A lot is being said about the contract extension Kobe Bryant just signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. The All-Star signed a deal that will secure that he finishes out his career in yellow and purple. The $48.5 million over the next two years makes him the reigning highest paid player in the league. However, the deal cripples the Lakers financially, leaving Bryant to defend his pay raise.
The issue with the Bryant contract extension is that it leaves the Lakers with very little room to sign other big free agents this upcoming summer. According to salary cap expert Larry Coon, the Lakers have $22.2 million left in cap space.
Essentially, if the team waive most players with non-guaranteed contracts and dump Steve Nash using the stretch provision, the Lakers could sign one more player to a max contract, two other mid-level free agents and a first-round draft. Every other player would have to sign a veteran's minimum deal. Bryant is on the defense.
Taking to Twitter, Bryant posted a series of statements over his contract extension. "The cap rules players have to be "selfless" on To "help" BILLIONAIRE owners R the same cap rules the owners LOCKED US out to put in #think." Continuing his rant, Bryant then tweeted, "Don't just learn ur sport...Learn the sports industry. Btw lakers have max cap space and then some #mitchissharp."
The Lakers have obviously done their math and know more than the general public about their current financial situation. They do have room to sign another max-contract player, but the issue might come down to something other than the money. The reality is that Bryant likely has two years until retirement. He is coming off an Achilles injury that ended his 2012-13 season early and has yet to allow him to play so far this year. Do other marquee players want to jump on board?
In a recent interview with USA Today Sports, Carmelo Anthony said that Bryant's health status will play a larger role in his free agency decision rather than the money. Certainly Anthony would like to be getting paid, but he also wants to win a ring. Pairing with Bryant could help, but not if the veteran is no longer the same player after the injury.
The debate can continue about whether or not Bryant is being overpaid for his final two seasons in the league. Does he have the resume to warrant that type of money? Yes. Does he have the health status? No.
