*NBA THREAD* Abe will be missed (5 Viewers)

[Gr00vus]

What's your guess, TommyGunz? I could see him cutting it down to $20 Million or so but I doubt lower. :ducksforcover:

I'm thinking $15M, like what James/Wade/Bosh did.

That's what you want him to do, or what you expect?

I want him to sign for league minimum. I think if he's serious about winning another championship he'll have to accept a salary in the teens range. Given that I think there's a shot he does that as long as he knows other guys are coming in that could make it happen, so it's possible. We'll see what's really important to him next summer.

Do you believe any star players in the league will want to join Kobe? If so, examples?

I have no idea. Trying to discern the motivations of these man children is a fool's errand. It's entirely possible the Lakers will now enter a period of mediocrity or worse until, and perhaps beyond, Kobe's retirement. We'll see. Many of us didn't think he'd win another title after Shaq got dealt and we were wrong.

 

[Timmay]

What's your guess, TommyGunz? I could see him cutting it down to $20 Million or so but I doubt lower. :ducksforcover:

I'm thinking $15M, like what James/Wade/Bosh did.

That's what you want him to do, or what you expect?

I want him to sign for league minimum. I think if he's serious about winning another championship he'll have to accept a salary in the teens range. Given that I think there's a shot he does that as long as he knows other guys are coming in that could make it happen, so it's possible. We'll see what's really important to him next summer.

Do you believe any star players in the league will want to join Kobe? If so, examples?

I have no idea. Trying to discern the motivations of these man children is a fool's errand. It's entirely possible the Lakers will now enter a period of mediocrity or worse until, and perhaps beyond, Kobe's retirement. We'll see. Many of us didn't think he'd win another title after Shaq got dealt and we were wrong.

As long as Kobe is there I think it will be hard to lure an Already Made star player, I think it will have to be up and coming look-to-be stars like a Paul George, John Wall, or Demarcus Cousins. Not saying they would leave their current team, but I think it will have to be a player like that.

 

[Gr00vus]

What's your guess, TommyGunz? I could see him cutting it down to $20 Million or so but I doubt lower. :ducksforcover:

I'm thinking $15M, like what James/Wade/Bosh did.

That's what you want him to do, or what you expect?

I want him to sign for league minimum. I think if he's serious about winning another championship he'll have to accept a salary in the teens range. Given that I think there's a shot he does that as long as he knows other guys are coming in that could make it happen, so it's possible. We'll see what's really important to him next summer.

Do you believe any star players in the league will want to join Kobe? If so, examples?

I have no idea. Trying to discern the motivations of these man children is a fool's errand. It's entirely possible the Lakers will now enter a period of mediocrity or worse until, and perhaps beyond, Kobe's retirement. We'll see. Many of us didn't think he'd win another title after Shaq got dealt and we were wrong.

As long as Kobe is there I think it will be hard to lure an Already Made star player, I think it will have to be up and coming look-to-be stars like a Paul George, John Wall, or Demarcus Cousins. Not saying they would leave their current team, but I think it will have to be a player like that.

More importantly, I don't know that any of those likely to sign with the Lakers would make them championship contenders, e.g. I don't think a George/Wall/Kobe + scraps team wins ####.

ETA: I realize those guys would be RFA so they might not even be able to move anyway, I'm just using them as an example because Timmay mentioned them.

 

[Juxtatarot]

What's your guess, TommyGunz? I could see him cutting it down to $20 Million or so but I doubt lower. :ducksforcover:

I'm thinking $15M, like what James/Wade/Bosh did.

That's what you want him to do, or what you expect?

I want him to sign for league minimum. I think if he's serious about winning another championship he'll have to accept a salary in the teens range. Given that I think there's a shot he does that as long as he knows other guys are coming in that could make it happen, so it's possible. We'll see what's really important to him next summer.

Do you believe any star players in the league will want to join Kobe? If so, examples?

My prediction: The Lakers score Zach Randolph and Danny Granger.

 

[B-Deep]

Douglas is literally a paper bag full of dog ####.

i'd guess he doesn't get many sots then, what with having no hands and all

prolly causes a giant mess in the showers too

 

[Cliff Clavin]

What's your guess, TommyGunz? I could see him cutting it down to $20 Million or so but I doubt lower. :ducksforcover:

I'm thinking $15M, like what James/Wade/Bosh did.

That's what you want him to do, or what you expect?

