Kobe taking less to keep the team intact seems like a logical choice to me, but we all don't think alike. If he doesn't take less, I can't fault him for it. The Lakers would still be able to re-sign Odom, Ariza, and Brown. They probably will opt-in Powell and Mbenga and decline Sun Yue.

The only real reason that this is an issue is Bynum's contract kicks in. I am not going to go there.

Like Bynum and his contract, Kobe SHOULD take less but again will it happen? Likely no.

Like Bynum SHOULD have taken less even $14 million when without him the Lakers already made it to the Finals with Sasha Vujacic as a 6th man. (And they won without him making a major impact on the series).

Yea Kobe WOULD save the Lakers organization money and increase the probability that Trevor, Lamar, Shannon will all return if he opts out and returns. He does have other means of revenue such as Nike and Coca-Cola (the vitamin water). YET he already has stated that it is the Lakers responsibility to re-sign them without the need for him to opt out.

Mitch already gotten around $5 million or so from the draft trades. The Lakers payroll is currently $74 million and the Lakers also earned lots of $$ because of playoff games (really that 7 game series against Houston did help with money). Combine those two and that is tons of cash to keep both LO and TA and have room for SB to come back without the need for Kobe to opt out.

This team will win championships with this core and that means even more money for Buss to spend. If that is not enough then next year Morrison comes off the books and if not re-signed so is Jordan and Sasha is an expiring contract which could be used to help bring in better talent.

Will Kobe opting out and sign for less help the Lakers out financially that is a big YES. Yet with the moves that Mitch made AND the money made from the playoff games then it makes it even more likely for Kobe to opt out this year. Phil even stated that while it could help he advised Kobe not to opt out.

Kobe Bryant will not opt out of his contract this season unless something drastic happens.

Ah! the LAT needs to change it's sucky message board system. You make a post on a board, it goes dead and you either have to repost or just give up and stop posting...

TRADE KOBE! wait... wha? what are we talking about now? Oh, Kobe opting out... I wonder if anybody is going to predict that Kobe opts out and demands we trade for Rubio? LOL! Rumors... gotta love them... yesterday it was floating around that Jeff Goldblum was dead along with Harrison Ford... LOL! Why those 2? I have no idea...

Concur with Blitz. Kobe does not opt out.

That, alone, is some savings because it's less than a "max contract"

Everybody told about how much both LO and TA had stepped up at the playoff and final, but fewer people mentioned that it was Kobe who required always double-teamed, and kicked out to both LO and TA, especially TA wide-open and made shots. Kobe made them better players. So they both should realize it and asked for less money to stay with Lakers to get more champion rings.

Same old story.

If Kobe doesn't opt out and for some reason the Lakers don't sign Shannon, Lamar, and Ariza next season he's a bad guy. Even in his greatest moments he's the most polarizing player to play this game.

I'm sorry but this is what it boils down to for me: Should Kobe get the money or should Jerry Buss? I don't think I need to tell you my answer.

Has anybody posted this? If it IS him... weird...

http://tinyurl.com/ndhp26

Breaking News! Amar'e Stoudemire to the Lakers!!
about 2 hours ago from TwitterFon

BK

my 2 cents...

sorry but this is the most ridiculous post by you ever in this blog. totally redundant and unnecessary. i think we're all tired of beating a dead horse so whats your point?

KOBE AINT OPTING OUT NOR HE SHOULD and if you agree why are you so obsessed with this topic. you're doing nothing but creating needless controversy. you're just making him look bad for nothing. totally uncalled for and a slap in the face. kobe deserves better.

You do realize we're talking about increments in MILLIONS here? I mean what's the difference between 20 and 18 million? 2 million? That's still something I and my friends would be happy to take. Heck 100,000 is gravy.

Meanwhile a couple of my friends just lost their job. The economy and the state of the financial market being what it is, squabbling over mere millions seem silly.

Whether he takes a cut or not...considering it'll mean he'll get more years, and that he'll be getting it before the new cap/agreement...then really is there that much difference in the big picture? I don't think so.

