New CBA: Kobe may not finish career as a Laker

[Sofa King]

ARTICLE: How the new CBA impacts the Lakers

As CBS Sports' Ken Berger points out, only four teams have been in the luxury tax four times in the six seasons of the now-kaput CBA. Obviously the Lakers are one, and as noted haven't simply dipped a toe in the tax, but wallowed in it. This provision forces them to either strip down the roster at least twice every five years or pay an even greater financial penalty. Figuring out exactly when to do this amid what will be major pressure to win in Kobe Bryant's remaining seasons would be tricky to say the least, as would be rebuilding on the fly for a post-Bryant era.

This rule also adds another complicating layer when it comes to ensuring Bryant finishes his career with the Lakers. Kobe has said he doesn't believe his current deal will be his last. How much money will he want in the next go round? Will the Lakers be willing to pay it, especially given potential mega-tax implications?

In the NFL, longtime stars for one team often finish with another. The NBA could be moving in that direction.

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If Kobe can do it like Dirk and take less, I can see Kobe in purple and gold for life. If not, I could see him in another city and uniform. Kind of sad if you are a Kobe fan and want him to finish his career with the Lakers... but we'll eventually see.

I forgot about this thread... if the mods feel like moving this topic there, its cool with me.

[TruSkool]

kobe will retire before he plays with another team.

[Sofa King]

kobe will retire before he plays with another team.

Did Jordan retire as a Bull?

Did Karl Malone retire as a Jazz?

Did Joe Montana retire a 49er?

History tells me its not unlikely. Hell, I thought Shaq would retire as a Laker. Given the current shift in control of the franchise from Dr. Buss to now Jim Buss, in addition to the complete overhaul of the Lakers organization, Kobe retiring not as a Laker becomes a viable option. And would Lakers management be willing to overpay for Kobe given the new guidelines in the CBA?

[Dalakerbox]

Kobe ain't Jordan, Malone or Joe Montana....he'll retire a Laker count on that.

[Sofa King]

Kobe ain't Jordan, Malone or Joe Montana....he'll retire a Laker count on that.

What logic or reasoning do you have to support your claim? I am seriously interested.

I'm just not optimistic about the whole thing given the new CBA and where the current Lakers management is headed. All signs tell me that its a high probability that Kobe won't come back when his contract is up.

The new direction, new coach, new emphasis on utilizing Bynum and Pau at the post gives me the impression Kobe is on the way out. Lakers insider Roland Lazenby felt the same way.

I am definitely interested in anyone to persuade me otherwise. In fact I made this thread for anyone to disprove me. As a long time Lakers fan and also a Kobe fan, please... tell me why you would think so.

[semi-sentient]

Kobe is just going to have to take less money. Period.

If he values winning as much as he claims, then he'll take a significant pay cut. The Lakers won't win jack unless he does.

[Dalakerbox]

Kobe ain't Jordan, Malone or Joe Montana....he'll retire a Laker count on that.

What logic or reasoning do you have to support your claim? I am seriously interested.

I'm just not optimistic about the whole thing given the new CBA and where the current Lakers management is headed. All signs tell me that its a high probability that Kobe won't come back when his contract is up.

The new direction, new coach, new emphasis on utilizing Bynum and Pau at the post gives me the impression Kobe is on the way out. Lakers insider Roland Lazenby felt the same way.

I am definitely interested in anyone to persuade me otherwise. In fact I made this thread for anyone to disprove me. As a long time Lakers fan and also a Kobe fan, please... tell me why you would think so.

Kobe is a smart guy, and will be approaching 40 and obviously wouldn't be worth $20 something million if he is serious about continuing to play beyond this contract. My reasoning is more of I have more faith in Kobe's common sense than I do in Roland Lazenby's gut feeling

[Kilroy]

Can someone break down what Kobe is actually owed year over year, for the remainder of his contract?

[semi-sentient]

Code: Select all

            Kobe           Gasol

2011-12     $25,244,000    $18,714,150
2012-13     $27,849,000    $19,000,000
2013-14     $30,453,000    $19,285,850

Odom and Bynum are both team options after this season. I'd offer both of them extensions through 2013-14, but they'll have to take a pay-cut, Bynum especially because his contract is HORRIBLE. Artest and Blake are also signed through 2013-14. I still believe that we can win another championship (or two, with a bit of luck) with our current roster, but our window of opportunity with this squad is closing quickly.

Fortunately, we've lined things up so that we can make a serious play after the 2013-14 season. I get the feeling that Kobe will want to play a few more seasons, but if we extend him then he's going to have to take a massive paycut. He's not going to be worth a huge contract heading into his 19th season, that's for damn sure. Blake Griffin will likely be a RFA so if we can land him, while keeping Bynum, then we'll be absolutely set and won't miss a beat. I'm assuming we'd bring in some solid shooters and role players as well, which is actually what I expect from Kobe at that point.

I'm not certain what we'll do with Pau. He'll be 13 seasons in at that point and probably far less effective, so we can either bring him back as a reserve to help Griffin further develop, or just let him retire or go elsewhere.

[The_Trade_Seer]

^
Kobe is due 25.244 mil this year (or $20.296 due to the lockout), $27.849mil next season and $30.453mil in 2013/14 ... he will be 36 years old when his contract is up and will be a free agent looking for a 5 year extension from the Lakers worth, I would think, at least $50mil, more like $100 mil if he doesn't take a massive pay cut ... or he could sign with another team for 4 years and $80-100 mil if he goes for the money.