I want him to sign for league minimum. I think if he's serious about winning another championship he'll have to accept a salary in the teens range. Given that I think there's a shot he does that as long as he knows other guys are coming in that could make it happen, so it's possible. We'll see what's really important to him next summer.

Do you believe any star players in the league will want to join Kobe? If so, examples?

My prediction: The Lakers score Zach Randolph and Danny Granger.

Think Kobe would be okay being regulated to 3rd banana?

 

[Controller]

Reggie Williams was one of my favorite Warriors players. Instant offense off the bench, Always seemed like he was having fun out there.

 

[Craig_MiamiFL]

What's your guess, TommyGunz? I could see him cutting it down to $20 Million or so but I doubt lower. :ducksforcover:

I'm thinking $15M, like what James/Wade/Bosh did.

That's what you want him to do, or what you expect?

I want him to sign for league minimum. I think if he's serious about winning another championship he'll have to accept a salary in the teens range. Given that I think there's a shot he does that as long as he knows other guys are coming in that could make it happen, so it's possible. We'll see what's really important to him next summer.

Do you believe any star players in the league will want to join Kobe? If so, examples?

My prediction: The Lakers score Zach Randolph and Danny Granger.

CHAMPIONSHIP

 

[Good Posting Judge]

SNORETIME

 

[Premier]

Get your 30 mil Kobe. You deserve it man.

 

[Gr00vus]

Jeff Caplan: FWIW Mavs fans: other day one agent said his clients on the 76ers told him Bynum physically could do "nothing." We'll see whenever he plays. Twitter @Caplan_NBA

Yikes.

 

[Gr00vus]

What's your guess, TommyGunz? I could see him cutting it down to $20 Million or so but I doubt lower. :ducksforcover:

I'm thinking $15M, like what James/Wade/Bosh did.

That's what you want him to do, or what you expect?

I want him to sign for league minimum. I think if he's serious about winning another championship he'll have to accept a salary in the teens range. Given that I think there's a shot he does that as long as he knows other guys are coming in that could make it happen, so it's possible. We'll see what's really important to him next summer.

Do you believe any star players in the league will want to join Kobe? If so, examples?

My prediction: The Lakers score Zach Randolph and Danny Granger.

CHAMPIONSHIP

It was kind of you not to stick the Lakers with a Rudy Gay max deal. Thanks.

 

[tommyGunZ]

Get your 30 mil Kobe. You deserve it man.

He's probably worth what, $60-80M to the Lakers?

I'd love for him to take $1.4M, but if I was in his shoes I'd take every penny I could get.

 

[tommyGunZ]

What's your guess, TommyGunz? I could see him cutting it down to $20 Million or so but I doubt lower. :ducksforcover:

The guy has 2-3 years of big time earning potential left - this is his last deal. He's made a pile of money, but unless LeBron's coming or he's promised a piece of future ownership (under the table of course), he should get every penny he can get.

 

[TobiasFunke]

Dunno about Granger and Zbo, but the Lakers just locked up Nick Young.

I don't know how they plan to use him, but any minutes he shares with Kobe are must-see TV, because at some point Kobe is going to punch him in the face for not passing. Because he doesn't pass. At all. Ever.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Nick Young to the Lakers

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Get your 30 mil Kobe. You deserve it man.

He's probably worth what, $60-80M to the Lakers?

I'd love for him to take $1.4M, but if I was in his shoes I'd take every penny I could get.

It highly depends on which two words you're contracting here.

 

[tommyGunZ]

Dunno about Granger and Zbo, but the Lakers just locked up Nick Young.

I don't know how they plan to use him, but any minutes he shares with Kobe are must-see TV, because at some point Kobe is going to punch him in the face for not passing. Because he doesn't pass. At all. Ever.

Oof

 

[Notorious T.R.E.]

Nick Young to the Lakers

#### YES

 

[Mile High]

Get your 30 mil Kobe. You deserve it man.

He's probably worth what, $60-80M to the Lakers?

I'd love for him to take $1.4M, but if I was in his shoes I'd take every penny I could get.

As he should. I might feel different if I see somewhere that Boston has reduced their ticket prices for the next few seasons

 

[Good Posting Judge]

What % of Lakers fans just "sit out" a couple years until things get better, what % switch teams permanently?

 

[drummer]

What % of Lakers fans just "sit out" a couple years until things get better, what % switch teams permanently?

