Should Bryant take less money so the Lakers can keep Ariza and/or Odom?
Yeah, Bryant ought to lead the big contract players in everyone kicking in a mill or two to keep the team together. Also, Phil ought to stick around as "executive" head coach and just not always travel with the team if his health will not allow it. He needs to trust his assistants to impliment his teaching away from home. Should Bryant take less money so the Lakers can keep Ariza and/or Odom?
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It's a legit concern. Soon, the Collective Bargaining Agreement will be re-worked, reducing the dollars available for elite players in 'max' contracts. So superstars with leverage are exercising player's options and re-upping for the most money possible before the new CBA is created. No doubt about it, Bryant, after leading the purple-and-gold to an NBA Title, has serious leverage. And while the two-guard has publicly stated he won't leave Hollywood, the fear is he opts-out and asks GM Mitch Kupchak for the GDP of a small country ...
 How much? This is all Laker-nation can talk about. More specifically, with free agency hitting July 1st, they’re worried the cost of re-signing Kobe Bryant will make it difficult to keep free agent forwards Trevor Ariza and Lamar Odom. It’s a legit concern. Soon, the Collective Bargaining Agreement will be re-worked, reducing the dollars available for elite players in ‘max’ contracts. So superstars with leverage are exercising player’s options and re-upping for the most money possible before the new CBA is created. No doubt about it, Bryant, after leading the purple-and-gold to an NBA Title, has serious leverage. And while the two-guard has publicly stated he won’t leave Hollywood, the fear is he opts-out and asks GM Mitch Kupchak for the GDP of a small country. Black Mamba has a choice: he can demand top dollar and hurt his supporting cast or take less and position his club to keep Ariza and/or Odom? Basically, Bryant can go for his, and only his, or put the team first? Now money always matters. There is a belief that players have a responsibility to their family and union to maximize their market value. After all, careers are short and seeking the most money ensures the livelihood of loved ones and fellow union members. Nobody could fault Bryant, the best player in the world, if he went this route and inked another five-year pact for upwards of 135 million dollars. This is a business. So the two-guard can ask the Buss family for, and get, the moon. Literally. And he deserves it. However, he should take less, especially if Ariza and Odom also are willing to also give the Lakers a discount. If it’s about winning, Bryant sacrifices some money. Ariza, after years of scratching out a living, is becoming an All-Star. He has a toughness Los Angeles hasn’t seen since Showtime alums Michael Cooper, A.C. Green, and Kurt Rambis. Odom, when focused, is a marvellous player, capable of effectively playing any position. Keeping Ariza and Odom gives Bryant the best shot at a fifth and sixth NBA Title. Remember, championships are the mark of greatness, the measuring stick amongst league’s giants, not money. Capturing another ring will elevate Bryant past Tim Duncan and Shaquille O’Neal and put him on par with Magic Johnson and possibly Michael Jordan. Right now, Laker fans are asking Bryant how much? Instead, they should ask him why not take less?
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Should Bryant take less money so the Lakers can keep Ariza and/or Odom?
Total B.S. this logic of Kobe giving any money up. Sign for the most money Mr Kobe Bryant. Get every single coin you can and ink a very long multi year deal (perhaps over 7 years). Why should he sacrifice the money he deserves? He works the hardest, trains the hardest and dedicates the longest amount of time among pro-athletes to working out in the gym, perfecting his craft, and enhancing his game. Why then "reward" him with the pressure of taking less money. If he does that, why would any other athlete want to work hard again? I don't agree with the concept of him taking less money to keep his team together. Odom should take less money, he only enhanced his game this season because he played, and only played to get a new contract (don't be fooled he will keep up this level of play should he be awarded a multi-year deal). Ariza deservedly deserves a raise. The LAkers would have beaten the Celtics last year if Ariza (with his standard of play in 2009) was available barring injury. Mitch Kupchak should rid the club of Sasha Vujacic and get 2nd round future draft picks and a league minimum contract in return. Rid the club of Adam Morrison too. Those lazy players are the ones holding up Odom and Ariza's new contracts. Not Kobe Bryant who deservedly should get every single coin he can over the a very long multi-year deal. Reward the hardworking they say...Ha! report abuse
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Should Bryant take less money so the Lakers can keep Ariza and/or Odom?
