We can all continue to hate Kobe

[BigGameDamian]

Wow, that makes zero sense unless they are pretty damn confident they can get Durant in 2016

I thought the Lakers were getting Carmelo and LBJ next season?

 

[maxiep]

For the record, K*be doesn't have to wear the purple & piss for me to still hate him.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

For the record, I think this holds LA back more than it helps. So I approve of this signing. That's a lot of money tied up by an aging player coming off a serious knee injury. Don't get me wrong, Kobe is still a heckuva player, but he's also showing some cracks. Kobe tying up that much money handcuffs the Lakers, and I just can't see them putting together enough talent around Kobe to be serious contenders.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

He hasn't played terribly, he's just playing better because he's the best one on the court for that shitastic team. So, there's that. LOL.

"Steve Blake is the best player on the court for the Lakers right now." That sentence makes me so happy.

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

It's not an option because of Ron-Ron, but what do you mean? Amnesty clauses only applied to contracts signed before the new CBA. A new extension for Kobe wouldn't be covered by that rule.

I totally spaced that, forgot about the CBA. I am happy that the Blakers tied up that much $ on him though!

 

[BrianFromWA]

For the record, I think this holds LA back more than it helps. So I approve of this signing. That's a lot of money tied up by an aging player coming off a serious knee injury. Don't get me wrong, Kobe is still a heckuva player, but he's also showing some cracks. Kobe tying up that much money handcuffs the Lakers, and I just can't see them putting together enough talent around Kobe to be serious contenders.

Technically, it's an Achilles, but yeah.

 

[Draco]

Their track record suggests they know what they're doing. It's all about building a "larger than life" image to appeal to the massive egos.

The Knicks have a similar image, what has that got them?

I’m happy to let the Lakers waste their cap space to enhance an “image”. An image can’t dribble the ball up the court; with the new CBA teams that waste money don’t have a chance of contending.

 

[ponderguy]

Why in the hell are they extending a guy his age coming off a major injury? LOL and like you I hope it's for a shitload of $$$$

For all their faults at least you can't say they weren't loyal to Kobe. It's the way teams should treat legends of the game. He stuck with them when they were at their lowest so only fair for them to do the same. If that same loyalty also hurts them I won't mind one bit

 

[BrianFromWA]

uh, I think he demanded a trade at their lowest.

 

[Draco]

For all their faults at least you can't say they weren't loyal to Kobe. It's the way teams should treat legends of the game. He stuck with them when they were at their lowest so only fair for them to do the same. If that same loyalty also hurts them I won't mind one bit

How did he stick with them? He demanded a trade when they were still a playoff team. He badmouthed management and wanted Andrew Bynum traded for an old Jason Kidd. He ran teammates and free agents out of town.

Dirk and Duncan are guys who were loyal. Kobe does not have the legacy of Duncan, he rode the success of Shaq. Dirk and Duncan both took less money to surround themselves with winning teammates.

 

[ponderguy]

uh, I think he demanded a trade at their lowest.

he did but he backed off it. He was understandably frustrated at the time. Every relationship has its rough points

 

[handiman]

The Knicks have a similar image, what has that got them?

I’m happy to let the Lakers waste their cap space to enhance an “image”. An image can’t dribble the ball up the court; with the new CBA teams that waste money don’t have a chance of contending.

You raise an interesting point, but I'm not sure I agree. Are the Knicks really known for anything other than reckless spending? They're a destination city, not a destination team.

Look at it this way, the Lakers are so hated and feared by our fan base that many here are openly rooting for them to make the playoffs just so they don't rebuild as quickly through the lottery. No one has thought that way about the Knicks since Ewing nearly 30 years ago. Stars go to LA because they know they'll be in the Finals, and they'll get paid better than anywhere else.

 

[BrianFromWA]

The Knicks, prior to Isiah/Jimmy Dolan, were definitely a destination team.

 

[handiman]

The Knicks, prior to Isiah/Jimmy Dolan, were definitely a destination team.

That's going back a long ways, and even so, I'm not sure it's true. Alan Houston wasn't a MVP caliber guy, nor was a broken down Larry Johnson. Who else? Sure, NYC is always going to draw pretty good talent, but not the game changers that the Lakers always manage to secure.

 

[Draco]

but not the game changers that the Lakers always manage to secure.

Who are all these game changers? Dwight Howard couldn't wait to get out of town as a free agent. Kobe joined the Lakers in the draft. The last big name free agent the Lakers signed was Shaq almost 20 years ago. Well I guess they got a 38 year old Steve Nash, and similarly old Karl Malone and Gary Payton to sign there. Guys way on the wrong side of 35 who were just a name. That actually sounds a bit like the Knicks.

 

[ripcityboy]

My hatred of kobe stems from a larger overall hatred of the Lakers that threatens to dwarf mother earth.

 

[handiman]

Who are all these game changers? Dwight Howard couldn't wait to get out of town as a free agent. Kobe joined the Lakers in the draft. The last big name free agent the Lakers signed was Shaq almost 20 years ago. Well I guess they got a 38 year old Steve Nash, and similarly old Karl Malone and Gary Payton to sign there. Guys way on the wrong side of 35 who were just a name. That actually sounds a bit like the Knicks.

How did you forget Gasol? And people are quick to forget how good that Malone/Payton team was before Malone got injured late in the playoffs. The Lakers history is littered with Hall of Famers acquired for pennies on the dollar. Then there's the guys like Glen Rice that are stars elsewhere and take secondary roles to win a ring.

 

[ripcityboy]

Lakers get what they want when they need it. The league makes sure of that. If LA doesn't do well, the league loses
interest from the LA Market. They can't have that.

 

[Draco]

How did you forget Gasol? And people are quick to forget how good that Malone/Payton team was before Malone got injured late in the playoffs. The Lakers history is littered with Hall of Famers acquired for pennies on the dollar. Then there's the guys like Glen Rice that are stars elsewhere and take secondary roles to win a ring.

The Lakers traded for Pau Gasol, they didn't sign him. They had huge expiring contracts and Memphis were cheapskates. It had nothing to do with free agent allure of the Lakers brand. With the new CBA the Lakers won't have the same advantage of outspending teams as back then.

Yes the Malone Lakers were a great team but any team that had Shaq those years would've been a great team. Malone wasn't a top player at that point. He was a good starter but I'm not worried at all about the Lakers adding players like him as a 3rd fiddle.

 

[handiman]

The Lakers traded for Pau Gasol, they didn't sign him. They had huge expiring contracts and Memphis were cheapskates. It had nothing to do with free agent allure of the Lakers brand. With the new CBA the Lakers won't have the same advantage of outspending teams as back then.

Yes the Malone Lakers were a great team but any team that had Shaq those years would've been a great team. Malone wasn't a top player at that point. He was a good starter but I'm not worried at all about the Lakers adding players like him as a 3rd fiddle.

Who said anything about free agents only? Hell, they traded for Kobe, too, and that's the subject of the thread! The point is, they consistently figure out how to acquire the most elite of talent, and they pay whatever it takes to continue doing so. The Clippers have all the same advantages but until recently were known as notorious cheapskates. They sure weren't a destination team. Image makes a huge difference in who you can bring in.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Technically, it's an Achilles, but yeah.

Yeah, I couldn't remember if it was ACL or Achilles, so I just went with knee. Not technically correct, but I was trying to keep it general (should have just said "leg").