AK, thanks. I guess that's a spoof then? LOL! They sure did put a lot of work into it, the posts go back quite a ways...

10. Luke is staying! You haters get that! Prepare for more Luke Walton because the guy is going to retire in Purple and Gold
Posted by: Jon K.

i'm afraid you're right but dont leave out the obvious.... NOT BY CHOICE.

why doesn't bynum forfeit 10 million of his contract for his 1.5 pts and 2.2 rbds a game? anyone who thinks kobe should give a discount is prolly unsuccessull in life, because they don't understand the concept of receiving money one deserves..the point isn't kobe giving back money, the point is even giving that money back won't gurantee success, the front office mismanaged things by giving luke walton 30 mil, andrew bynum 60 mil, and vujacic 15 mil, etc. for useless contributionsm now you expect kobe the most deserving player in the nba for a max contract, a player who earns his paychecks 10 times more than these other scrubs to help fix management's problems and errors by sacrificing what is rightfully his? how is that going to solve any problems? management would just be given a pass on past financial blunders, and there would be no gurantee they learnt anything from their past mistakes that have put them in this position in the first place...you want rings? you want a dynasty? you dont fix it by a bandaid solution by having kobe clean up management's mess and past mistakes, management needs to sign kobe and figure this out themselves and get them out of this mess, because thats the only way you progress in life, you address the root of your problems and don't look for someone else to bail you out

If Kobe really wants to have a chance at getting (6) six championionship rings or more he has to show the willingness now by opting out of his current contract and accepting a contract that averages around 18mil to 21mil during the life of his new contract. This laker team was not dominating nor will the other teams sit by and let the lakers win additional championships therefore if its truely about being one of the greats of the game which is defined by championship rings then Kobe do the right thing and maybe the Buss family will do for you what they did for Magic which is allow you to buy a piece of the team and you could have a second career as a minority owner of the lakers. This woild provide the possibility that you could buy a NBA team one day which would further enhance your legacy in the game.

Here's a breakdown of BK's contradictory post, and the REAL meaning of each statement:

"The higher the dollar amounts involved, the more I consider "sacrifice" to be relative.Take 15% from my paycheck, and it's going to hurt. Take 15% from a guy making $5 mil, and it hurts less. Take it from a guy making $25 million, and it becomes closer to a rounding error. Not that the money doesn't matter or have real value- it most certainly does- just that the blow is softened by what's left over."
--CONCLUSION-- I agree, but by this same logic, Lakers ownership (who is #1 in operating profit in the NBA, increased its net worth by $24 million this year alone, and worth nearly $600 million) will sacrifice the LEAST (by far) to sign Trevor and Ariza. Yet, Kobe, the Lakers biggest cash cow, should be "criticized" if Ariza and Lamar are not retained? Really?

"it's management's responsibility, not his, to figure out how to keep the team together. That's true on the literal, but not practical, level. Assuming Kobe realizes that there is a ceiling to LA's payroll, he must too realize that every dollar not spent on him can be put towards another player, whether this summer or beyond (at some point, the Lakers might need to add a piece, right?)."
--CONCLUSION--"Literally" speaking, every dollar not spent on Kobe will go directly into ownership's pockets. People are clamoring about about Kobe taking $2 million less per year. That's "only" $4 million less profit for ownership. Like BK so eloquently argued, what's a measly few million to the ultra wealthy? This payroll "ceiling" is only a number that is set by ownership to ensure a certain amount of profit is earned. BK states that "if winning is truly the number one priority for 24, it would be foolish for him not to recognize the relationship between his salary and the team's ability to keep good players around him.", as if, after all these year, Kobe still has to prove that he wants to win as bad as anyone. Gimme a break. It would also be foolish not to recognize the the relationship between slightly lowering the ceiling to the team's ability to keep good players, yet BK predictably ignores this point.

