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

[SkyHookFTW]

I haven't read the article but I think Kobe is being unfairly targeted here. Let's be honest it's not that stars don't want to play with Kobe, it's more about Kobe's age. If Kobe was still in his prime and a Top 3 player in the league along with LeBron and KD a lot more stars would be willing to consider LA. It's more about his age than people don't wanna play with him. At least that's my take on it.

I didn't agree with the Kobe contract when they signed him and was actually happy that they did which meant that LeBron was out of the picture completely (yeah, it wasn't likely to happen) but still. However, given the Lakers' roster and his legacy as a Laker he's still earned it. Let the man go out in style, hope that he doesn't have any more injuries, and give him his due as a Top 10 player of all-time.

Exactly. Kobe is one of the all-time greats and has given much to the City of L.A. and to basketball in general. I'm not a blind homer, I know he is not what he once was. I will appreciate the greatness that he was and suck it up for a year or two. It has been a joy watching Kobe help bring five championships to the Lakers.

[Rupert Murdoch]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/PhilJackson11/status/524678101989851136[/tweet]

[MistyMountain20]

But look at how Abbott is blending in his narrative to influence the reader. Bosh chose the carcass of the Heat. You get that everyone, Bosh didn't want to play with Kobe so much so he rather play with carcasses. If he were writing an objective article, you wouldn't use language in that way unless you had an alternative motive.

[baubo]

As a Rockets fan I just like to say that it's a good thing "Hey look at Harden's defense!" storyline is no longer getting clicks and they're moving to their next subject.

[anarchy24]

As a Rockets fan I just like to say that it's a good thing "Hey look at Harden's defense!" storyline is no longer getting clicks and they're moving to their next subject.

Wait till the season start and it'll be front page again. Unless Harden starts caring about that end, people will continue to criticize him since he's supposed to be the best SG in the league right now.

[markjay]

Boy, I can't wait to watch the Lakers game tonight. I know it's a meaningless pre-season game, but don't you think Kobe's gonna come out and score 30+?

[TrueStoryGSW]

Henry Abbot's death threats in recent 24-48 hours.

Over/under 150?

[Cycklops]

I read the article, pretty brutal stuff. The part about Kobe wanting to win on his terms jibes with what I theorized about him a while ago...that his lifelong goal is to surpass his childhood image of Michael Jordan, which means he has to do it the way he saw Jordan doing it. Despite all his own talents and even his passing skills, he had to play the way he thought Jordan was playing to pursue his goal. When asked to do something else (see that Game 7 against the Suns), he would glitch up mentally and even check out of the game, no matter what the situation.

An interesting case study.

And yet Phil Jackson returned to coach him again.

Phil said he didn't want to coach Kobe after Kobe lost his skills. Kobe still had his skills at that point. We're seeing now what Phil meant. The Zen Master is a pretty smart dude, you might want to pay attention to what he says.

So you and Abbott both suffer from confirmation bias. Worse with him since he's a "journalist".

You remember that Phil was ready to come back in 2013, yes?

Kobe was at the tail end of his skills in 2013. And again, this is NOT about Phil claiming he would quit coaching at some point because of Kobe. Seriously, pay attention.

[MistyMountain20]

I read the article, pretty brutal stuff. The part about Kobe wanting to win on his terms jibes with what I theorized about him a while ago...that his lifelong goal is to surpass his childhood image of Michael Jordan, which means he has to do it the way he saw Jordan doing it. Despite all his own talents and even his passing skills, he had to play the way he thought Jordan was playing to pursue his goal. When asked to do something else (see that Game 7 against the Suns), he would glitch up mentally and even check out of the game, no matter what the situation.

An interesting case study.


Phil said he didn't want to coach Kobe after Kobe lost his skills. Kobe still had his skills at that point. We're seeing now what Phil meant. The Zen Master is a pretty smart dude, you might want to pay attention to what he says.

So you and Abbott both suffer from confirmation bias. Worse with him since he's a "journalist".

You remember that Phil was ready to come back in 2013, yes?

Kobe was at the tail end of his skills in 2013. And again, this is NOT about Phil claiming he would quit coaching at some point because of Kobe. Seriously, pay attention.

You mean Kobe had a better year in 2013 than he did in 2012 and 2011, yeah? With that in mind, if Phil was willing to come back and coach Kobe yet again, wouldn't that say Kobe was still skilled, otherwise why come back.

[Michael Lucky]

You know this article and posters are reaching hard when the mention Paul George as a viable FA. lol.

I don't give a **** about Kobe, but this is correct.

Paul G stayed with the Pacers because:
1) He would have been a restricted FA and would have to give up a lot of money to get to full FA a year later.
2) He's the face of the franchise in Indiana, a perennial ECF team.
3) He extended for 5 years on a supermax contract. No other team could offer that total amount.

If Kobe factored into his thinking at all, it's way, way down the list.

Yeah not even sure how PG got involved in this. He was never a possible target for the Lakers to begin with....

[JohnsHopkins]

does this guy look like he has sources? looks like a serial killer

he probably also knows where buried those bodies stern was talking about it.

[Cycklops]

So you and Abbott both suffer from confirmation bias. Worse with him since he's a "journalist".

