The Lakers, Kobe, and Better Days

As a living NBA legend, Kobe Bryant is finding success harder than ever to come by. Bound by the lucrative contract extension Bryant signed with the Lakers in 2013, it seems both the player and the franchise will be better off once they part ways.

 
There was almost immediate outrage when Kobe Bryant signed his most recent contract extension. At two years and nearly $49 million, Kobe would remain among the highest paid players in the league. Not that his career accolades and popularity don't warrant that salary, but his recent play says otherwise. Anyone that understands the contractual part of sports, knew how devastating this pact would become to the Lakers' title chances. It seemed the team wanted to thank Bryant for what he has meant to the franchise, without considering what he will mean over the duration of the deal.

Kobe is 36 and has struggled to stay healthy over the last several seasons. Sure, he has scored a ton of points this season, but it has been at the most inefficient mark of his career with one of the highest usage rates of all time.

For Lakers fans wondering when the team will improve, the answer isn't a great one. Kobe's contract and reluctance to sacrifice shots and money (see Duncan, Nowitzki, Brady) have discouraged potential free agent additions to the LA roster. In the team's last attempt to contend, they sacrificed multiple draft picks to acquire both Dwight Howard and Steve Nash. One is on another team and the other is unofficially retired.

The franchise isn't accustomed to rebuilding projects and clearly hasn't prepared for one. It seems the fan base is relying on the idea that big free agents have always been drawn to LA in the past, though it doesn't seem that the location and history will help this time. In today's NBA, where stars recognize their unity is required for contention, who will opt to play for the Lakers? Who will willingly sacrifice years of their prime to play alongside the aging, unhealthy Kobe Bryant, who has acknowledged that he won't take a smaller role in the offense. Who will sign with a below average roster in the always loaded Western Conference? I wish I could provide the answer, but it's likely a player not worth mentioning. It is for that reason that the next few years just don't project well for Lakerland. This path undoubtedly began when the team offered him the contract extension.