"Other stars in salary cap sports have accepted less money or reworked deals to accommodate other players and keep a winning crew together. What Kobe could do is a fantastic expression of team and his desire to win, but isn't unprecedented."
--CONCLUSION--This is another misleading statement to bolster BK's argument that Kobe should be criticized for not taking a paycut AKA being selfish. I assume you are referring to other elite players like KG, Duncan or Magic. Unlike Kobe, Duncan is in a small market, that cannot afford players like LA can. And although Duncan is the best at his position, he does not have even half the revenue generating power (TV ratings, ticket sales, corporate sponsorship, merchandising, etc.) that Kobe has. Duncan and Kobe both have rewarded their teams with the same no. of championships, but Kobe has rewarded the team with much more money.
KG, unlike Kobe, signed his max deal before the collective bargaining agreement. One can argue that he was overpaid. Kobe, even with his max salary, is underpaid, and will be underpaid regardless of what happens. KG also had to take a paycut for his trade from Minn to Boston to go through.
Magic took a paycut, but was rewarded with partial ownership. ALL very different circumstances.

"to opt out for less would have some advantages for Bryant. Beyond the massive and deserved PR pop he'd get, the biggest would be leverage. The onus would be on the organization to continue to fill holes when they pop up, using that money to continue to field a championship quality roster"
--CONCLUSION--wrong again. Whether Kobe takes a paycut or not, the onus is still on the organization to fill holes, NOT on the player that easily gives the biggest return on investment for ownership.

--Look, nobody is saying that taking a paycut will not help the team financially. That's redundant and obvious, but it applies to everyone. BK is setting up a a scenario where Kobe will come off as selfish for getting underpaid simply because he wants to win. He states that everyone has a role, but he goes all out to diminish the role of ownership to sign players by transferring the onus to sign players on Kobe.

In today economy, million of people who lost their jobs and their homes. So it is wise to say to those professional basketball players should take pay cut. While you are making million of dollars and while other American are struggling to bring food on the table and place to sleep. Think about it and make our Lakers fans happy by taking less money to help our team to win more championship in many years to come.

AK,
Why do you feel that owners are entitiled to make a healthy profit? I typically don't have any beef against against the arguments that you make because thier rational. However you belief that Kobe rather then Dr. Buss should take a pay cut is simply illogical. Get a grip man, I know kobe rubs the media the wrong way and your bias against him has begin to show as youve become closer to the team. I dont think you guys should run this blog anymore because your becoming too emotionally involved due to realationships with certain members of the orgazation. You two have been victims of Kobe's pompous actions and are now damaged goods. I remember when the two of you had very little access to the team, however as the popularity of the blog grew that all changed. Now the blog is suffering because of it.

Why do people think that expecting Kobe to share the sacrifice is an attack on him? Don't you guys get that by going into luxury tax territory.. and well into it.. Buss is already making a sacrifice?

It doesn't have to have *anything* to do with how they feel about Kobe as a person. Nothing. I'm a huuuuuuuuuge Kobe fan and still think he should at least consider the cut. He has enough money, and by giving back he would shoot down the Kobe haters biggest argument.. that Kobe is "selfish".

It would be the final, winning hand of his career.. a chance for him to define himself as the ultimate individual *and* team player.

And to answer someone... Yes.. .I *absolutely* feel that Buss is entitiled to earn a healthy profit. Without his guiding hand, this team likely doesn't win 9 titles in the same period of time.. heck, imagine if Sterling had purchased this team from Mr. Cook.

Be gratefull for great players *and* great ownership!!!

Maybe Buss should promise Kobe a stake in ownership like he has Magic. Behind closed doors of course. That would take the sting out of taking less money.

