The NBA's free agency period has begun, and while the Lakers are currently hard at work trying to convince Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza to stay with their team, they won't have to worry about their star player Kobe Bryant leaving the team.
It was widely thought that Kobe Bryant would opt out of his contract to sign for a max deal, but that's not the case. In fact, the Lakers will negotiate a three-year extension for Bryant in July, according to the LA Times' Mike Bresnahan.
The extension could be worth as much as $85 million on top of the $47.8 million he's owed for the next two years.
This all means that Kobe Bryant will be with the Lakers for the next five years at a base salary of $26.5 million a year.
Some fans were clamoring for Bryant to opt out and take less money in order to sign free agents Odom, Ariza, and Brown, but anybody who would take less money in this tough economic climate is crazy. Yeah winning is important to him but not at the sacrifice of his own contract.
I feel the same way about Ariza, Odom, and Brown. They need to do what's best for them and their families.
If they feel that playing for a perennial championship contender, and living in lovely Southern California is enough for them to stay, then we're all better for it.
But if they decide that they won their ring and it's time to break the bank. I say good for them and let's move on.
No comments:
Post a Comment