I'm not saying Phil Jackson told Mitch Kupchak, "Bring in Trevor Ariza if you want this extension signed..."
But one thing's for sure. He definitely did not say, "Bring in Trevor Ariza and there's no way in hell I'm signing." Because ink hit the papers today. Two more years. An estimated 11-12 mil per season. Two hips apparently good enough to coach on.
What does more Phil mean when it comes to Kobe? Dunno. The only thing I've ever figured out about The Mamba is that you can't ever figure out The Mamba. But I'll say this much. I have a hard time believing Phil sticking around hurts Kobe's chances of eventually deciding to follow suit. May not clinch matters. But I seriously doubt Phil's presence prevents anything.
For that matter, I also have no idea if this development ensures that Coby Karl will resign at season's end. If you think #24 is an enigma...
More to come as details emerge.
AK
I doubt Phil would stay if he thought Kobe was leaving.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | November 29, 2007 at 02:58 PM
Do you think he waited on purpose to sign/announce it on a game-day against a tough team like Denver? Like it might somehow have a positive effect on team morale, security, and motivation?
Posted by: Romy R. | November 29, 2007 at 03:06 PM
tru dat ex
Posted by: greek dude | November 29, 2007 at 03:15 PM
exhelodrvr,
Yes he would. I can think of 22 million and 1 reasons
Posted by: Kwame | November 29, 2007 at 03:17 PM
GREAT, we got KOBE
Posted by: LakerBake | November 29, 2007 at 03:17 PM
ONE REQUEST OF LAMAR ODOM TONIGHT,
Help us win the game, enough talking about I stink and I think I can.
Just do it, we need you tonight against a MELO-IVERSON dynamic duo
Posted by: LakerBake | November 29, 2007 at 03:19 PM
I hope this means we will be contending for a title soon.
Posted by: Phil_Jackson_Happens | November 29, 2007 at 03:20 PM
Ex,
Good point. However, I think after Kobe calmed down he realized how damn near impossible moving him would be and just realized that if he wants to get paid big bucks he's going to do so as a Laker.
Posted by: Andrew Z | November 29, 2007 at 03:22 PM
Mamba24,
Thanks for signing on to the insanity band wagon. You did the right thing by making Phil the driver, since he's getting handsomely paid for his insanity.
Posted by: Rick Friedman | November 29, 2007 at 03:28 PM
Circus is extended for two more years...that's good it means we're in competition not purely developmental. They are open for more progress in the days to come. Kobe will not move as long as Jimbo stays quiet, he's beginning to like Andrew. He doesn't have to rant, the Lakers Blog do the honors for him in every game.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | November 29, 2007 at 03:37 PM
Ex,
I think and hope you're right.
But if Phil thinks Kobe is in fact staying, than the front office must've promised Phil that they are not going to trade Kobe. Either that or there is a trade to FINALLY upgrade the team around Kobe in the works and possibly close to completion.
Posted by: LAKER TRUTH | November 29, 2007 at 03:40 PM
SI.COM has an article about Bynum; he said that Kobe's comment this summer about trading him inspired him to work harder. But I guess that doesn't count for making your teammates better, does it?
Posted by: exhelodrvr | November 29, 2007 at 03:47 PM
Phil has 22 million and 1 reasons to stay that have nothing to do with Kobe.
Posted by: Kwame | November 29, 2007 at 03:59 PM
AK
You mark my words this Phil Jackson signing has sealed the Lakers doom. I have said this before but Phil Jackson day is over as an effective coach in the NBA. He is tantamount to Bill Parcells with the Dallas Cowboys.
The cowboys made a monumental leap when that guy left the cowboys because he couldn't get out of his own way. Insisting on playing a guy at quarterback that he was loyal to (Drew Bledsoe) despite the fact that Drew was absolutely terrible. (Any resemblence to Luke Walton is not coincidental)
Phil Jackson is like our Fiat currency.......the only reason it has any worth?
PEOPLE STILL BELIEVE IN IT!
In reality all the gold that backs our money left a long time ago..........and the Gold that backs Phil Jackson? It left a long time ago.
More after the game
Posted by: pfunk36 | November 29, 2007 at 04:00 PM
Of course, Phil could be staying because he realizes that if he could somehow turn Kwame into an All-Star, he would unquestionably be the greatest coach of all time. Not even Red would have accomplished something of that magnitude.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | November 29, 2007 at 04:12 PM
Phil Jackson reportedly is going to be resigned for a two-year, 24 million dollar contract.
What do you think about that Mike T?
heh.
Posted by: Benjamin | November 29, 2007 at 04:19 PM
pfunk36, Bill Parcels is the reason Tony Romo is on the Cowboys, did you know that? Parcels took a lot of heat keeping Romo over Chad Hutchinson who had gotten a huge signing bonus.
Posted by: TaosHum | November 29, 2007 at 04:25 PM
pfunk36,
We shall see. I think the opposite.
Everyone who knows football, knows that Dallas team is Parcells team. Be Built it. TO didn't like him and I think that's the main reason they didn't start playing well until he left. But make no mistake, this is a Bill Parcell's team. He built it and coached it.
Posted by: zen | November 29, 2007 at 04:26 PM
>>>I'm not saying Phil Jackson told Mitch Kupchak, "Bring in Trevor Ariza if
>>>you want this extension signed..."
AK,
Maybe you've got it backwards... Maybe Phil said "Get rid of Brian Cook
if you want this extension signed..."
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | November 29, 2007 at 04:26 PM
pfunk36-
"Phil Jackson is like our Fiat currency"
Hey PHIL and DOLLAR have been there N done that. That my friend COUNTS for alot. Last year we had an INJURED team and US economy needs a RELOAD. Did you see what the PHIL did to the MIGHTY SUNS and the DOLLAR to the mighty JAPAN, years ago?
