Kobe Expected to Re-Up for 5 Years, $135 Million
One down, three to go
Armchair scientists across the nation have a theory about preps-to-pro’s players’ bodies breaking down at an earlier age than someone who takes a more traditional route to the League. The logic makes sense - you demand too much from your body before it’s fully mature, and that results in damage to the knees, ankles and hips somewhere down the line.
But the Lakers don’t think that applies to the world’s best conditioned athlete.
Word is that they’re going to re-up with Kobe Bryant for another five years, $135 million. That means that he’ll be making somewhere in the neighborhood of $17 million when he’s 38 years old.
Kobe Bryant can terminate his current contract with the Lakers and become an unrestricted free agent next month. He is expected to re-sign with the Lakers for five years and about $135 million.
“Where am I going to go?” he said. “This is my home.
Hypothetically, let’s say that he’s not worth $17 mil when he’s that age. Even so, it’s still a good deal for the Lakers, who get a happy Kobe for the next three-to-four years of his late-prime. If that results in another one, two, or maybe even three championships, it’s still worth bleeding out $35 million if Kobe falls off in his later two years.
But I can’t imagine that happening. If Kobe continues to perform at a level comparable to what he’s done in recent years, he’ll be within striking distance of one of the League’s most storied records - Kareem’s career points scored. In his last couple of years, he’s averaging just over 2300 points per season. If he can maintain a 1820-point per season average for the next eight years, he’ll break that record. Can Kobe score about 24 points per game for the next eight years? If so, he’ll overtake MJ and Kareem.
Source: Real GM
June 18th, 2009 at 10:44 am
towery says:
following on twitter…but remember by the time he’s 38 17 mil will not be that much per year in comparison with the rest of the salaries
June 18th, 2009 at 10:48 am
LakeShow84 says:
Why not??
U guys said it “The Worlds Best Conditioned Athlete”..
But also dude is one of the biggest bball lovers in the world.. He’ll find a way to keep getting it done..
hate to sound corny but thats one thing thats NEVER been questioned about KB24.. his work ethic and his drive..
June 18th, 2009 at 10:50 am
Heckler...formerly 'Yallallreadyknow' says:
doubtful.
that scoring record of kareems will be broken one day and surpassed, but NOT by any of todays current players.
June 18th, 2009 at 10:50 am
YOUNGFED says:
K-HOVA BAy-Be!!!!!!
June 18th, 2009 at 11:04 am
QQ says:
@LakeShow - Another thing that’s never been questioned - Kobe (I’ll RAPE a BITCH if I want to!!) Bryants propensity to Rape a defenseless innocent young Colorado woman. Get some CLASS LA. Don’t support a felon.
Orlando For Life!
June 18th, 2009 at 11:04 am
lifep says:
That’s alot of miles on those wheels. However, he can do all things through Christ who strengthens him!
June 18th, 2009 at 11:06 am
hahns says:
doesnt it say 5 years for 135?
either way- its a lota money for an aging player- but good to see some loyalty from the lakers. and the way kobes been goin- his midrange will be effective for a long while longer, which will keep him relevant until his late 30s
June 18th, 2009 at 11:12 am
G says:
5 years and 8 years is a big difference. Which is it?
June 18th, 2009 at 11:15 am
LakeShow says:
8 years? Do you guys actually know a little about the league? You can’t sign a guy to an 8 year contract! U should know better than that
They are talking about 135 for five years so he would be 35-36 by then which sounds absolutely do-able even though I think he should pull a Tim Duncan and take less so they can resign Odom/Ariza
June 18th, 2009 at 11:23 am
Dennis Castro says:
That contract will kill their cap. But I don’t think they want to see Kobe’s reaction if they ask him to take less to build a better team.
He better rest up this offseason, he looked like he was running outta gas in the Finals.
June 18th, 2009 at 11:27 am
rangerjohn says:
@#8, lakeshow beat me to it. best he could sign is 6 yrs right? and the source says 5 yrs 135 mil (in this case dime stole this one from realgm instead of espn for once). thats about 27 mil a yr for 5 yrs. unheard of in the nba.
June 18th, 2009 at 11:34 am
PALakerFan says:
I thought Kobe should take less to ensure LO and Ariza stay too, but apparently Buss and family are making an absolute KILLING so Kobe could care less if they have to pay more tax. He’ll want his $27 mil per AND expect them to re-sign LO and Ariza. I just hope it works.
