With a predicted 6-9 month recovery period, many have been asking what is going to happen to Kobe Bryant and his role on the Lakers roster. A few ideas have been tossed around, one of them being to use the Lakers Amnesty clause on their star player. But rest assured, team general manager Mitch Kupchak is not ready to entertain the amnesty option with Bryant. Phew.
The new CBA is getting more and more ruthless on teams that break the cap, and with Kobe being one of the most expensive players in the league, some argue it makes sense for the Lakers to release him. Larry Coon, who is an expert on the NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement, had this to say:
“I wouldn’t be so sure that the Lakers wouldn’t amnesty Kobe. If it becomes clear that he’s going to miss the entire season, then a Kobe amnesty would essentially get them out of the luxury tax – eg: if they would have been $30 million over the tax line, their tax would have been $85 million. This would reduce it to zero (assuming Dwight stays. If he leaves then the Lakers would have about $10M in cap room).”
One can assume things may get very interesting in Lakers camp this off-season. Bryant is keeping fans in the loop posting pictures of himself on his newly created Instagram account. Bryant’s determination and dedication is unquestionable. However, he has a long, hard road to recovery.
Mike D’Antoni got a lot of scrutiny over the past weeks on the amount of playing time Kobe Bryant was having. Many said that the extensive minutes would eventually wear the Mamba thin. In another Lakers Nation poll, we asked readers whether or not D’Antoni is partially to blame for Kobe’s injury. Many of you participated, but the results were closer than expected. Take a look.
Suki has his final set of power rankings before teams wind down their season. The Lakers are #13 this week, moving up in the rankings even though Kobe got injured. The impressive win against the Spurs Sunday night was what sealed the deal for LN. The Knicks and Heat are tied for the number one spot, with the Nuggets rounding our your top three.
Five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant has been named Western Conference Player of the Week, despite injuring himself this weekend. Lakers Nation wishes him a speedy recovery so he can get back to being the stellar player that he is.
Although not basketball related, Lakers Nation extends our thoughts to those affected in the tragedy in Boston today. Please take a minute to reflect and send positive energy to all those at the race this early afternoon.
Lakers Nation News
NBA News: Nuggets Forward Kenneth Faried To Miss Final Two Games
Poll Results: Is Mike D’Antoni Partially To Blame For Kobe’s Injury?
Lakers News: Kobe Bryant Named Western Conference Player Of The Week
Lakers News: Sources Say Dwight Howard Plans To Re-Sign With Lakers
What Will Lakers Do With Amnesty Provision Regarding Kobe Bryant?
Surviving Adversity: Lakers Turn Season Of Drama Into Decent Year
Kobe Bryant Is Focused On Recovery and Keeping Tabs On His Doubters
Kobe Bryant’s Legendary 17th Season: One For The Ages
NBA Power Rankings Final Week: Knicks, Heat Continue Dominance, Lakers Rise
Lakers News
Lakers Finally Need Dwight Howard [Silver Screen and Roll]
Final Score: Lakers Trump Spurs 91-86 [Silver Screen and Roll]
Kobe Bryant’s Martyrdom Deserved a Better Cause [Silver Screen and Roll]
Without Their Leading Man, the Lakers’ Supporting Actors Responded Well [Silver Screen and Roll]
Three Stars of the Night: Harden, Iguodala, Howard Set Their Teams Up for Playoffs [ProBasketballTalk]
Lakers/Spurs: Gut Check Reveals Guts [Forum Blue and Gold]
Lakers Aren’t Good-Looking, but They’ll Have Fun While it Lasts [LA Times]
Another Report Says Dwight Howard Plans to Remain a Laker [ProBasketballTalk]
Dwight Howard Pays Hospital Visits to Kobe [ESPN]
Goudelock and the Lakers: Reunited and It Feels So Good [Lakers Index]
Kobe Bryant Named NBA’s Western Conference Player of the Week [Lakers Now]
Dwight Howard Leads the Lakers [LA Times]
Playoffs Snapshot — April 15 [Hangtime Blog]
Kobe Bryant Likely Out 6-9 Months [ESPN]
Rapid Reaction: Lakers 91, Spurs 86 [Lakers Index]
Why the Lakers Won’t Use the Amnesty Clause on Kobe Bryant [SB Nation]
Lakers vs Spurs Photo Gallery [Lakers Now]
It Wasn’t Pretty but Howard Lifts Lakers Within Step of Playoffs [ProBasketballTalk]
Kobe Leaves a Message, and Lakers Pick Up On it to Beat Spurs [LA Times]
Injury Update: Nash Remains Out [Lakers Blog]
Lakers Sign Andrew Goudelock with Two Games Left [NBA.com]
The Kobeless Lakers Offense [ESPN]
Dwight Howard’s Bench Press Routine [Stack]
LeBron Calls Kobe’s Season-Ending Injury ‘Sad’ [NBA.com]
Dwight Howard Says He’s learned How to Lead From Kobe Bryant [Lakers Now]
Lakers Win in First Game Without Kobe Bryant, Near Playoff Spot [ESPN]
Steve Blake Channels Kobe Bryant in Lakers’ Win Against Spurs [LA Times]
Baseline-to-Baseline Recaps: Knicks Wrap Up Two Seed in the East, Lakers Stay in Playoff Hunt With Win Over Spurs [ProBasketballTalk]
Lakers: Week 25 Predictions [Lakers Now]
NBA News
Morning Tip: King James Reigns [NBA.com]
Knicks to sit Anthony, Chandler Martin Monday night [ProBasketballTalk]
Making Sense of the Stephen Jackson Situation [Pounding The Rock]
Clippers and Grizzlies Headed for Another First-Round Slugfest [SBNation]
Report: Sixers’ Collins To Resign [NBA.com]
How NBA Star Kevin Love Takes His Game to the Next Level [Stack]
Life After Kobe [ESPN]
Dirk Nowitzki of Dallas Mavericks Scores 25,000th Point [ESPN Dallas]
Assists of the Week [NBA.com]
Jarrett Jack Fined $25K for Verbal Abuse of an Official After Loss to Lakers [ProBasketballTalk]
Most Improved Player: Larry Sanders [Hangtime Blog]
DeRozan Scores 36 as Raptors Beat Nets 93-87 [NBA.com]
Heat the Clear No. 1 and Pick to Repeat [NBA.com]
Kenneth Faried Injured in Nuggets’ Franchise-Best 55th Win of Season [ESPN]
Who’s Next as 76ers Head Coach? How About Some Curry? Or Mike Brown? [ProBasketballTalk]
Thunder Need To Be Wary Of No. 1 [Hangtime Blog]
Report: Collins Tells 76ers He’s Out as Coach [NBA.com]