Kobe will not opt out of contract

[dockingsched]

http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wireta ... ainst_eto/

Kobe Bryant decided not to exercise an early termination option in his contract and will return for the 2009-10 season, a league source told ESPN.com's Chad Ford.

Bryant is scheduled to make $23 million next season by not opting out. He also has a player option to opt out of his contract in the 2010-11 season.

Bryant and the Lakers will still attempt to agree upon an extension this summer, however.

[DEEP3CL]

Not really surprised, he can get the same money by signing an extension this summer or fall. Or he's saving the opt out for the 2010-11 season and can still sign a 5 year deal at 32. Therefore collecting big money past 36 years of age, leave it to Kobe and Rob to expose the loop hole of the "over 36" rule.

Smart if you ask me.

[aussie_laker]

does this mean we will have more cap room when he does actually opt out and re-sign?

[dockingsched]

the lakers and cap room should not be said in the same sentence. lakers won't have cap room til gasol/kobe are done.

[snaquille oatmeal]

Not really surprised, he can get the same money by signing an extension this summer or fall. Or he's saving the opt out for the 2010-11 season and can still sign a 5 year deal at 32. Therefore collecting big money past 36 years of age, leave it to Kobe and Rob to expose the loop hole of the "over 36" rule.

Smart if you ask me.

He is expected to sign a three-year extension on top of his two remaining years sometime in July.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-lakers-kobe-bryant1-2009jul01,0,5024600.story

[Frosty]

Not really surprised, he can get the same money by signing an extension this summer or fall. Or he's saving the opt out for the 2010-11 season and can still sign a 5 year deal at 32. Therefore collecting big money past 36 years of age, leave it to Kobe and Rob to expose the loop hole of the "over 36" rule.

Smart if you ask me.

Larry Coons

Please tell me we don't have to worry about the Over-36 rule if he signs an extension...

No such luck. The Over-36 rule applies to extensions as well.

Fortunately, if he signs his extension by June 30 he can only add on another three years, which will be up before he turns 36. So an extension signed now won't be affected by the Over-36 rule.

But if he waits until after July 1 and extends his contract by four years, the last season will commence after he turns 36. So he can't make more in a four year extension than he would make in a three year extension.

The net effect is that he would sign a three year extension, whether he does it this summer or next.

[Speedlot]

What's the over 36 rule.. before I go google it.

[daddyfivestar]

He would've taken a 700k pay cut had he opted out and taken a max contract - I am sure Ms Vanessa said "hell no" to that when he could just go the extension route.

[daddyfivestar]

What's the over 36 rule.. before I go google it.

Logan's Run... they kill you the day after you turn 36.

[Speedlot]

So I read about the over-36 rule.. And then i went "WTF?!"

http://www.nbpa.com/cba_articles/article-VII_3.php

someone elaborate please.

[Mamba Venom]

Over 36 rule is age discrimination says the ACLU.

Kobe will get it pushed back to 40!!!

[dockingsched]

So I read about the over-36 rule.. And then i went "WTF?!"

http://www.nbpa.com/cba_articles/article-VII_3.php

someone elaborate please.

this explains a little better

http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm#Q49

[Anklebreaker702]

the lakers and cap room should not be said in the same sentence. lakers won't have cap room til gasol/kobe are done.

[lakersfanatic]

Kobe is a smart business man. He wins both ways. By opting out he shows to the guys that he's commited in keeping this core yet he does get a huge chunk but after this year he can send an extension for much more. The good thing that came from this not opting out is it gives The Buss's and Kupchak time to focus on their other guys rather then deal with kobes contract right now.

[hermes]

well good

[Dr Aki]

lakers board capologist to the rescue!

its not that hard a rule to understand...

i went over it back in february when the spurs were interested in trading bowen/oberto/KT to nets for vince carter, if anyone has the patience to try to dig that up

basically it means if you sign a contract that extends past your 36th birthday, and you decided not to play during your final contract season, you're essentially getting paid more for your previous years despite it not impacting the team's payroll during those years...

the rule was created to prevent say a 32yo (like kobe next year), from signing a 135M/5yr contract, unoffically retiring at age 36, and getting paid 27M to essentially do nothing, basically paying him 33.75M per instead of 27M per as he shouldve

this therefore circumvents certain rules about the salary cap and luxury tax implications. basically allowing the team to "defer" payroll to later years and allow more operational room under the cap whilst the contract is in its formative years.

i wouldnt care too much about the whole deferral of money until they decide to play their final contract years. that is, unless you want to get confused

its basically where if you decided not to play your final contract year, you're only going to get as much money as your contract stipulates without your final contract year, which was why they deferred those small portions of money from each of the initial contract seasons to pay you instead of your final contract year instead.

so if you signed a 4yr contract that extended past your 36th birthday, small amount of money from each of the first 3 years wouldnt be paid until you decide to play during your final contract year, in which then, they pay you in a lump sum and your final contract year is paid out as normal.

if you dont, cap adjustments are made to your team's previous several seasons' payrolls and your team has to pay additional lux tax implications if they so infringed upon them...

[butter17]

GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!