June 18th, 2009 at 11:35 am
Tbest says:
8yrs. @ 135 million would be a major discount. 17 million/yr. However, i think it would be more like 5 yrs. That would be 27 million per year. If it is i’d like to see him only take 20 per year and save the 7 million per year for teammates. As if he wouldn’t be able to live just fine on 20 a year.
June 18th, 2009 at 11:40 am
PALakerFan says:
I saw an article from Detroit about them wanting Ariza instead of Gordon or Turk, as if they’re all on the same level. I’m sorry to break it to Detroit fans but Ariza is a roll player - shoot the 3 and defend - much like a modern day Michael Cooper or younger Bruce Bowen. Anything more than $6-7 mil per for him is too much, even for LA. Odom has to be LA’s priority. 5 years, $50 mil.
And if Detroit is dumb enough to overpay for Ariza, we’ll take T-Prince in a sign and trade.
June 18th, 2009 at 11:40 am
G says:
Ok so if we all agree that it is the 5 and not the 8, like Dime carelessly reported, thats avg of 27 per. Isn’t that higher than whats allowed under the current CBA? I thought most MAX contracts are around 22/23 not 27.
June 18th, 2009 at 11:46 am
yoda says:
everywhere ive read its 5 years/135 mill.
June 18th, 2009 at 11:47 am
jryu says:
sometimes i feel bad for AK cause people hate on him so much…but its the 2nd time in less than a month w/ a pretty obvious typo in the title which the article was centered around.. (dwight’s 6th technical, not 7th…)
get it together homeboy.
anyhow, i guarantee you odom and ariza dont play up to the level of the contracts they sign this offseason (or even their current contracts) in the 09-10 season.
June 18th, 2009 at 11:49 am
2Cleva says:
People are ignoring how much he gives up as well.
From Kevin Ding: So, that means Bryant, 30, could become an unrestricted free agent by terminating his Lakers contract with two more years and $47.8 million on it. He could then re-sign with the Lakers for five years and about $135 million. That amounts to roughly a $3.1 million annual raise.
http://lakers.freedomblogging.com/2009/06/18/how-much-is-kobe-worth/19277/
It’s not that big of a deal when you add proper perspective.
June 18th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Jah says:
Celtics for the ‘chip next year.
Kobe, take less money — give your team financial breathing room to keep you guys more than relevant — to keep you LETHAL.
June 18th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Tbone says:
@jryu
I know, right?
Doesn’t somebody proofread this stuff before it gets posted?
Dime??????
June 18th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
a;woeifj;oij says:
#20 and 17- seriously dime…get yo shit together
June 18th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Josh says:
Yeah, they can’t sign anyone for that long under the CBA.
http://www.nbpa.org/cba_articles/article-IX.php
6 years is the max for a veteran player.
June 18th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
rodnets says:
DO IT LA!!!, that makes sense only for KB8 and the rest of the league which will see an “Arenas” comedy in a couple of years…
June 18th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
karizmatic says:
On purely technical terms this is a bad deal, Kobe is already past his prime athletically (admittedly averaging 28 a game is spectacular for past prime) He’s not going to produce much more than what he has in the future. But if you’re the Lakers you have to make this deal anyway.
June 18th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
rudderband man says:
@ #3
Assuming he stays healthy, LeBron will shatter the NBA scoring record and he’s one of “today’s current players”…
June 18th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Tbest says:
30 yrs old is not past your prime athletically if your a professional athlete. It is for all of us high school athletes who work out at the gym a few times a week, but not for pros. I’d say professional bball players should be in their prime between 26 and 33. Just my opinion though.
June 18th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Knock Knock says:
lebron has to have a shot to shatter a scoring record. He can’t even hit all his freethrows when he’s shooting 20 a night. gtfoh
June 18th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Otto says:
@QQ #5
You usually post insightful and responsible msgs so I don’t know what went wrong there. There is a fine line between harsh criticism and defamation/libel. Kobe Byrant was charged for alledgedly raping a girl in Colorado. Within a few months, the charges were dropped, thereby exonerating him of any criminal conduct. What the hell are you doing making hateful and ignorant references to the man’s personal life? Especially when such references are void of any real evidence. You need to seperate your hostility for someone because they busted your teams ass from your ignorant and unwarranted hate for someone personally. They are two different worlds partner, get your shit right.