The ones who live through Benoit Benjamin.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

What % of Lakers fans just "sit out" a couple years until things get better, what % switch teams permanently?

The Clippers have a convenient location.

 

[PlasmaDogPlasma]

Bynum's agent says he knees are healthy an he's going to have an All-Star season

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nba/1132/andrew-bynum

 

[Daywalker]

At this point why would the Lakers pay Kobe more then what he could get out on the open market? He's going to take a huge paycut. Not sure what the max is in his case but I'd imagine around 15-17mill/year.

 

[Craig_MiamiFL]

Jeff Caplan: FWIW Mavs fans: other day one agent said his clients on the 76ers told him Bynum physically could do "nothing." We'll see whenever he plays. Twitter @Caplan_NBA

Yikes.

Sounding like Bynum's the new Michael Olowokandi more and more as time goes on.

 

[Premier]

What % of Lakers fans just "sit out" a couple years until things get better, what % switch teams permanently?

Finna be a lot of Clippers fans out there.

 

[Abraham]

At this point why would the Lakers pay Kobe more then what he could get out on the open market? He's going to take a huge paycut. Not sure what the max is in his case but I'd imagine around 15-17mill/year.

The problem with Kobe is that he's probably still going to be an elite player and he's only overpaid in the context of the salary cap. We know you can win the title with Kobe as the best player on your team, even an older Kobe - his conditioning is top notch and his focus hasn't wavered. So how do you attract top free agents to a team where they aren't the alpha dog and the alpha dog has no interest on sharing leadership duties? I think they resign gasol and acquire someone like Rudy gay or granger or another player that can be looked at as a veteran capable of getting along with Kobe.

Love the young signing too.

 

[PlasmaDogPlasma]

Bynum's agent says he knees are healthy an he's going to have an All-Star season

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nba/1132/andrew-bynum

The obvious solution here is to invite the press to watch Bynum work out in his driveway: some situps, maybe some pushups, if there's time shoot some layups at the hoop above the garage. Stuff like that.

Lol, I don't really get why he's bothering. Bynum has already agreed to the deal he's going to get.

 

[Daywalker]

At this point why would the Lakers pay Kobe more then what he could get out on the open market? He's going to take a huge paycut. Not sure what the max is in his case but I'd imagine around 15-17mill/year.

The problem with Kobe is that he's probably still going to be an elite player and he's only overpaid in the context of the salary cap. We know you can win the title with Kobe as the best player on your team, even an older Kobe - his conditioning is top notch and his focus hasn't wavered. So how do you attract top free agents to a team where they aren't the alpha dog and the alpha dog has no interest on sharing leadership duties? I think they resign gasol and acquire someone like Rudy gay or granger or another player that can be looked at as a veteran capable of getting along with Kobe.

Love the young signing too.

Lakers would rather let Kobe walk then pay him 30mill in year 19 clogging up their salary cap. They'd win that PR battle easily.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

What % of Lakers fans just "sit out" a couple years until things get better, what % switch teams permanently?

Finna be a lot of Clippers fans out there.

I've already detected some movement amongst some NorCal Laker fans towards GS.

 

[drummer]

What % of Lakers fans just "sit out" a couple years until things get better, what % switch teams permanently?

Finna be a lot of Clippers fans out there.

I've already detected some movement amongst some NorCal Laker fans towards GS.

And people say I spam this thread.

 

[Gr00vus]

Nick Young to the Lakers

#### YES

IN

I'll be really upset if this signing blocks the return of The Machine.

 

[Moe.]

I think it would be fun if we could somehow merge the Mavs and Lakers for this season. Just one year only.

 

[Abraham]

At this point why would the Lakers pay Kobe more then what he could get out on the open market? He's going to take a huge paycut. Not sure what the max is in his case but I'd imagine around 15-17mill/year.

The problem with Kobe is that he's probably still going to be an elite player and he's only overpaid in the context of the salary cap. We know you can win the title with Kobe as the best player on your team, even an older Kobe - his conditioning is top notch and his focus hasn't wavered. So how do you attract top free agents to a team where they aren't the alpha dog and the alpha dog has no interest on sharing leadership duties? I think they resign gasol and acquire someone like Rudy gay or granger or another player that can be looked at as a veteran capable of getting along with Kobe.

Love the young signing too.

Lakers would rather let Kobe walk then pay him 30mill in year 19 clogging up their salary cap. They'd win that PR battle easily.

