Kupchak: Kobe not Obstacle to Lakers Rebuild
Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2015 12:21 am
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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.
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.”
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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?