Kobe to be officially ruled out for the season

[ArC_man]

I didn't see anything wrong with what Kobe said about the current situation and I don't think he threw anyone under the bus. We suck right now and the message to the fans should be clear that it's not OK to continue to be historically bad next year. Kobe has no patience for that and neither should the fans. There's no incentive to be bad since our pick is only top 5 protected.

Of course it doesn't mean we should blow our wad on mediocre free agents, but we can easily still field a competitive playoff team without doing that. I mean, Kobe is kind of easily pleased in terms of free agent signings. He was happy with getting Nick Young and Wes Johnson this last summer .

[myersia]

Before we get all on the "screw Kobe bandwagon" everyone needs to remember that last time Kobe called out the Lakers FO, Bynum became motivated, and we got a player named Pau that helped get us two championships. Not saying this is the best way to do this but.......it may be needed right now. Kobe putting pressure on the lakers FO isn't a bad thing. Kobe throwing his teammates under the bus was not a great thing. But many of them won't be here next year anyways lol. However, I do remember when KG almost got traded here Kobe told KG that our FO was a joke.....still mad about that! Prime Kg and Kobe...one can only dream.

I don't equate Kobe's tirade with the Pau trade. That was something long in the making. Kobe, as he said, he doesn't have the patience. Well, that's how you build a team.

Imagine Tim Duncan griping every time the Spurs have a year where they reload.

It's not as if the FO is asleep at the wheel here. We're just not a Pau Gasol trade away from contending. As of April 16th we'll be 9 players away from fielding a squad

honestly its ridiculous that people equate kobe's tirade with the moves the lakers made later on. lakers executed their plan to perfection, kobe's tirade was a non factor.

Doc if you can show me proof that the lakers had a plan to acquire Gasol prior to the off-season in which Kobe stated that he wanted to be traded that would be great. Prior to Bynum getting injured I remember hearing Mitch saying that the Lakers were not looking for any trades at the time. I feel that Bynum's injury was largely responsible for the Lakers interest in Gasol. Several months prior to the Gasol trade the Lakers were not mentioned once as a landing spot. I believe it was the Bulls that were talking with Memphis.

[Kilroy]

'Proof' is going to be hard to find, because that would constitute tampering and be illegal... But Kobe and Pau got together in Spain I believe maybe during International play and spent a week or so together. It was rumored at the time that something might be happening, and then it didn't... Until the deadline.

[dockingsched]

honestly its ridiculous that people equate kobe's tirade with the moves the lakers made later on. lakers executed their plan to perfection, kobe's tirade was a non factor.

Doc if you can show me proof that the lakers had a plan to acquire Gasol prior to the off-season in which Kobe stated that he wanted to be traded that would be great. Prior to Bynum getting injured I remember hearing Mitch saying that the Lakers were not looking for any trades at the time. I feel that Bynum's injury was largely responsible for the Lakers interest in Gasol. Several months prior to the Gasol trade the Lakers were not mentioned once as a landing spot. I believe it was the Bulls that were talking with Memphis.

is that what a plan is to you? the leaking of a specific target to the media? i don't even know what to say to this type of perspective.

[Slava]

Wouldn't mind trading Kobe for chandler and Bargnani. NY gets it's big star to go with phil and Melo and we get cap relief!

[Danny Darko]

Wouldn't mind trading Kobe for chandler and Bargnani. NY gets it's big star to go with phil and Melo and we get cap relief!

Nevermind the no trade clause Bargnani???

[Slava]

Wouldn't mind trading Kobe for chandler and Bargnani. NY gets it's big star to go with phil and Melo and we get cap relief!

Nevermind the no trade clause Bargnani???

The great Bargs would be an incredible tank commander bro!

[Danny Darko]

ok ok I thought I smelled green font. but you are right a second tank would absolutely require busting through the top 5 lottery protection level.

[TheHartBreakKid]

Ok let me start by saying that I in no way think any of this might happen, and this is just speculation for the sake of it, with literally nothign to back it up. I know it will never happen, but I saw that joke about Kobe to the Knicks, and I have to put it out there:

It's clear the Lakers and Kobe are not really on the same page...regarding the coach, players, tanking, etc. Pretty much both want a championship obviously, but they are completely looking at things in different way. Imo this is where that contract really hurts us....when old injured Kobe (who is my fav player of all time) starts acting like he's in his prime, and clearly putting himself ahead of the franchise (as he did when he took the contract, except that was expected, while this is clearly pushing it).

Now, Kobe is basically saying I want change now, and the Laker's whole mentality has been collect picks and focus on free agency in 2015, and 2016, rather than 2014. Kobe's win now mentality equals him bitching about Blake being traded, and ultimately bitching if Gasol isn't resigned, however, under the Laker plan, it's clearly a bad idea to keep those two 30+ year olds unless they want one year deals, which they obviously don't. It's also clearly a bad idea to trade our high pick for a superstar, when we could sign a superstar the following year, plus the pick. It's also a bad idea to sign Melo when we could have the younger better Love the next year, and the younger way better Durant the year after that. But to Kobe, those are all great ideas.