If you had a family, how would you feel if someone kept busting on you for an alleged act that you were exonerated for years ago? Think about how that would impact your family.
June 18th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
lol says:
this article is kinda off. kobe can only get a maximum of 5 years. he can’t sign for another max contract.
June 18th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
rlf says:
kobe CANNOT sign for 8 years. as the rules indicate, he cannot sign for 6, because he would be 36 when that contract expires. that’s why he can only resign for 5.
goodness dime, you should know this.
June 18th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Deacon says:
#28 FULLY Agree.
And just to add:
QQ, I hope to GOD that no one ever accuses you of anything bad, because according to your logic, if someone accuses you, you are GUILTY.
June 18th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
WINDYCITYBULL says:
@QQ
Only thing i can say is your a FAG.. Clearly that post was aimed at you gathering some attention wich is a trait that a “FEMALE” holds. This is about his contract and a question on if he can perform well enuff to earn the contract. Quit with the ESPN/LIFETIME soap, i dont give a fuck about there personal lifes, all i do is enjoy watching there work on TV. Leave the female gossip for ESPN.
June 18th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
M Intellect says:
QQ’s gotta an immi-hater online. So it probably wasn’t him and I think they meant to say “Orlando Magic” instead of “Colorado Woman”…
Sorry dude… Too easy…
June 18th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
LakerFanIam says:
Dude, your article says 8yrs/$135mil but your quoted source says 5yrs/$135.
That’s a BIG difference… Where’s an editor when you need one???
June 18th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
Patrick Cassidy says:
Guys -
Our bad on the 5-year/8-year error. Totally careless on our part.
We appreciate you calling us out on our mistakes. That’s how it should be.
Thanks,
PC
June 18th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
ldawg23 says:
If KB24 wants to be a contender for the next 7+ years of so, he should think about ONLY taking 120 or so…The extra space will allow the Lakers to get help when Kobe starts getting old and following off. Also it sends a message that he is WILLING to sacrifice for the team…That way Odom, Trevor, and when Bynum has his chance to re-up they wont try and break the bank…Take a page from Timmy D’s book…Sign for a few mil less per season, and save cap space for help down the road
June 18th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
ldawg23 says:
falling not following
June 18th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
SWAT says:
LOL @ QQ…wow tht came out of nowhere…funny but crossing the line just a bit. anyway…i wonder how california’s economy will fit into the picture with the state on the verge of filing bankruptcy. actors and atheletes making a great deal of money but their state cant even afford to host the parade. didnt the lakers have to split the cost with the city? hmm…just curious to see how this pans out. Now is Kobe worth it…thts not even a question. but are the lakers gonna be able to re-sign their free agents w/ this type of deal? lakers fans give me some insght…im curious.
June 18th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Dennis Castro says:
PC, you might want to re-do the math associated with the change from 8 to 5 too.
Also, it still says he’ll be making $17M at 38.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
MissChick says:
Good thing AK writes online articles only. If it was print he would have been handed a pink slip a long time ago.
June 18th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
dragonyeuw says:
Kobe is 30/31. Resigning for 5 years means he’ll be in his 36th year when it ends. Where are you getting 38 years old from?
Kobe will still be productive at 35,barring some serious injury. He will be similiar to second threepeat Jordan, relying on a great midrange game with occasional forays to the basket,and using experience and guile to remain a great player.
Really you can’t argue about him making 17 million, even if he’s past his past at 35. How much money has he made the Lakers? He’s one of the league’s most marketable stars, has the top selling jersey, and draws crowds on the road. The only thing 17 million may do is impede the Lakers from surrounding him with the right talent to remain at that champiosnhip level.
June 18th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
doc says:
Sounds about right to me.And that scoring record is Brons.
June 18th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
dk says:
Wow, I knew Kobe was the man. He is taking a pay cut just to keep the wheel rolling. Thats how chips get done, look and learn, losers.
June 19th, 2009 at 12:12 am
Ender says:
“But the Lakers don’t think that applies to the world’s best conditioned athlete.”
That sounds suspiciously like Roger Clements being the worlds best conditioned pitcher.