You remember that Phil was ready to come back in 2013, yes?

Kobe was at the tail end of his skills in 2013. And again, this is NOT about Phil claiming he would quit coaching at some point because of Kobe. Seriously, pay attention.

You mean Kobe had a better year in 2013 than he did in 2012 and 2011, yeah? With that in mind, if Phil was willing to come back and coach Kobe yet again, wouldn't that say Kobe was still skilled, otherwise why come back.

When you're done punching that strawman, let me know.

[kingkirk]

FO Member 1: “Man, we can’t attract FA anymore to LA. Pau wants out. CP3 got vetoed. Dwight left. What gives, man?”

FO Member 2: “It’s Kobe. He is a cancer. Players don’t want to be around this guy, be it on or off the floor.”

FO Member 1: “You’re so right. How to we handle this topic, given the complexity of it?”

FO Member 2: “I think we should give him 2 yr / 48m, maybe that will make him happy and more tolerable to new guys?”

FO Member 3: “Sounds like a great idea.”

FO Member 1: “But how do we attract free agents when Nash and Kobe are making more than 50% of the cap between them, whilst barely playing any games last season?”

FO Member 2: “People will see us taking care of our stars. They will love it and it will bode well for the franchise. Plus, we will get Melo in the off season. Melo, Bryant & Nash is as good as any big 3 going around in this league”.

FO Member 1: “Jim, what are your thoughts on this matter?”

Jim Buss: “Do you guys think Jeannie has nicer hair than me?”

[TheKingofSting]

It is sad when you are right and still get death threats.

[StocktonShorts]

FO Member 1: “Man, we can’t attract FA anymore to LA. Pau wants out. CP3 got vetoed. Dwight left. What gives, man?”

FO Member 2: “It’s Kobe. He is a cancer. Players don’t want to be around this guy, be it on or off the floor.”

FO Member 1: “You’re so right. How to we handle this topic, given the complexity of it?”

FO Member 2: “I think we should give him 2 yr / 48m, maybe that will make him happy and more tolerable to new guys?”

FO Member 3: “Sounds like a great idea.”

FO Member 1: “But how do we attract free agents when Nash and Kobe are making more than 50% of the cap between them, whilst barely playing any games last season?”

FO Member 2: “People will see us taking care of our stars. They will love it and it will bode well for the franchise. Plus, we will get Melo in the off season. Melo, Bryant & Nash is as good as any big 3 going around in this league”.

FO Member 1: “Jim, what are your thoughts on this matter?”

Jim Buss: “Do you guys think Jeannie has nice hair than me?”

My take on it is it's a cynical stealth tank job where they keep the fan-based engaged (read: $$$) for this year and next by re-signing Kobe and bringing in Byron Scott while they accumulate a couple of lottery picks and shed all future salary commitments.

[The Rebel]

I liked this part

"While the Lakers were going after Anthony in vain, they quietly pursued Chris Bosh as well, but he preferred the carcass of the Heat. Paul George, Angelino through and through, had once been the team's safest choice. But sources say one reason the two-way star had re-signed with the Pacers in the fall of 2013 instead was that he was turned off by the thought that Bryant would police his efforts."

It wasn't the fact he was restricted and the Pacers would match anything?

Not to mention the fact that Bosh has already come out and said he resigned with the Heat due to the money, and Melo signed for more than anybody else could pay him but gave the Lakers a meeting out of respect to Kobe, I have a problem seeing how Kobe affected any of those 3 players.

[The Rebel]

But look at how Abbott is blending in his narrative to influence the reader. Bosh chose the carcass of the Heat. You get that everyone, Bosh didn't want to play with Kobe so much so he rather play with carcasses. If he were writing an objective article, you wouldn't use language in that way unless you had an alternative motive.

I agree, and it is probably a bad idea to use a free agent signing elsewhere, when that free agent has already came out and admitted that he went back to the Heat due to the max deal.

[TheKingofSting]

flea was not a fan of the report.

[kingkirk]

My take on it is it's a cynical stealth tank job where they keep the fan-based engaged (read: $$$) for this year and next by re-signing Kobe and bringing in Byron Scott while they accumulate a couple of lottery picks and shed all future salary commitments.

Your theory may be right, but it could also be very wrong.

Phoenix owns the Lakers pick. If the Lakers don't finish in the bottom 5, so similar to this season, the Suns get that pick.

We can't answer this right now, but we will know their strategy, if their is one, later on in the season.

Do they tank it in for a top 5 pick or do they play for Ws?

[StocktonShorts]

My take on it is it's a cynical stealth tank job where they keep the fan-based engaged (read: $$$) for this year and next by re-signing Kobe and bringing in Byron Scott while they accumulate a couple of lottery picks and shed all future salary commitments.

Your theory may be right, but it could also be very wrong.

Phoenix owns the Lakers pick. If the Lakers don't finish in the bottom 5, so similar to this season, the Suns get that pick.

We can't answer this right now, but we will know their strategy, if their is one, later on in the season.

Do they tank it in for a top 5 pick or do they play for Ws?

Forgot about that. There's no way they get to top 5 pick unless they get very lucky in the lottery.