I expect Kobe to retire a Laker and to take a paycut.

[LApwnd]

IMO, Kobe cares as much bout winning as he does about money, we all saw his comments before the last extension when asked if he would be willing to take less and his response was a resounding HELLZ NO! rightfully so but I dont wouldn't give him benefit of doubt bout money and winning, he cares for both equally.

[ROballer]

IMO, Kobe cares as much bout winning as he does about money, we all saw his comments before the last extension when asked if he would be willing to take less and his response was a resounding HELLZ NO! rightfully so but I dont wouldn't give him benefit of doubt bout money and winning, he cares for both equally.

Before his last extension he was 31 and still had MAX production in him....after his current contract expires he'll be 36.No way he doesn't take a paycut,I for one wouldn't be surprised if he would be willing to accept the minimum contract if the right FA were to be available if we had cap-space available(thus ensuring him of a competitive team,I don't see what motivation he would have if he gets paid a lot but the team sucks at that age) but I can see 10 mil/year tops,for 3 more years(30 mil)

[LApwnd]

Before his last extension he was 31 and still had MAX production in him....after his current contract expires he'll be 36.No way he doesn't take a paycut,I for one wouldn't be surprised if he would be willing to accept the minimum contract if the right FA were to be available if we had cap-space available(thus ensuring him of a competitive team,I don't see what motivation he would have if he gets paid a lot but the team sucks at that age) but I can see 10 mil/year tops,for 3 more years(30 mil)

KG/Duncan/Dirk all took a more cap friendly contract during their last extension too in hopes of helping the team out with extra money saved to add players, Wade took LESS so Bosh/James could get full max.....Kobe COULD have done the same but he didnt.

[USA]

I think Kobe is too egotistical to take a pay cut or take a back seat to someone else being the main man of the team. Considering the salary cap, Kobe is not worth that extension he received and the Lakers will be handcuffed because of it.

[Dalakerbox]

I think Kobe is too egotistical to take a pay cut or take a back seat to someone else being the main man of the team. Considering the salary cap, Kobe is not worth that extension he received and the Lakers will be handcuffed because of it.

Considering the amount of money Kobe brings in himself (jersey sales,ticket sales and the like) he is well work his extension although your right it does pretty much handcuff the lakers at this point in time, however not giving him that extension is like the bulls not giving it to MJ...someone else would have and he'd be playing somewhere else in that case.

But...at 36 or whatever no, he isn't worth it and with the new cba ahead no other team would pay him that much so IMO yes he would take less. Besides by that time Kobe would have more money than he can spend in a lifetime so why wouldn't he?

[Kilroy]

I'll put it this way... I HOPE Kobe will accept a deal that allows us some flexibility to fill out a nice team...
But I wouldn't want to bet on it...

I think if we were able to land Dwight or someone like that, and in order for him to get a reasonable extension, Kobe needed to take a little less, he might do it... But I don't see him doing it for the pieces we have in place right now.

[Sofa King]

Kobe is a smart guy, and will be approaching 40 and obviously wouldn't be worth $20 something million if he is serious about continuing to play beyond this contract. My reasoning is more of I have more faith in Kobe's common sense than I do in Roland Lazenby's gut feeling

He's smart so he'll want to maximize his career, his pay, and a number of rings. If I told you that you will give up some salary to stay at your current job just so the company will be successful, would you do it? Wouldn't you go where they will pay you the most just to do a similar job?

I'm not just questioning Kobe's common sense. I am also questioning Lakers management. If Kobe was to make more for another team that could give him a better role with as much money if not more than what the Lakers will offer him forced upon by the new CBA, anything is possible.

Well, looks like the Buss family will make $200 million a year of the new TV deal. So much richer, maybe they can afford the luxury to have Kobe stick around.

For me, Kobe will stick around if the Lakers and Jim Buss wants him to, if the Lakers offer him a competitive new contract, if he and his family feels so much comfortable in LA that they rather remain there, if he is willing to be flexible about his next contract, if he is opportunistic the Lakers will win another ring at that point in time, and if the world doesn't end in 2012 and Los Angeles doesn't sink into the Pacific in a massively, epic earthquake. Too many ifs...

[hermes]

yep with the new tv deal, money ain't no thing any more


everybody gets paid!

[Kilroy]

yep with the new tv deal, money ain't no thing any more


everybody gets paid!

I keep waiting for someone to tell me it isn't that simple and there's a reason we still want to keep it under the cap...

[iQon]

Did Jordan retire as a Bull?

Did Karl Malone retire as a Jazz?

Did Joe Montana retire a 49er?

Could your analogies be any worse?

Jordan did retire as a Bull. He came back on his own account. He had a executive *position in Washington, what was he going to do? Quit, and negotiate to go back to Chicago as a free agent?

Karl Malone could have taken a more lucrative contract from practically any other team in the NBA. We basically gave him the worst offer. He chose to continue playing for a ring.

Joe Montana got traded.

You're worried about Kobe bolting in the twilight of his career, how many years from now? Please. They paid Fish, they'll pay Kobe.

If we trade Kobe, that's on the front office. If he signs dirt cheap to ring chase in Miami, that's on him.