Do you stay put and remain a Lakers legacy or ask for a trade to win one last ring? A few friends and I were discussing this last night and I wanted to see what ClutchFans thought.
I think he gets 25 million but the Cavs could trade Haywood and Varejao for him and just have fillers if this were to happen.
You do realize that he has like a 25 million dollar contract right?...... Nobody in hell would trade for him right now, especially not a contender Kobe would want to go to. If Kobe wanted to, he could expire and go to a championship contender to be a bench player. I wish he do that. But he will retire a Laker this year and enjoy his money.
But MJ has 6. That's why I thought he remained playing for the past few seasons (other than his astounding contract). I truly believe he realises he won't get the 6th with Lakers given the state of the team which is why he hasn't taken a lesser role and is retiring. If Lakers were challenging, then I have no doubt he'd play on.
he has nothing left to prove but to enjoy the rest of the year which he is. Makes no sense for him to ask for a trade
Agreed. I was going somewhere a bit different. Loyalty to remain a life long laker and not play anywhere else. But if Lakers were a top 8 side, I don't think he would be retiring because I think he's still desperate for a 6th ring to match Jordan. He's just not prepared to do it with another franchise.
He wouldn't ask to be traded. He's ask to be waived on the promise he'd renegotiate a 50% buyout or something really low, so he could actually be picked up. But no contender would want him. It's kinda silly. It's like Tracy McGrady going to the Spurs and getting no playoff minutes. Kobe has more pride that TMac. He'll do the retirement tour as a Laker.
Right now there is love for him throughout the league. If he leaves now, gonna get that Lebron hate like when he left for Miami. The arguments would be, couldn't bring a championship home, had to go tailcoat other great players for that 6th ring. No loyalty etc. etc. From a financial and post-career standpoint doesn't make sense as well. After he retires Hollywood or LA businesses may come calling. That won't happen if he leaves the Lakers.
No contender would want him, even if he played for free. The contract just makes it laughable to even consider him being dealt. Bryant pretends he realizes that he's a terrible player (he makes self-deprecating jokes about how bad he is now) but he doesn't really believe he's a bad NBA player. He plays the game like he's a superstar in the middle of a slump that he's going to snap out of at any moment. What contender wants Bryant taking every shot he can when he's on the floor while shooting 35% and playing awful defense? The Lakers are the only franchise that is willing to humor him and let him play out his self-parody. I think Kobe realizes that.
Tarnish his legacy for a hypothetical chance at a ring? Would be an incredibly stupid move. And others said it, his contract is too much of a joke for other teams to pick it up, in his current shape Kobe wouldn't even help the worst squad.
