Should the Lakers Move on From Kobe Bryant?

Since Kobe Bryant was a rookie, the plan was for him to retire at 35.

A month before his 34th birthday, Graham Besinger of Yahoo Sports reminded Bryant of that notion in the summer of 2012, and even then Bryant still figured he’d retire at 35. That was three years ago.

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Bryant, 37, lost the last two seasons of his career due to injuries and is at the end of his rope.

The organization should cut it for him.

None of this would be an issue had Bryant retired two years ago when his contract was up in 2013, or had he not gotten hurt in the first place.

Ultimately, he decided to re-up for $48.5 million, an offer no sane person would pass up especially coming off of a ruptured Achilles just seven months before.

Had Bryant declined the two-year extension, the Los Angeles Lakers would have been in a much better position to offer more money to free agents over the last two years and develop its youth in case that didn’t pan out.

Who knows what kind of ripple effect Bryant’s retirement might have caused?

It’s possible the Lakers would have Carmelo Anthony and Lamarcus Aldridge right now. Maybe they’d just be a middle of the road team stuck between the 4-6 seeds in the West Conference much like the Memphis Grizzlies or the Atlanta Hawks in the Joe Johnson era.

It’s plausible the team would be in a similar position to where they are now. They might have had the same rookies, but they would have had the opportunity to develop without the cast of Bryant’s enormous shadow. That is exactly why the Lakers need to move on from Bryant.

Jan 21, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) against the New Orleans Pelicans during a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Lakers 96-80. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Bryant’s a legend. That much is obvious. He’s somewhere in the Top 10 or 15 all-time depending on who you ask. The “Black Mamba” is one of the greatest to ever pick up a basketball and a Top Three Laker all-time, but his time has come and gone.

If the Lakers were in the position to compete for a championship it would be different, but the team isn’t even close to competing for a playoff spot at this point. The new kids – Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson and D’Angelo Russell – are on the block, and they’re ready to run.

How much rope will Bryant give them?

If the team’s down five in the final two minutes of the game, will he throw a temper tantrum if Russell passes the ball to Clarkson instead of him?

The future of the Lakers shouldn’t be in the hands of a regressing 37-year-old who spends more time injured than on the court. It should be in the hands of the players the team has drafted and their development.

It won’t be though, because everything eventually comes back to Bryant despite the organization putting themselves in a good position by drafting well the last couple of years.

He’s a roadblock right now, but he could be more depending on how he mentors the team. The best-case scenario for Bryant this season would be for him to emulate Obi Wan Kenobi from “Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.”

The “Black Mamba” needs to train the new Big Three and then fade away by teaching from afar.

As to if the organization wants him to stick around, that all depends on how Bryant mentors his successors. He’s known for being a dedicated hard-ass and difficult to play with if you aren’t willing to put the work in.

The Big Three of the future should have no problem dealing with Bryant’s personality, but can the old dog learn a few new tricks?

In reality, the Lakers can’t move on from Bryant. Laker fans still love “Kobe Wan Kenobi” despite his aging skills. It wouldn’t be a good look for the franchise unless he asked out. The Dallas Mavericks are in a similar position with Dirk Nowitzki.

If the Lakers were to trade or cut Bryant, the franchise would suffer a huge blow back from the fanbase, and the pitchforks for Jim Buss would no longer reside on the outskirts of Staples Center. They would break down his front door and take aim at his neck while he sleeps.

Final answer: the Lakers would be better off without “Vino,” but they can’t seem to move on from him. That’s okay, even though they really should.

Next: Metta World Peace on Joining the Lakers: 'I Didn't Hear That'

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