Remember that time people were speculating that the Los Angeles Lakers would use their amnesty clause in Kobe Bryant? Well now that rumor can simply just be laughed off as Lakers executive Jeanie Buss set the record straight saying the All-Star should and will be a Laker for life. In an interview with ESPNLA 710, Buss spoke on Bryant's return and future with the team.
"Kobe is part of the Laker family and he always will be. There's not many players who play 18-19 years with the same franchise, and it's important to us that he has a chance to play his entire career with the Lakers," Buss said.
Bryant is currently recovering from a season-ending Achilles injury while entering the final year of his current contract. He will earn $30.5 million this season, the most of any NBA player in the league. After the injury, many questioned just how many years Bryant had left and whether or not retirement was in the works. Buss said that no matter what, she does not want Bryant compromising his health.
"I want Kobe to take the time that he needs to get healthy," Buss said. "I don't want to see him come back any sooner than when he's ready, and I know he'll know when that is. There's no reason for him to do anything that compromises his health."
Bryant recently told the Lakers website that he intends on playing at least two or three more seasons in the league and has every intention of retiring a Laker. As the Lakers continue to battle the salary cap, an extension for Bryant may or may not be difficult to create.
Due to Bryant's age, he will be subjected to the "over-36 rule" of the NBA's collective bargaining agreement. This means that he will only be allowed to sign a two-year extension this offseason, good for three years. However, if he intends on becoming a free agent, he could sign a deal good through the 2017 season. Bryant said he does not intend on approaching the Lakers about an extension until the "dust settles" with their ongoing summer business.
After the encouraging words from Buss, it seems that an extension is a given for Bryant, the question will be for how much and how long. If Bryant accepts a pay cut, the Lakers could afford to sign more big names in the free agency run next summer. However, the All-Star said people should not be so quick to assume he is willing to take less money. He currently holds a salary cap hit of $32 million.