Disagree. You know Cuban would give him a big contract to pair with Dirk for a couple years. He'd go to a contender (Clippers, Bulls) and end up going further in the playoffs then the Lakers and he'd win the PR battle. I don't see them letting him walk.

 

[Daywalker]

At this point why would the Lakers pay Kobe more then what he could get out on the open market? He's going to take a huge paycut. Not sure what the max is in his case but I'd imagine around 15-17mill/year.

The problem with Kobe is that he's probably still going to be an elite player and he's only overpaid in the context of the salary cap. We know you can win the title with Kobe as the best player on your team, even an older Kobe - his conditioning is top notch and his focus hasn't wavered. So how do you attract top free agents to a team where they aren't the alpha dog and the alpha dog has no interest on sharing leadership duties? I think they resign gasol and acquire someone like Rudy gay or granger or another player that can be looked at as a veteran capable of getting along with Kobe.

Love the young signing too.

Lakers would rather let Kobe walk then pay him 30mill in year 19 clogging up their salary cap. They'd win that PR battle easily.

Disagree. You know Cuban would give him a big contract to pair with Dirk for a couple years. He'd go to a contender (Clippers, Bulls) and end up going further in the playoffs then the Lakers and he'd win the PR battle. I don't see them letting him walk.

Kobe doesn't have many better options if he want to make 15-17mill a season. Certainly not the Clippers nor Bulls.

 

[Kev4029]

At this point why would the Lakers pay Kobe more then what he could get out on the open market? He's going to take a huge paycut. Not sure what the max is in his case but I'd imagine around 15-17mill/year.

The problem with Kobe is that he's probably still going to be an elite player and he's only overpaid in the context of the salary cap. We know you can win the title with Kobe as the best player on your team, even an older Kobe - his conditioning is top notch and his focus hasn't wavered. So how do you attract top free agents to a team where they aren't the alpha dog and the alpha dog has no interest on sharing leadership duties? I think they resign gasol and acquire someone like Rudy gay or granger or another player that can be looked at as a veteran capable of getting along with Kobe.

Love the young signing too.

Lakers would rather let Kobe walk then pay him 30mill in year 19 clogging up their salary cap. They'd win that PR battle easily.

Disagree. You know Cuban would give him a big contract to pair with Dirk for a couple years. He'd go to a contender (Clippers, Bulls) and end up going further in the playoffs then the Lakers and he'd win the PR battle. I don't see them letting him walk.

Nobody is going to pay him more than $10M a year. He'll be 36 years old and less than a year and a half removed from the worst kind of injury in sports.

On top of that, there is an "Over-36 Rule" that would ding the Lakers or whoever wanted to sign Kobe to a deal longer than three years. It pushes a players salary in year 4/5 ahead into seasons 1/2/3 of an extension so teams can't pay a player for four or five years when they will only player two or three. It basically forces a front loaded contract, kind of a weird rule.

 

[Juxtatarot]

At this point why would the Lakers pay Kobe more then what he could get out on the open market? He's going to take a huge paycut. Not sure what the max is in his case but I'd imagine around 15-17mill/year.

The problem with Kobe is that he's probably still going to be an elite player and he's only overpaid in the context of the salary cap. We know you can win the title with Kobe as the best player on your team, even an older Kobe - his conditioning is top notch and his focus hasn't wavered. So how do you attract top free agents to a team where they aren't the alpha dog and the alpha dog has no interest on sharing leadership duties? I think they resign gasol and acquire someone like Rudy gay or granger or another player that can be looked at as a veteran capable of getting along with Kobe.

Love the young signing too.

Lakers would rather let Kobe walk then pay him 30mill in year 19 clogging up their salary cap. They'd win that PR battle easily.

Disagree. You know Cuban would give him a big contract to pair with Dirk for a couple years. He'd go to a contender (Clippers, Bulls) and end up going further in the playoffs then the Lakers and he'd win the PR battle. I don't see them letting him walk.

Kobe doesn't have many better options if he want to make 15-17mill a season. Certainly not the Clippers nor Bulls.

Bulls could pay him $12 million-ish if they amnesty Boozer and let Deng walk. There is a remote chance of that happening, IMO.

 

[Daywalker]

At this point why would the Lakers pay Kobe more then what he could get out on the open market? He's going to take a huge paycut. Not sure what the max is in his case but I'd imagine around 15-17mill/year.

