NBA Los Angeles Lakers

Kobe Bryant’s Comments Shouldn’t Upset Los Angeles Lakers Fans

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Prior to Friday night’s 140-106 blowout loss to the Dallas Mavericks, Kobe Bryant made several comments regarding NBA players taking “hometown discounts,” saying:

“It’s the popular thing to do. The player takes less, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. I think it’s a big coup for the owners to put players in situations where public perception puts pressure on them to take less money. Because if you don’t, then you get criticized for it.”

And Bryant has been criticized for it, ever since he signed his two-year, $48 million dollar extension with the Los Angeles Lakers last season.

But he shouldn’t be criticized. Not even a little bit.

Let’s take a look at what may have happened if Bryant did take a hometown discount, much like Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki did when he signed this summer for $25 million over three years. Let’s say that Bryant signed a similar deal to Nowitzki’s, allowing the Lakers to go out and sign one or two other stars. It’s safe to assume the Lakers wouldn’t have been able to sign LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony. Their paths were already destined to sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks, respectively.
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The Lakers are left with choosing from this summer’s second tier of free agents, like Chris Bosh, Lance Stevenson, or Isiah Thomas. Teaming any of these players with Bryant would not make the Lakers a playoff team, let alone a championship contender. The Lakers would not be good or great, nor horrible or bad. They would be something far worse: mediocre. That is the last thing the Lakers want to be this season, especially when you have a top-five pick hanging in the balance.

Instead, Bryant accepted the huge contract that was offered to him. The Lakers surround him with below-average players on one-year contracts, allowing the team to continue to lose at a pace consistent with other lottery-bound teams. They maintain their financial flexibility, with the hope of combining a top-notch free agent with Bryant, a fully-healed Julius Randle and this season’s top-five pick. Meanwhile, fans are content to watch their fading star hoist up 30 shots a night and witness the occasional miracle bucket, knowing that brighter days are ahead for Laker Nation.

That’s been the Lakers plan all along, and it’s a solid one at that. Bryant just happens to get paid handsomely.

Kevin Holland is a writer for www.RantSports.com.  Follow him on Twitter @KevinforSports or “like” him on Facebook.

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