Kobe's statemetns are pretty much all implying we should sign Melo. What else could he be referring to? clearly he wants us to sign Melo, use the pick as an asset, and keep Gasol/Blake (not anymore) etc if you can (which you can't, because of Kobe's contract). I mean what else could he mean? Get rid of MDA..why, because Melo hates him as does Gasol. Kobe knew we couldn't do much this season, so why would he be hurt about the Blake trade? because he wants him back for the future, something, that while small in perspective, would go heavily against the Laker "plan" right now. Kobe wants changes for next year...other than Melo and trading our pick, what possible changes are even plausible? Kobe isn't an idiot...he's basically saying fire MDA and sign Melo, and stop making moves for the future. Or Else..

What what could Kobe do being signed in this toxic contract. Well it's kinda funny how this news comes right as PJ goes to the Knicks, with the Knicks being possibly the only team in the league with large enough useless contracts to trade for Kobe, and the only team with enough of a win now mentality to go all in for a 35 year old Kobe. Again, THIS WILL NEVER, happen, but I could honestly see a situation where both Kobe and the Lakers get what they want. Lets say this offseason comes, the Lakers draft Exum, don't sign anyone other than one year fillers, and the Knicks keep Melo. Kobe, angry about this realizing he can't control the FO anymore, demands a trade. With his No trade clause and large contract, there aren't that many options. So the Knicks come and offer Amare/Shump/any picks they could find for Kobe. Again, obviously as a Laker fan you would never want to see Kobe go for that crap, but such a move just might ultimately help our franchise in terms of a rebuild that we desperately need. Another tanking year (we keep our pick if it's top 5, which would never happen if Kobe is playing), and in 2015 we could rebuild around our 2 high picks, Kevin Love, and lots of excess cap space (rondo..wait for Durant...etc). Kobe, on the other hand, gets his wish and plays with Melo, with Phil there, and contends.


Again, In no way do I think that this will happen. I'm just saying it wouldn't be all that bad for both parties. Obviously the alternatives are plenty....maybe we sign Melo ourselves..maybe Kobe decides to man up and wait a year...maybe the FO jumps and trades our pick ...maybe Mitch pulls a miracle. Also, I highly doubt Jim would ever trade Kobe just like that. Again, I do not think this is going to happen I can't stress it enough. The recent events are just very interesting to me. I love Kobe, I wish he can be, and he probably will be, a Laker for life. However his recent actions starting with the contract are making me think the Laker franchise could be better off without him at this point. Obviously no deal could come close to making up for Kobe's value...which is why sometimes I wish if he wanted such a large contract he should have just been not resigned. I was happy with rebuilding with Kobe slowing things down, because it's Kobe and he means so much to the franchise, but the fact that he's already bitching, and you could be sure trade demands will happen if things don't go his way, makes me think that the Lakers, fans included, have given too much credit to the guy.


All I'm saying is this is far from over, and this offseason is going to be so interesting. Hopefully some magical Mitch wand waving occurs and we have a contender next year, however the differences between the managements plans and Kobe's plans are astoundingly visible. Just maybe a full rebuild is what we need without Kobe. The way I see it, Kobe isn't stupid, but he is stubborn. He statements are calculated, especially with the PJ deal happening this week. IF he doesn't get things his way, I don't see him sitting there being ok with it.

[TheHartBreakKid]

That was a very long post

[crazyeights]

I hope it doesn't come to that, but it may have to.

[Kilroy]

Like somebody said, we paid Kobe and for the money, we expect him to be a good soldier while we do what we have to in order to secure our future...

I say let him say whatever the hell he wants... Don't do anything or react... Treat him like a child throwing a tantrum. Because that's essentially what it is... Let it either flame out or escalate to the point of him demanding a trade, and then just like Shaq and everyone else, accommodate that request... But make it HIS choice and force him to take responsibility for it. Either he wants to stay a Laker for life or hurt his legacy by limping through the last few seasons somewhere they won't appreciate him as much.

Above all else, remember we are the Lakers... Not the Kobes or the Magics or the Phil Jacksons... We're the Lakers... And the Lakers rely on their own experience to chart their own destiny... They don't let players or other personalities dictate that course.

Stay focused on the FA targets you already have in mind and the Draft and let the other noise fade into the background.

[TonyMontana]

Why not?? Are you okay with the current status and the future of this team?[/quote]

a whole of a lot more if it's in the hands of Mitch Kupchack than i would be if its in the hands of Phil.

I think since there was two posts directed to you you chose to answer this one and since it was about Phil you answer this one with Phil included. My bad on that.

I separated the two posts since one was about Phil and this one was IN GENERAL? Not including Phil in the mix.

Are you okay with the current status and the future of this team?

[Michael Lucky]

yes the smart move is to preserve cap space for the 2015 and 2016 FA and from all accounts that is exactly what management plans to do.

[Mirjalovic]

yes the smart move is to preserve cap space for the 2015 and 2016 FA and from all accounts that is exactly what management plans to do.

Yeah, we need to patient. There is no need to rush a thing.

[snaquille oatmeal]

I'm going to get slammed for this but for all practical reasons, he should have been amnestied. If you think the media fall out would be too much you should at least not have offered him a 2-year extension without even a f'king team option on the 2nd year! Serenity now!

Slava this is your future

[Sofa King]

Looks like Slavas been hitting the gym

[Slava]