Lakers Draft: Kupchak Won’t Consider Fit With Kobe
You want an interesting dynamic heading into this season? If the Lakers are successful in drafting the next franchise cornerstone, Julius Randle shows promise and Jordan Clarkson takes another step forward in his development, the Lakers might find themselves in a dilemma. They might finally need Kobe Bryant less than he does the Lakers.
What?
Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News unearthed some incredibly interesting quotes from Mitch Kupchak. None more so than this:
"“We’re not going to pick a player because he can play with Kobe, likes Kobe or dislikes Kobe,” Kupchak told Los Angeles News Group. “We’re going to pick the player that can have the longest and best career.”"
Again, what?.
-== Top 7 Kobe Bryant Games of the 2014-15 Season ==-
Look, for the last few years, as the team’s roster his free-fallen to its current, dire state, the only legitimate draw the Lakers have had has been Kobe. That’s it. When he got hurt (twice) and couldn’t finish the season, the rate at which ticket prices plummeted was matched only by TV ratings and overall interest in the city’s most interesting team.
Kobe had to have known this when, in an offseason where most figured or at least hoped he might take a pay cut to free up cap space for potential teammates like LeBron James and/or Carmelo Anthony, he took a ridiculous two-year, $48M contract. He had all the leverage.
You ever heard of a hometown discount? No team in the NBA would’ve even considered that contract. The Lakers had to fork up the dough because they had no other earning power in their organization. Hometown discount? No. Kobe instead was able to earn a hometown raise.
Thanks to this young crop of talent and whomever the Lakers might be able to convince to come to LA via free agency, Bryant might look at the situation and see his lessened leverage. Fans can get around a promising, young team. They haven’t had that for years. Get ready for more rumors of his retirement, just to gauge public reaction to the idea – on both sides. If people freak out, Kobe will have that to fall back on in negotiations. If the news comes with little reaction, well, Bryant’s incredible career will probably end when the season does.
Yes, I just jumped from a thrown-away quote about what Kupchak is looking for in prospects. He essentially said, “we want the best player.” Nothing newsworthy there. But the Lakers’ identity has revolved around Bryant for almost all of our recent memory. When Dwight Howard and Steve Nash were acquired, Time Warner Sports Net had an entire TV segment about the times Kobe dunked on them.
Each prospect who has tried out has been asked that nauseating question about what playing with Bryant might be like. Of course they all say they can’t wait to. What else would they say? “No, Bryant is old, injury prone, overpaid and by all accounts a terrible teammate for rookies, but yay!”
The quotes aren’t the news. The idea that the Lakers are welcoming an era without Bryant most definitely is.