To me it shouldn't be long before the NBA and CANADIANS are going to start investing in LAKERS and the US (respectively). you get what I'm saying homy?
Posted by: rayray | November 29, 2007 at 04:37 PM
Anyone who knows this-
Whats the word on KWAME's injury?
Posted by: rayray | November 29, 2007 at 04:39 PM
Long Time Laker Fan-
I would say get Cook outta here or I'm out so I with you on that one
Posted by: rayray | November 29, 2007 at 04:41 PM
Long Time Laker Fan,
and maybe he got this promise: “we”ll get rid of Kwame before 2007 is over”...
Posted by: CLeon | November 29, 2007 at 04:44 PM
Wow! cnnsi.com is all over the Lakers. Their front page for NBA has a big
picture of Kobe, a small picture of Fish, and links to articles about Kobe,
Fish, Bynum, and Phil Jackson.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | November 29, 2007 at 05:07 PM
All this means is we will see more of Luke and Kwame in the next three years. I do not like it at all. Young Lakers would have been better with a young upcoming coach. Two more years of Phil and Kobe, when is BYNUM and CRIT going to be the leaders of this team? The sooner the better. a lot of NBA teams have young leaders. KOBE AND PHIL are too old and have old ways, this is the new age of NBA. We need young leaders with great character, not superstar status.
Posted by: Ramon Fernandez | November 29, 2007 at 05:15 PM
Let's see, Fish in consideratin for sportsman of the year and Smush for parking klutz of the year. This is our revenge for Miami getting the better of the Saq deal.
Posted by: Mob Wagoneer | November 29, 2007 at 05:16 PM
GREAT 2 more years of blank stares and NO time outs
Posted by: fonzuhrelli | November 29, 2007 at 05:21 PM
Good.
And good for the Lakers.
Regarding the Trevor Ariza signing...
I like Trevor, he is a Bruin after all, but, ummm.... it sure has seemed to throw off the chemistry of the second unit quite a bit, something that was a major upside this season.
What is Mitch thinking? I'm not certain.
Let's just beat down Denver tonight. The only team I want to see wear those colors are the Bruins.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon Kavulic | November 29, 2007 at 05:23 PM
LTLF,
Here is the link on the Kobe & Fisher stories on CNNSI:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | November 29, 2007 at 05:24 PM
It's still difficult for me to believe that Kwame Brown had two back-to-back 30+ point games while playing for Washington.
Inconceivable!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon Kavulic | November 29, 2007 at 05:25 PM
"Two more years of Phil and Kobe, when is BYNUM and CRIT going to be the leaders of this team? The sooner the better. a lot of NBA teams have young leaders. KOBE AND PHIL are too old and have old ways, this is the new age of NBA. We need young leaders with great character, not superstar status."
2 wins each. Minnesota and Seattle. That's youth for you buddy. Competes but don't have veterans to close games out. Winning teams have a great combination of both. I'm not sure the average Laker fan wants to wait that long to have a good team out there.
Posted by: sixonezero | November 29, 2007 at 05:30 PM
Phil Jackson should be teaching in the d-league and it his students should start with SASHA AND KWAME, not in the NBA.
PJ is past. BYNUM AND CRIT are the future. Time to change!
WHY WOULD THE LAKERS SIGN PHIL? Phil is over the hill with these generation of new talent.
Posted by: Ramon Fernandez | November 29, 2007 at 05:33 PM
Phil, Kobe, Lamar, Kwame and Walton = 1st rd of the playoffs!
Why pay a coach for 12 MIL a year. We could have started to rebuild this year.
Posted by: Ramon Fernandez | November 29, 2007 at 05:36 PM
Mike T is taking some time off from the blog......it already hurts....truly hurts...i need his irrationality to keep me going......I need his conspiracy theories to stay fresh.....it is like being a cop with no bad guy.....like peanut butter and no jelly....
To quote Red.....
"I guess I just miss my friend."
Posted by: SHAQ FAN | November 29, 2007 at 05:47 PM
Woooohowww! are you guys watching the Knick/Celtic game? Complete meltdown! Something has to give in NY... as some NY dude fires up an airball 3 pointer, down by 34... timeout... oh... my...
Posted by: TaosHum | November 29, 2007 at 06:46 PM
TaosHum,
Don't rub it in! I live here in nyc and I am also watching my "hometeam" get the crap beaten out them while a HOF Reggie Miller talking madd trash on national tv about them and how they're a joke. Now you can see why I'm a Laker fan lol
GO LA!
LA wins tonight, MOSTER game by Odom.
Posted by: blaze1bx | November 29, 2007 at 06:59 PM
Celtics absolutely kicking ass. It must be nice to have that KILLER instinct in a team.
Friggin embarrassing!!!
Posted by: keifo | November 29, 2007 at 07:11 PM
Wow... 50 point lead by Boston.. and they keep sticking it to 'em!!
Now that's how to play!!!
Posted by: keifo | November 29, 2007 at 07:16 PM
RIBBIT
2.8 more years of the Triangle means Kobe is gone for sure.
Unless all our average players somehow become good to great.
Won't happen in a Triangle, Rhombus, Square, Tetrahedron, Sphere, or a
94 x 50 rectangle.
Posted by: RIBBIT | November 29, 2007 at 07:17 PM
2 more years for Phil Jackson as head coach...Move over Mitch! you have 2 years left as Laker GM.
Posted by: motionpixtech | November 29, 2007 at 10:24 PM