jbk1234** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 1:29 am

Tarik Black wrote:
jbk1234 wrote:
Amish Mafioso wrote:
Looks to me like they will almost certainly keep the pick. Top 5 protected and they're sitting at 4 now.

Right but that pick is only top 3 protected next year and even with Byron Scott driving the tank it's hard to guarantee that level of bad.

Top 5 protected.

So it's top 5 protected in 2015-16?

Post #14 » by **LLcoleJ** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 1:39 am

jbk1234 wrote:
Tarik Black wrote:
jbk1234 wrote:
Right but that pick is only top 3 protected next year and even with Byron Scott driving the tank it's hard to guarantee that level of bad.

Top 5 protected.

So it's top 5 protected in 2015-16?

Correct in 16 and 17 it would got to top 3 status and in 18 it goes unprotected if not conveyed. But the focus right now is on the upcoming draft with possibly 2 first round pics and ample cap space. All hope is not lost by focusing on what a pic might be a year and half out. Shoot it might be conveyed this year the balls don't drop the right way.

FirstInkTDot · Post #15 » by **FirstInkTDot** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 1:40 am

Just sign stars via free agency and you're back in the game. For the Lakers it's easy since they got everything.

getitdone323 · Post #16 » by **getitdone323** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 1:49 am

Yoshun wrote:I don't really think they're delusional at all. I think they're well aware of Kobe's on court ability, that's why they only signed him for 2 years. The Lakers signed Kobe to that deal so people have a big name to watch while they rebuild. It's pretty obvious they have some kind of plan.

FInally a non-lakers fan with a brain.

getitdone323 · Post #17 » by **getitdone323** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 1:51 am

jbk1234 wrote:Well the fact that they probably won't have their pick next year should accelerate their time table even if Kobe's retirement won't.

Yes, that is exactly why Clarkson/Ellington/Kelly/Black/Sacre are starting. Because lakers know those guys will win enough games to take them out of the top 5. They are 4th right now, and minny will pass them up. Lakers should end up with the 3rd worse record in the NBA.

BDSF1994 · Post #18 » by **BDSF1994** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 1:53 am

He probably isn't a real obstacle if they're planning on rebuilding the right way through the draft and smart free agent signings (not another teams star player).

MCDubbin · Post #19 » by **MCDubbin** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 1:56 am

jbk1234 wrote:
Tarik Black wrote:
jbk1234 wrote:
Right but that pick is only top 3 protected next year and even with Byron Scott driving the tank it's hard to guarantee that level of bad.

Top 5 protected.

So it's top 5 protected in 2015-16?

So basically it is top 5 protected.

In the next two years, it will be top 3 protected then unprotected year after that

TKainZero · Post #20 » by **TKainZero** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 2:02 am

The lakers 2016 1st is top 3 protected