http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2003/0626/1573339.html Lakers All-Star guard Kobe Bryant says he intends to become a free agent after the 2003-04 season, according to ESPN's Jim Gray. But the Lakers don't plan to let him leave without a fight. "If he does opt out," Los Angeles general manager Mitch Kupchak said, "we'll do everything we can to keep him, and we think we will." Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal have been the catalysts for three world championships from 2000-02. Drafted by Charlotte in 1996 but traded less than a month later to the Lakers, Bryant has never played for another team. But he's hinted at wanting to explore options besides the Lakers before. This is the first time, though, that he's said he'll consider his options as a free agent. According to Gray, Bryant plans to opt out of his contract because he isn't sure what will happen to Lakers' coach Phil Jackson; he wants to see what the Lakers' plans for the future are; and because he's never had the chance to test the free-agent market. He also wants to know the conditioning and motivation of O'Neal, according to Gray. Jackson indicated Bryant has yet to tell the team of his intentions. "I thought it was a little premature to make that statement," Jackson said. "Kobe exercising his option, that's not beyond the realm of reason. We've anticipated the possibility for a long time, but we'll wait until we hear it from him." But the idea that Bryant would actually leave the Lakers seems unlikely. Bryant averaged 30 points per game last season for the Lakers, who lost to San Antonio in the Western Conference semifinals. He's averaged 21.5 points per game for his career. "No one likes to walk away from winning," Jackson said. One reason Bryant would stick around is Jackson. The coach plans to fulfill the final year of the five-year, $30 million deal he signed with the Lakers in 1999. He underwent an angioplasty to unblock an artery to his heart during the playoffs. He said he feels fine and he plans to talk to team owner Jerry Buss about a contract extension. Jackson said he and O'Neal had a "difficult, protracted" talk about the future after the Lakers lost in the second round of the playoffs. O'Neal told the Lakers he would hire a personal trainer to work with him at his offseason home in Orlando, Fla. He was second-guessed throughout last season for waiting until September to undergo surgery on his arthritic right toe. "Sometimes it takes a while for him to get where he wants to go and there may be a little squawking along the way, but when he says he's going to do something, he does it," Kupchak said. Personally I think that Kobe is just trying to hype his team up and even if they do perform he'll still be back next season.
I'm with Vitale on this one and think he'll stay. The only other possibility I see is going to Memphis with Jerry West but I don't see any way he'll be able to fit in with the guys they have there.
I think if Kobe leaves, then he would play in NYC in the East to start is own team (without Shaq) and to take on rivals like McGrady and Carter all season and also Lebron! JMO
If he opts out, he can re-sign for even more money because of his improved vet status, right? Seems to me he's just maximizing his salary.
I would love to see the Lakers trade him. Let Kobe go out without Shaq and see how easy it is to win (like McGrady or Vincanity). I'm sure there would be tons of great players on bad teams who would love to switch places with Kobe.
Kobe's not going anywhere, I think there's a reason why the guy's been in the news so much lately, it even goes beyond him being a glory hog. Kobe was featured in a tearjerker on ABC's halftime entertainment for the NBA finals, over the actual participants of the finals. On the program, he showed emotion and weakness in front of cameras for the first time. Now he proceeds to 'make news' during the NBA draft, again shifting the spotlight on himself. Some people say ABC was desperate for ratings and took advantage of Kobe's penchant for glory hogging. Please, Kobe's much too smart now for that to work, I think the Kobe news lately has to do with the incentive laden, piece of the profits, shoe deal he sealed with Nike. Kobe's an incredibly competitive person, you think he likes being 2nd fiddle in the marketing world to LBJ, A.I., or any other young star who hasn't accomplished as much as he has? No way, this guy is actively changing his image again, trying to shy away from the incredible air of arrogance he emits by showing a more vulnerable side of himself, staying in the public's consicence during all of the league's biggest events. I'm not saying he made up the incident with his parents just to sell sneakers, but the circumstances were right, it was a good story, ABC/ESPN wanted ratings, Kobe wanted some pub that was more effective for his image than any old sneaker ad or sprite commercial. Kobe's not going to leave LA, well unless it was for NY .
