Kobe agrees to contact extension with Lakers

[almatic]

What did people call Ray Allen , Lebron, DWade, and Bosh when they all took less money to play together?

"Champions".

Not to mention Wade, James & Bosh only took about $2-mil less than max per year. $15-mil less than they could've gotten over 6 years. Just so they could fill the rest of the roster out. Pretty sure with bonus incentives (which don't affect salary cap) after winning the championships they're making max, its even-ing out.
And Ray Allen wasn't getting a bigger offer from Boston or anything.

Except they WERE called ring chasers. When the three of them formed the superteam, they had more incentives to take the paycut than the 35 year old Kobe who's already won 5 championships and is less likely than ever to win another one.

From now we might as well start bashing any player who signs the max contract and fails to win the championship

...Isn't that what the general public already does?

[lethalizer]

I don't get it. When did "ring chasing" become a bad thing? A player wanting to sacrifice his own personal gain for the good of a team.. I would applaud that, not root against it.

Especially if said player doesn't change teams while chasing that ring. Just makes it more applaudable, if there's such a word.

[almatic]

What if Dwight Howard re-signed with the Lakers?
Would Kobe have signed an extension for less (which they probably would have had to do) to "show him how to be a Champion"? ... Do the Lakers even offer him the same $48-mi 2-year contract? I doubt that. Would all these funny Laker people still be praising the Buss' family "loyalty" & "brilliance"? Or just their "business sense" to build around a younger Dwight?
I truly am curious of that actually lol

[microfib4thewin]

I don't even know why his demeanor and his philosophy of wanting to win has anything to do with this. Never once has he said that he would play for less for the greater good of the team/franchise. Can the guy not still have the winning approach and get his money?

He can, but when he is willing to win only when he's paid superstar money and is the undisputed alpha dog on the team how much does he really care about winning in comparison to his peers? It's like a father telling his son "I will love you but only if you make at least 100K a year". You can still argue that he loves his son, but how much love does he really have when it's under such a condition?

Same thing with Kobe. He's basically telling the whole world that if he isn't paid and treated like a superstar then he doesn't want to win. So can we not call him a loser when he isn't being coddled?

[An Unbiased Fan]

I don't even know why his demeanor and his philosophy of wanting to win has anything to do with this. Never once has he said that he would play for less for the greater good of the team/franchise. Can the guy not still have the winning approach and get his money?

He can, but when he is willing to win only when he's paid superstar money and is the undisputed alpha dog on the team how much does he really care about winning in comparison to his peers? It's like a father telling his son "I will love you but only if you make at least 100K a year". You can still argue that he loves his son, but how much love does he really have when it's under such a condition?

Same thing with Kobe. He's basically telling the whole world that if he isn't paid and treated like a superstar then he doesn't want to win. So can we not call him a loser when he isn't being coddled?

Your scenario is fiction. Jim/Mitch offered Kobe that deal, and did so because they felt it was the best move for their plans to reboot the team.

Is Dwight selfish for taking his max contract in Houston? Should he have only taken 15 million so the Rockets could "fill" their roster. If Lebron takes max on his next deal, is that selfish? Did people rip Mj for taking 30m his final years.

I don't get it. LA locked Kobe up, and have 38m in cap space to play with, yet people act like they have no flexibility. The same people who think LA should tank..are now acting like Kobe threw away a title. People are actually arguing that its foolish for LA to pursue franchise guys like Love/KD over "filling out" their rosters with mid-level guys who are a dime a dozen. People are actually questioning the will to win from the most successful franchise in modern history, and most successful player in team sports this century.

Hey look, we get it. What a huge goof not giving Pau 19m next year. How can LA risk their all-star cast of Young, Henry, Hill, Blake for the likes of Melo, Love, KD. How can Mitch be so "foolish"...

Seriously, do some of you actually read what you're posting? Checkers or Chess, which are you playing.

[skagen]

I really hope everyone who's ripping Kobe would donate 30% of your wages to the government. You know.. so America can have a better chance of winning...

[MisterWestside]

Is Dwight selfish for taking his max contract in Houston? Should he have only taken 15 million so the Rockets could "fill" their roster. If Lebron takes max on his next deal, is that selfish? Did people rip Mj for taking 30m his final years.