The problem with Kobe is that he's probably still going to be an elite player and he's only overpaid in the context of the salary cap. We know you can win the title with Kobe as the best player on your team, even an older Kobe - his conditioning is top notch and his focus hasn't wavered. So how do you attract top free agents to a team where they aren't the alpha dog and the alpha dog has no interest on sharing leadership duties? I think they resign gasol and acquire someone like Rudy gay or granger or another player that can be looked at as a veteran capable of getting along with Kobe.

Love the young signing too.

Lakers would rather let Kobe walk then pay him 30mill in year 19 clogging up their salary cap. They'd win that PR battle easily.

Disagree. You know Cuban would give him a big contract to pair with Dirk for a couple years. He'd go to a contender (Clippers, Bulls) and end up going further in the playoffs then the Lakers and he'd win the PR battle. I don't see them letting him walk.

Nobody is going to pay him more than $10M a year. He'll be 36 years old and less than a year and a half removed from the worst kind of injury in sports.

On top of that, there is an "Over-36 Rule" that would ding the Lakers or whoever wanted to sign Kobe to a deal longer than three years. It pushes a players salary in year 4/5 ahead into seasons 1/2/3 of an extension so teams can't pay a player for four or five years when they will only player two or three. It basically forces a front loaded contract, kind of a weird rule.

Where did you get info on that "Over-36 Rule?"

 

[Abraham]

I think you guys are underestimating the draw of a player like Kobe. The pistons don't give him every possible penny to play with smith, Drummond, and Monroe? To chase the scoring record or compete for a top 4 seed and sell the 21% of home tickets they didn't sell last year?

 

[Juxtatarot]

AK47 opts out of a $10.2 million contract to sign with the Nets for $3.2 million. Interesting.

 

[Gr00vus]

At this point why would the Lakers pay Kobe more then what he could get out on the open market? He's going to take a huge paycut. Not sure what the max is in his case but I'd imagine around 15-17mill/year.

The problem with Kobe is that he's probably still going to be an elite player and he's only overpaid in the context of the salary cap. We know you can win the title with Kobe as the best player on your team, even an older Kobe - his conditioning is top notch and his focus hasn't wavered. So how do you attract top free agents to a team where they aren't the alpha dog and the alpha dog has no interest on sharing leadership duties? I think they resign gasol and acquire someone like Rudy gay or granger or another player that can be looked at as a veteran capable of getting along with Kobe.

Love the young signing too.

Lakers would rather let Kobe walk then pay him 30mill in year 19 clogging up their salary cap. They'd win that PR battle easily.

Disagree. You know Cuban would give him a big contract to pair with Dirk for a couple years. He'd go to a contender (Clippers, Bulls) and end up going further in the playoffs then the Lakers and he'd win the PR battle. I don't see them letting him walk.

Nobody is going to pay him more than $10M a year. He'll be 36 years old and less than a year and a half removed from the worst kind of injury in sports.

I don't know - we've seen plenty of idiotic contracts get handed out. The owner of some moribund team might pay him more than the Lakers will on the off chance he puts more asses in the seats than the usual dog food they serve, particularly if they've whiffed on the top tier free agents and haven't lucked out in the lottery.

 

[Juxtatarot]

I think you guys are underestimating the draw of a player like Kobe. The pistons don't give him every possible penny to play with smith, Drummond, and Monroe? To chase the scoring record or compete for a top 4 seed and sell the 21% of home tickets they didn't sell last year?

I can't see Kobe playing for Detroit.

 

[Gr00vus]

AK47 opts out of a $10.2 million contract to sign with the Nets for $3.2 million. Interesting.

O.k., this makes the Kaman signing look bad.

N.J. could make some noise next season, particularly if they bubble wrap Garnet and Pierce until about January.

 

[Abraham]

I think you guys are underestimating the draw of a player like Kobe. The pistons don't give him every possible penny to play with smith, Drummond, and Monroe? To chase the scoring record or compete for a top 4 seed and sell the 21% of home tickets they didn't sell last year?

I can't see Kobe playing for Detroit.

I can see him playing for whoever will give him top dollar to compete for a ring and chase the record.

Love the ak signing. Will be able to help spell kg and pierce.

 

[Daywalker]

AK47 opts out of a $10.2 million contract to sign with the Nets for $3.2 million. Interesting.

O.k., this makes the Kaman signing look bad.

N.J. could make some noise next season, particularly if they bubble wrap Garnet and Pierce until about January.

AK47's family back in Russia got some fat envelopes.