30 mil for luke is to much they f*&%$# that up. Sasha too much for guys that are not athletic like trevor or odom they deserve more because they are gifted . Bynum is becoming a bust but you cant blame them for that. Kobe does not need to take 10% off that is too much. may be at the most 5% because he deserves the money and it's not his fault that you signed luke and sasha with too much money for what you get. LAMAMBA SAID IT BEST.

so who would be the other teams making offers to LO and TA and for how much? how much flexibility do we have to, say sign or trade on of these guys and pick up a FA? And can kobe wait to renegoiate his deal until he know how much the Team is offering to LO and TA? It would kind of be a bitch thing for the team to do, if kobe signs for less, and then lets LO or TA go.

leonardbast,

I don’t think there would be a problem bringing up the subject of taking less to Kobe since he and his team are obviously aware of this entire situation but I think he might be insulted by proposing a bunch of incentives. The NBA looks at each incentive and makes a determination as to whether or not it is likely to happen. Kobe scoring 20 ppg, for example, would be considered to be likely and thus any bonus for doing that would be counted as part of his pay for salary cap and luxury tax computations. Winning MVP, for example, would be an event that the NBA would consider unlikely and thus would not include a bonus for it in his pay. Hope that answers your question. Thanks.

Tom

tiger,

>>> However, now LA has the choice of offering a max deal to the
>>> 26 year old LeBron or the 32 year old Kobe.

Sorry but you need to read the salary cap rules. Lakers are over the cap and thus are limited to re-signing only their own free agents for whom they own Bird rights, which include Lamar and Trevor. They are NOT allowed to sign another team’s free agent with a limit of $5.5M, which is our MLE, Mid Level Exception. That is true of most teams.

Tom

Lets say we do not sign LO, Trevor, and Shannon. JB is happy with his one ring with this team and won't spend outta pocket. Now we are back to looking for more talent to satisfy Kobe(the best player on the planet IMO). Do we remember how he demanded better teammates and threatened that he would walk? Now, is he willing to waste time finding the talent or will he be unhappy once again? Kobe hates to lose, he was miserable when they were a mediocre team trying to compete.
I think he should consider all the options and scenarios in his future. Its not only for the good of the team, but for himself as well.

Jamesssw,

AK has always been a Kobe hater. Increased access to the team has nothing to do with it. He will defend management at all costs. His Kobe haterade has actually gone down in the past few years (or he is better at disguising it).
Here are some of his many Kobe-hating arguments in the past:

-just like the rest of the media, he magnified Kobe's role in Shaq's departure, while ignoring, or at best, diminishing ownership's role.

-criticized Kobe's inability to trust Smush, Kwame, Cook and Luke, when in actuality, these players were not worthy of trust. Ignored the fact that KobeBall got us into the playoffs that year.

-defended Kupchack's moves prior to Kobe's trade demands in an effort to marginalize Kobe's assertion that his teammates (Smush, Cook, Luke, MKie, Divac, Shammond) basically sucked.

-refused to even acknowledge the possibility that Kobe's trade demands were only a desperate plea to add better players.

-instead of demanding better players to improve the team and appease Kobe (and the fans), argued that Kobe HAS to be traded.

-continually made condescending references to "Kobe loyalists", while ridiculing the idea of a "Kobe hater". Hmmmm.

-argued that Kobe is somehow selfish, or does not put a high priority in winning if he does not take a paycut, while diminishing ownership's role.

For the most part, BK is more objective on this topic, but I fear AK's haterading has influenced BK to a mild degree.

Wow I haven’t been here in a min.

BK
As you so eloquently put it Kobe has a limited time to make as much money as possible for is and is family future. Dr Buss has stated that Kobe is reason staples is full every night from 96 tell know how much money has they made off him throughout that time? The sacrifice we ask Kobe to make is to get up at 4:30AM get to the gym and make sure he is the best, make sure when we pay to see him play it’s the best show in the NBA. We all keep on saying they get pay so much to play a game witch is wrong, they spend countless hr in the gym working yes working on those shots, after the first 10,000 shot it become work. Ariza coming back in no way would be a sacrifice he was almost out of the NBA before he start playing along side #24 now he will get over 5mil plus is value will go up on is next contract, ask S. Parker what is the diferance between playing with Kobe are D Wade.