Henry Abbot: Lakers FO can't wait for Kobe to retire

Br0ken_Sp0ke · Post #61 » by **Br0ken_Sp0ke** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 7:25 am

Guess we'll have to wait til the article gets posted online, but this is what Abbott supposedly wrote explaining why the Lakers gave Kobe that monster contract, tweeted by an ESPN mag writer.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/SethWickersham/status/523154732115050499[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/SethWickersham/status/523157269794799616[/tweet]

EnigmaticProblem · Post #62 » by **EnigmaticProblem** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 7:41 am

As a very long time Lakers fan, I can't wait for Kobe to retire, either. We all understand that we can't truly build a contender until he's gone. I absolutely want him to retire as a Laker too, and so I'm prepared for the sucktitude that awaits. It all aligns rather perfectly, to be completely honest. Kobe retires in about two/three years-- A span during which the Lakers don't have a real possibility of contending. As Lakers fans, we get to see Kobe retire a Laker, as well. I don't have any major complaints with this process. . .

sniperelite · Post #63 » by **sniperelite** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 8:51 am

I don't know if this article is true or not, seems kind of fishy

But half of you so called "Laker fans" saying that you also can't wait for Kobe to retire, yall ain't real Laker fans and I'm ashamed to be grouped in with you guys, that's all I wanted to say.

Collymore · Post #64 » by **Collymore** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 9:03 am

sniperelite wrote:I don't know if this article is true or not, seems kind of fishy

But half of you so called "Laker fans" saying that you also can't wait for Kobe to retire, yall ain't real Laker fans and I'm ashamed to be grouped in with you guys, that's all I wanted to say.

So the real Laker fans are the ones who want to see the corpse of Kobe make a fool of himself on a lottery team?

AussieBuck · Post #65 » by **AussieBuck** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 9:09 am

Collymore wrote:
sniperelite wrote:I don't know if this article is true or not, seems kind of fishy

But half of you so called "Laker fans" saying that you also can't wait for Kobe to retire, yall ain't real Laker fans and I'm ashamed to be grouped in with you guys, that's all I wanted to say.

So the real Laker fans are the ones who want to see the corpse of Kobe make a fool of himself on a lottery team?

Sweet, I now qualify as a real Laker fan.

Cycklops · Post #66 » by **Cycklops** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 10:56 am

theforumblue wrote:with all the bridges he's burnt over the years, with all the trash he piled on FO and ex-teammates at every stop, people still believe shaq's version of things?

The funniest thing is that up until I read "shaq's," I thought you were referring totally to Kobe.

Boomerfan · Post #67 » by **Boomerfan** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 11:04 am

John Black wrote:
Imon wrote:
John Black wrote:link?

Apparently it's an upcoming story entitled "And Kobe Won't Leave" by Henry Abbott in the ESPN Magazine.

That link asks me to subscribe to ESPN Mag. I guess if true it will be leaked eventually.

In all seriousness though as a Lakers supporter wouldn't you finally want to see that money freed up? The Lakers are doing absolutely nothing for the next few years. The only possible reason for offering Kobe a deal that large is that they are tanking.

abark · Post #68 » by **abark** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 12:36 pm

EnigmaticProblem wrote:As a very long time Lakers fan, I can't wait for Kobe to retire, either. We all understand that we can't truly build a contender until he's gone. I absolutely want him to retire as a Laker too, and so I'm prepared for the sucktitude that awaits. It all aligns rather perfectly, to be completely honest. Kobe retires in about two/three years-- A span during which the Lakers don't have a real possibility of contending. As Lakers fans, we get to see Kobe retire a Laker, as well. I don't have any major complaints with this process. . .

You guys sound like you have Stockholm syndrome.

Yoshun · Post #69 » by **Yoshun** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 12:42 pm

Vinsanity89 wrote:Per Abbott, “The view in the Lakers front office is that any rebuild will have to wait until after Bryant’s retirement. Major players don’t want to play with Kobe, and Jimmy is waiting for him to leave.”

Anyone notice this is completely different from the op?

This is really obvious stuff.

They have to wait until he leaves to rebuild, obvious.

Major players don't want to play with him, yea because he's old and he's not going to bring anyone a chip anymore.

Jimmy is waiting for him to leave, yea to rebuild, again.

Where is the link to all the stuff about rotting the brand? If they thought that they wouldn't have signed him to the extension.

John Long · Post #70 » by **John Long** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 1:07 pm

Cycklops wrote:
theforumblue wrote:with all the bridges he's burnt over the years, with all the trash he piled on FO and ex-teammates at every stop, people still believe shaq's version of things?

The funniest thing is that up until I read "shaq's," I thought you were referring totally to Kobe.

At every stop shoud've given it away, Kobe has only played for one team

Post #71 » by **NyCeEvO** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 1:10 pm

Even if this is true, leaking these sentiments to the public is the worst thing you can do as a front office. I think everyone is right in saying in calling the FO out for giving Kobe the extension and then (reportedly) talking bad about Kobe as if he's the one causing all of the problems.

This is one of those classic "Be careful what you wish for" scenarios and it looks quite similar to the Derek Jeter situation in NY.

Both Kobe and Jeter are old and don't have the game that warrants the on-field/on-court respect they receive. At the same time, not only are they the main attractions for their team, they are the last genuine stars on their teams for the foreseeable future.