Situation 1: All-NBA center in his prime signs contract to a team with another All-NBA SG in his prime and a good supporting cast with youth and talent.

Situation 2: All-NBA SG who is widely regarded as the best player in the game (and produces like one) signs contract to a team that has another All-NBA SF in his prime, a deep supporting cast, a HoF caliber coach, and is in the middle of a dynasty.

Situation 3: All-NBA SG who enjoyed a great offensive season but is 35, plays zero defense, and recently injured his Achilles signs a mega contract to a team with aging and past-prime pieces, a fringe supporting cast, and roster flexibility issues going forward.

..."One of these things is not like like the others..."

[JellosJigglin]

I don't even know why his demeanor and his philosophy of wanting to win has anything to do with this. Never once has he said that he would play for less for the greater good of the team/franchise. Can the guy not still have the winning approach and get his money?

He can, but when he is willing to win only when he's paid superstar money and is the undisputed alpha dog on the team how much does he really care about winning in comparison to his peers? It's like a father telling his son "I will love you but only if you make at least 100K a year". You can still argue that he loves his son, but how much love does he really have when it's under such a condition?

Same thing with Kobe. He's basically telling the whole world that if he isn't paid and treated like a superstar then he doesn't want to win. So can we not call him a loser when he isn't beinUg coddled?

Your scenario is fiction. Jim/Mitch offered Kobe that deal, and did so because they felt it was the best move for their plans to reboot the team.

Is Dwight selfish for taking his max contract in Houston? Should he have only taken 15 million so the Rockets could "fill" their roster. If Lebron takes max on his next deal, is that selfish? Did people rip Mj for taking 30m his final years.

I don't get it. LA locked Kobe up, and have 38m in cap space to play with, yet people act like they have no flexibility. The same people who think LA should tank..are now acting like Kobe threw away a title. People are actually arguing that its foolish for LA to pursue franchise guys like Love/KD over "filling out" their rosters with mid-level guys who are a dime a dozen. People are actually questioning the will to win from the most successful franchise in modern history, and most successful player in team sports this century.

Hey look, we get it. What a huge goof not giving Pau 19m next year. How can LA risk their all-star cast of Young, Henry, Hill, Blake for the likes of Melo, Love, KD. How can Mitch be so "foolish"...

Seriously, do some of you actually read what you're posting? Checkers or Chess, which are you playing.

I have to say this sudden outpouring of interest in the Laker franchise is amusing. One second the world is imploring them to tank, even calling the anti-tank approach ignorant. Then literally over night they let multiple championships slip from their grasp. Talk about a bipolar general public .

[MisterWestside]

And, not to nitpick, but...

People are actually questioning the will to win from the most successful franchise in modern history, and most successful player in team sports this century.

Thierry Henry says hi.

[Geolaker58]

What if this was in Dr. Buss's will? Kobe gave him so much happiness toward the later end of his life. He gave Dr. Buss 5 ships, and crap load of money from the TWC deal. What if this was a way to say thanks to Kobe for his hardwork and loyalty.

Yes happiness...

Being called an idiot and a liar. Having to deal with trade demands, Kobe airing out his laundry in the media, demands to fire Mitch, fights with the coaches, players. I'm sure that it was all "happiness" he experienced.

Of course he had to go through all that. It's was his job description. Every owner is sports goes through everything you wrote.

If banging hot chicks with billions of dollars from the TWC deal lying around next to the 5 trophy Kobe gave him isn't happiness. Then I don't know what it.

[Geolaker58]

Wha wha what? Who would call Kobe a ring chaser had he decided to take less money to help out his team?

What did people call Ray Allen , Lebron, DWade, and Bosh when they all took less money to play together?

"Champions".

Not to mention Wade, James & Bosh only took about $2-mil less than max per year. $15-mil less than they could've gotten over 6 years. Just so they could fill the rest of the roster out. Pretty sure with bonus incentives (which don't affect salary cap) after winning the championships they're making max, its even-ing out.
And Ray Allen wasn't getting a bigger offer from Boston or anything.