 

[Craig_MiamiFL]

Ouch. Gonna hurt for awhile.

The Nets signed Andrei Kirilenko to a one-year, $3.1 million contract, according to Peter Vescey.
Multiple outlets have confirmed the deal and reported it also contains a player option for the 2014-15 season. Kirilenko opted out of a $10.2 million salary for 2013-14 in search of a multiyear deal, but the market for him dried up after the Timberwolves wouldn't agree to sign-and-trades with OKC and the Spurs. Kirilenko is a huge get for a Nets team that was seriously lacking depth at small forward. He'll likely be Paul Pierce's primary backup but could still see 20 to 25 minutes a night.

Edit: Looks like posted before I got to posting it. Someone needs to fire their agent...

 

[Juxtatarot]

AK47 opts out of a $10.2 million contract to sign with the Nets for $3.2 million. Interesting.

O.k., this makes the Kaman signing look bad.

N.J. could make some noise next season, particularly if they bubble wrap Garnet and Pierce until about January.

AK47's family back in Russia got some fat envelopes.

Yes, one certainly has to wonder.

 

[Kev4029]

At this point why would the Lakers pay Kobe more then what he could get out on the open market? He's going to take a huge paycut. Not sure what the max is in his case but I'd imagine around 15-17mill/year.

The problem with Kobe is that he's probably still going to be an elite player and he's only overpaid in the context of the salary cap. We know you can win the title with Kobe as the best player on your team, even an older Kobe - his conditioning is top notch and his focus hasn't wavered. So how do you attract top free agents to a team where they aren't the alpha dog and the alpha dog has no interest on sharing leadership duties? I think they resign gasol and acquire someone like Rudy gay or granger or another player that can be looked at as a veteran capable of getting along with Kobe.Love the young signing too.

Lakers would rather let Kobe walk then pay him 30mill in year 19 clogging up their salary cap. They'd win that PR battle easily.

Disagree. You know Cuban would give him a big contract to pair with Dirk for a couple years. He'd go to a contender (Clippers, Bulls) and end up going further in the playoffs then the Lakers and he'd win the PR battle. I don't see them letting him walk.

Nobody is going to pay him more than $10M a year. He'll be 36 years old and less than a year and a half removed from the worst kind of injury in sports.

On top of that, there is an "Over-36 Rule" that would ding the Lakers or whoever wanted to sign Kobe to a deal longer than three years. It pushes a players salary in year 4/5 ahead into seasons 1/2/3 of an extension so teams can't pay a player for four or five years when they will only player two or three. It basically forces a front loaded contract, kind of a weird rule.

Where did you get info on that "Over-36 Rule?"

Larry Coon's Salary Cap FAQ. Fantastic website if you want to learn about the cap.

 

[Daywalker]

At this point why would the Lakers pay Kobe more then what he could get out on the open market? He's going to take a huge paycut. Not sure what the max is in his case but I'd imagine around 15-17mill/year.

The problem with Kobe is that he's probably still going to be an elite player and he's only overpaid in the context of the salary cap. We know you can win the title with Kobe as the best player on your team, even an older Kobe - his conditioning is top notch and his focus hasn't wavered. So how do you attract top free agents to a team where they aren't the alpha dog and the alpha dog has no interest on sharing leadership duties? I think they resign gasol and acquire someone like Rudy gay or granger or another player that can be looked at as a veteran capable of getting along with Kobe.Love the young signing too.

Lakers would rather let Kobe walk then pay him 30mill in year 19 clogging up their salary cap. They'd win that PR battle easily.

Disagree. You know Cuban would give him a big contract to pair with Dirk for a couple years. He'd go to a contender (Clippers, Bulls) and end up going further in the playoffs then the Lakers and he'd win the PR battle. I don't see them letting him walk.

Nobody is going to pay him more than $10M a year. He'll be 36 years old and less than a year and a half removed from the worst kind of injury in sports.

On top of that, there is an "Over-36 Rule" that would ding the Lakers or whoever wanted to sign Kobe to a deal longer than three years. It pushes a players salary in year 4/5 ahead into seasons 1/2/3 of an extension so teams can't pay a player for four or five years when they will only player two or three. It basically forces a front loaded contract, kind of a weird rule.

Where did you get info on that "Over-36 Rule?"

Larry Coon's Salary Cap FAQ. Fantastic website if you want to learn about the cap.

Nice. Thanks.