The Yanks have made dumb move after dumb move and I think Jimmie is just as bad for the Lakers.

Go ahead and use the excuse that these old, star players are the reason why you can't win. Then when they retire and no one is left, you begin realize that players aren't pining to go to LA/NY like they used to and reality starts to set in.

Most franchises don't have the luxury of raking in tons of money when their teams stink. The Lakers were just back-to-back title winners a few years ago and since then they've transitioned to the 'Come see Kobe before he retires' phase and are still raking in cash.

While I don't wish anything bad on Laker fans, I do feel like the FO (except Kupchak)) needs to go through a few years of high lotto pick garbage teams just so they wake up and realize what most teams go through and be grateful.

Try wooing stars when you don't have a star on your roster already.

The living in LA factor has become irrelevant since they spend so much time on the road. Most players are perfectly fine with having their offseason home in LA but playing in a different city.

Be careful what you wish for, Jimmie.

Cycklops · Post #72 » by **Cycklops** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 1:23 pm

John Long wrote:
Cycklops wrote:
theforumblue wrote:with all the bridges he's burnt over the years, with all the trash he piled on FO and ex-teammates at every stop, people still believe shaq's version of things?

The funniest thing is that up until I read "shaq's," I thought you were referring totally to Kobe.

At every stop shoud've given it away, Kobe has only played for one team

Bridges can also be burnt in personal relationships.

John Long · Post #73 » by **John Long** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 1:25 pm

Cycklops wrote:
John Long wrote:
Cycklops wrote:The funniest thing is that up until I read "shaq's," I thought you were referring totally to Kobe.

At every stop shoud've given it away, Kobe has only played for one team

Bridges can also be burnt in personal relationships.

yeah but that doesn't apply to that particular post.

Post #74 » by **NyCeEvO** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 1:31 pm

Br0ken_Sp0ke wrote:Guess we'll have to wait til the article gets posted online, but this is what Abbott supposedly wrote explaining why the Lakers gave Kobe that monster contract, tweeted by an ESPN mag writer.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/SethWickersham/status/523154732115050499[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/SethWickersham/status/523157269794799616[/tweet]

This would make so much sense.

Lines up with everything I've been thinking about the Lakers since Jimmie took over. He's got no clue what he's doing and everyone clearly recognizes that he is not his father.

Kobe said that he didn't even get to really negotiate with the FO because they were the ones who presented him with the deal.

I'd like to see this be confirmed (because I don't want to claim someone to be guilty before they've been charged) but the dots are definitely connecting.

Cycklops · Post #75 » by **Cycklops** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 1:34 pm

John Long wrote:
Cycklops wrote:
John Long wrote:
At every stop shoud've given it away, Kobe has only played for one team

Bridges can also be burnt in personal relationships.

yeah but that doesn't apply to that particular post.

It applies to what I saw.

Boomerfan · Post #76 » by **Boomerfan** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 1:58 pm

sniperelite wrote:I don't know if this article is true or not, seems kind of fishy

But half of you so called "Laker fans" saying that you also can't wait for Kobe to retire, yall ain't real Laker fans and I'm ashamed to be grouped in with you guys, that's all I wanted to say.

Actually I would have thought the real laker fans would have wanted to see the Lakers do well. Not see an old cripple holding the team to ransom for a few years.

Mirjalovic · Post #77 » by **Mirjalovic** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 2:02 pm

Boomerfan wrote:
sniperelite wrote:I don't know if this article is true or not, seems kind of fishy

But half of you so called "Laker fans" saying that you also can't wait for Kobe to retire, yall ain't real Laker fans and I'm ashamed to be grouped in with you guys, that's all I wanted to say.

Actually I would have thought the real laker fans would have wanted to see the Lakers do well. Not see an old cripple holding the team to ransom for a few years.

Lakers did reasonable well in 90% of Kobe careers.

What Lakers fans want, let us to honour our franchise guy for his services in this 18 years **** years, and think about rebuild when his contract is up.

Michael Lucky · Post #78 » by **Michael Lucky** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 2:10 pm

Vinsanity89 wrote:In ESPN Magazine, Abbott cites multiple Laker sources claiming that the Buss family are finally done with Kobe and are waiting for him to retire. Claims his ego has rotted the Lakers brand and nobody wants to play with him (also cites multiple agents). Kobe is basically hurting the Lakers ability to rebuild.

I'm not the greatest Kobe fan and one of the biggest proponents as a Lakers fan to point out how he's hurt our ability to rebuild, but Abbott (the biggest Kobe hater there is) is hardly a credible source.

Makaveli DaDon · Post #79 » by **Makaveli DaDon** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 2:12 pm

Kobe made the Lakers tons of money, he earned that contract. Its not hurting the lakers, injuries have hurt the Lakers. Disrespecting Dwight Howard hurt the Lakers. David stern and his basketball reasons hurt the Lakers. Management other than the father passing, and public bickering have been great.

Michael Lucky · Post #80 » by **Michael Lucky** » Sun Oct 19, 2014 2:13 pm

MistyMountain20 wrote:Interesting since Buss will step down if the Lakers aren't contenders in 3-4 years. You'd think he'd give himself more time to right the ship.

I'm still curious who the Lakers have lost that they could have feasibly gotten if it weren't for Bryant. LeBron? Melo?

Meh just Howard, and he isn't even the same player he used to be.