Wow, didn't know you can be called before winning a championship. Not to mention the Heatles knew they were teaming up to win a ring. So they had every incentive to take less. They made a side deal to play together. There is no guarantee of anyone signing with the Lakers. Kobe is gonna take less money to play with who?

[lethalizer]

And, not to nitpick, but...

People are actually questioning the will to win from the most successful franchise in modern history, and most successful player in team sports this century.

Thierry Henry says hi.

as much as I love Thierry Henry, proclaiming him for this accomplishment? is simply not true. I never disregard his individiual brilliance, but he only managed to get 1 EPL title in 8 seasons with Arsenal. That doesn't exactly shout "most succesful player in team sports". Most talented? maybe.

Henry's advantage is he peaked after the 00/01 season. For the first half of the decade, I'd pick Zidane over him. After that, Ronaldinho-Ronaldo-Messi(in that order) made their appearances to the world of football, so it'd be a more heated debate.

To stay on topic, Kobe being the most successful basketball player this century is.. I don't know about that. Century is still young, people.

[JellosJigglin]

What if this was in Dr. Buss's will? Kobe gave him so much happiness toward the later end of his life. He gave Dr. Buss 5 ships, and crap load of money from the TWC deal. What if this was a way to say thanks to Kobe for his hardwork and loyalty.

Yes happiness...

Being called an idiot and a liar. Having to deal with trade demands, Kobe airing out his laundry in the media, demands to fire Mitch, fights with the coaches, players. I'm sure that it was all "happiness" he experienced.

Of course he had to go through all that. It's was his job description. Every owner is sports goes through everything you wrote.

If banging hot chicks with billions of dollars from the TWC deal lying around next to the 5 trophy Kobe gave him isn't happiness. Then I don't know what it.

Buss had been in the business long enough to know that the most competitive lot often have an explosive temperament. Kobe wasn't the first. Kareem wanted a trade when this "Magic" kid came in and took over the team, hugging and jumping up and down over regular season wins.

Magic gave them an ultimatum: trade me or fire Westhead. He then became public enemy #1 when Buss in fact did fire Westhead. They replaced him with a color commentator who had no coaching experience. That Riley guy turned out alright.

Shaq was very public with his verbal lashings towards Dr. Buss.

Dr Buss was no stranger to that type of behavior, it comes with the territory. But at the end of the day, the man was as competitive as the players he signed. He was all about winning and loyalty, two traits that sadly many believe to be mutually exclusive, as evidenced in this thread.

[Picklewagon]

I like how that Kobe and Laker fans think that the only people who are being objective and unbiased regarding Kobe are said Kobe and Laker fans while everyone else who has no relation to the lakers are the unobjective and biased ones.

Makes sense

[MisterWestside]

as much as I love Thierry Henry, proclaiming him for this accomplishment? is simply not true. I never disregard his individiual brilliance, but he only managed to get 1 EPL title in 8 seasons with Arsenal. That doesn't exactly shout "most succesful player in team sports". Most talented? maybe.

Henry's advantage is he peaked after the 00/01 season. For the first half of the decade, I'd pick Zidane over him. After that, Ronaldinho-Ronaldo-Messi(in that order) made their appearances to the world of football, so it'd be a more heated debate.

Good to see a fan of football around here I'm simply going by the number of times Henry has won a championship with a club in something (over all the teams involved, not simply a subdivision), whether Premier League, La Liga, a knockout competition, etc. Of course, as a footballer, Henry also has the opportunity to compete in more events than Bryant does in basketball, but the objection still stands. (Also, didn't he win 2 EPL titles?)

But carry on, gentlemen. Back to basketball.

[LLcoleJ]

Yes happiness...

Being called an idiot and a liar. Having to deal with trade demands, Kobe airing out his laundry in the media, demands to fire Mitch, fights with the coaches, players. I'm sure that it was all "happiness" he experienced.

Of course he had to go through all that. It's was his job description. Every owner is sports goes through everything you wrote.

If banging hot chicks with billions of dollars from the TWC deal lying around next to the 5 trophy Kobe gave him isn't happiness. Then I don't know what it.

Buss had been in the business long enough to know that the most competitive lot often have an explosive temperament. Kobe wasn't the first. Kareem wanted a trade when this "Magic" kid came in and took over the team, hugging and jumping up and down over regular season wins.