He should pursue money he deserves yet I would be very impressed if he takes less. report abuse
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Should Bryant take less money so the Lakers can keep Ariza and/or Odom?
very good point Oly. He should consider what Shaq did in Miami. Shaq agreed to cut his salary that resulted to acquiring J-Will, James Posey and 'Toine Walker and finally winning another ring as his 4th. report abuse
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Should Bryant take less money so the Lakers can keep Ariza and/or Odom?
It's all about legacy: does he want extra cash or extra love as a great player??? report abuse
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Should Bryant take less money so the Lakers can keep Ariza and/or Odom?
Kobe ain't going nowhere and Buss will pay for Ariza and likely Odom as well. Ariza is 24 so Buss is going to pay whatever it takes. He may decide to pass on Odom if the price is too high (since Odom is likely to deteriorate on the back end of this contract, but I doubt it. report abuse
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Should Bryant take less money so the Lakers can keep Ariza and/or Odom?
In response to constitution's comments, I couldn't agree with him more. Except there IS a salary cap and if Bryant and the rest of the team want to win more championships they have to rework contracts to get it done. Remember Kobe has a lot of endorsements and gets dollars through a lot of areas guys like Ariza and Odom don't and those guys are willing to not necessarily get as much as they can to stay Lakers. Bryant needs to take less if he wants to keep them as teammates and in turn they will see his generosity and take less than they can get somewhere else to stay. Also, other players on significant contracts (Vujacic, Bynum, Morrison) need to work harder in the off season to prove they are worth what they are getting or they should ship them off and use the freed up cash to try and sign a Jason Kidd or someone else who will take less $$$ to get a championship. But it all depends on if it is about winning or money. report abuse
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Should Bryant take less money so the Lakers can keep Ariza and/or Odom?
Constitution,You are wrong. I have a BBA and Bcs. Political Science and that was quite a piece of conservative bullshit. First no athlete deserves that money and its preposterous to think by him signing for less he would set a precedent that would diminish the effort of all future athletes. Many people would and do play the game for 50-100 thousand a year and love doing it. I digress. According to Forbes.com Kobe is worth 140 million as of May 2009. If he were to sign for less, the boost to image along with continued success in a basketball market will lead to more lucrative endorsements. Kobe will actually gain in the long run he were to sign for less. report abuse
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Should Bryant take less money so the Lakers can keep Ariza and/or Odom?
kobe is going to take less money so that the lakers can keep odom and ariza. report abuse
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Should Bryant take less money so the Lakers can keep Ariza and/or Odom?
Absolutely not. Why single out Bryant? Is Phil Jackson overpaid too? Does he really worth twice as the second coach? The bottom line is that Lakers are not losing money. The money saved is just more profit for the Lakers' owners. So, why should the employees take a pay cut so the employers can make more money? Is Dr. Buss a poor man that he needs Bryant to support him? report abuse
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Should Bryant take less money so the Lakers can keep Ariza and/or Odom?
Yea it all now depends to kobe.. to see if he got matured report abuse
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Should Bryant take less money so the Lakers can keep Ariza and/or Odom?
if kobe doesn't want to be greedy then he should totally take a pay cut. i mean the guy is rich enough already does he really need that many more millions?? but then agan this is kobe we're talking about, and he is the biggest baby in the NBA so he'll probaby demand a raise and thus break up the team. after all, those other four people on the floor at any given time didn't help him win the title..... it was all kobe in his mind. report abuse
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Should Bryant take less money so the Lakers can keep Ariza and/or Odom?
the count kobe just won a title. He can say whatever he wants. odom and ariza can take a pay cut if they want to win. report abuse
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Should Bryant take less money so the Lakers can keep Ariza and/or Odom?
Just trade Bynum and Vujacic shyt!!! They are worth less report abuse
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