it actually is probably the other way around, that he'd make more money with the Lakers than anyone else. he is already over the possible max for his years in service (although not by much). He is like Shaq, Malone, Pippen, Mourning, Howard, Garnett...etc. Since he is over the current CBA's max for his years in the league, his free agent max is locked at 5% over current salary, under the "Jordan Rule" that allows grandfathering of contracts to determine a max. If he stays with the Lakers, his years probably have a built-in raise greater than the 5%.
I guess your talking about locking in another 7yrs with a new team versus just extending for one (or is it two) with the Lakers. Then yeah, free agency gets him the longer contract with either the Lakers or another team, so then yeah, on second thought, I agree with you JuanValdez. It's a natural maximizing-the-contract decision to opt-out.
I just heard from the radio this morning that Jackson is going to extend his contract for two more years.
Maybe this is just a reflection of how much I dislike Bryant, but I gotta wonder about the timing of this statement. Even Phil Jackson said he was surprised at why Bryant would announce this just now...Hmmm...Kobe has made no bones about wanting to be the biggest star in the game...and just when everyone is talking about Lebron James, and how he's the next superstar...to the day when James is THE story...then Kobe decides to float this balloon...Does anyone else see this as just another pathetic example of Kobe's desire to be the next MJ, bigget star, and massive insecurity/attention craving? I admit, I am biased about this...
What better way to try to sell more sneaks than creating a whirlwin on draft night. If I'm the Lakers, they should take it seriously. Its really only a couple of guards i would trade Bryant for and one is Pierce and the other is McGrady. Shaq doesn't need Kobe's motivation to lose weight because contrary to popular belief, Shaq had a very good series vs SA while Kobe kinda sucked and played out of control. All those scoring games he had before shaq came back only netted him a sub .500 record. He doesn't know how good he has it in La once again. No team ever focuses on shutting Bryant down with Shaq on the court.
What does wanting attention have anything to do with MJ? Kobe likes to eat steak. He's an MJ wannabe. Kobe is married. He's just like MJ when MJ was married. Kobe is black, MJ is black. Kobe is a wannabe of MJ.
If Bryant opted out and signed for the Rockets, does that mean kidrock8 would actually like a Rockets player?
nice points made by sbyang, but i gotta go with the idea that i hate kobe bryant for being a cocky b*stard ..eriod:.. i'm sure many of you share my sentiments. he's probably thinking, "nobody's talking about kobe anymore. it's all jason kidd and lbj. well, better do what they're doing." so he goes and signs a big deal with nike and starts saying that HE wants to be a free agent next year. he's a look-at-me b*stard with a one-track mind. no need to psychoanalyze his damn agenda, please! seriously, can this whiny B!%c|-| be any more blatantly obvious? if he's going to opt for free agency in a year, why say it in the middle of the damn draft? just a prick that needs the world to be his mirror... just my own opinions.. nothing personal if u disagree hope the language is not too colorful
Trae for Sheed this year, Let Rice(around 10 mil) and Sheed(15 mil), then sign Kobe. Could the Rockets work out a sign in trade with the lakers? Maybe Francis for Kobe? Kobe want out of LA because they don't have a big man anymore(Shaq will be too old next year). Well Houston has Yao, and Yao and Kobe would be enough for Houst to do a three peat them selves.
Kobe shouldn't be pointing any fingers. The guy isn't even the best player on the team. Shaq will still be the reason Lakers have a chance to win championships, if he wants, for another 3 or 4 years. Kobe, Phil, Buss all know Shaq is the key to winning championships. I still think Kobe is overrated. Once Shaq retires, Kobe is going to get ZERO championships. It's all over for Kobe Bryant.
Kobe: they say that I had sex with that girl Kobe: they say that I am sexually harrased her Kobe: she says that I am a not good enough Kobe: Prove me WRONG! drink sprite!