Magic gave them an ultimatum: trade me or fire Westhead. He then became public enemy #1 when Buss in fact did fire Westhead. They replaced him with a color commentator who had no coaching experience. That Riley guy turned out alright.

Shaq was very public with his verbal lashings towards Dr. Buss.

Dr Buss was no stranger to that type of behavior, it comes with the territory. But at the end of the day, the man was as competitive as the players he signed. He was all about winning and loyalty, two traits that sadly many believe to be mutually exclusive, as evidenced in this thread.

Don't forget about that unprecedented contract Buss gave Magic. on purpose of getting people to talk about it. 25 million for 25 years. In the early 80's that was huge.

[JellosJigglin]

I like how that Kobe and Laker fans think that the only people who are being objective and unbiased regarding Kobe are said Kobe and Laker fans while everyone else who has no relation to the lakers are the unobjective and biased ones.

Makes sense

I think if you believe bias only exists on one side, then that in itself is a bias. Picking a side and having an opinion and backing it up with facts doesn't make one biased. The refusal to acknowledge the oppositions argument and come up with a logical counter argument IS a display of bias.

Unbiased Fan and I have posed the question countless times in this thread: who are the Lakers missing out on by giving Kobe this contract? Unbiased Fan went so far as to provide a list of free agents. I stopped reading this thread somewhere around page 20-30 when I realized no one was willing to step up to the plate.

There was one player and one player ONLY who could have made the Lakers contenders, and he isn't leaving Miami. The reason the Lakers even planned to have cap space was to make a run at Lebron. Thats it. They only go for the best. When they refused to trade Bynum for anyone not named Dwight you all laughed. And now you expect us to see the "truth" in the words of the Laker haters out there? Lol get real.

The reason the Lakers are the greatest franchise is because they have the audacity to attempt what the rest of the league deems impossible. They go for the home run, all day everyday. They're going to strike out a few times, but when they win, they build dynasties. Love it or hate it, it's their way and you can't argue against the banners.

[MisterWestside]

Unbiased Fan and I have posed the question countless times in this thread: who are the Lakers missing out on by giving Kobe this contract? Unbiased Fan went so far as to provide a list of free agents. I stopped reading this thread somewhere around page 20-30 when I realized no one was willing to step up to the plate.

The intellectual dishonesty is palpable in this post, because that's not the argument that posters have made against this contract.

[ShowTimeERA]

What if Dwight Howard re-signed with the Lakers?
Would Kobe have signed an extension for less (which they probably would have had to do) to "show him how to be a Champion"? ... Do the Lakers even offer him the same $48-mi 2-year contract? I doubt that. Would all these funny Laker people still be praising the Buss' family "loyalty" & "brilliance"? Or just their "business sense" to build around a younger Dwight?
I truly am curious of that actually lol

That's the problem. Dwight chose not to resign. Had Dwight chose to resign, then of course it would've been foolish to give Kobe the extension. Why? Because with Kobe and Dwight aboard, having enough cap space to sign a combination of let's say Deng and Lowry, etc. transformed them into an instant contender.

Without Dwight, there is no second superstar hence why spending that cap space on those non star players this upcoming summer and holding yourself hostage for years to come is even more foolish.

When Dwight left, the plans shifted to 2015 and 2016.

Do I think that LA will go after Carmelo next summer, possibly. Then they will certainly go for Love in 2015. Kobe signing that extension doesn't hinder any of that.

[JellosJigglin]

Unbiased Fan and I have posed the question countless times in this thread: who are the Lakers missing out on by giving Kobe this contract? Unbiased Fan went so far as to provide a list of free agents. I stopped reading this thread somewhere around page 20-30 when I realized no one was willing to step up to the plate.

The intellectual dishonesty is palpable in this post, because that's not the argument that posters have made against this contract.

Sorry but that is at the HEART of the counter argument. "Kobe isn't about titles", "Haha Lakers are done", "well there goes any chance of the Lakers being a contender again".

Unless you're simply upset about the salary of Kobe in a vacuum, removed from the ramifications of how it affects the entire team, then I don't see any other argument that is fueling this thread. Go ahead and read through it again.