Truth & Rumors > NBA

Lakers owner to open bank for Kobe, Phil

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Lakers owner Jerry Buss, 75, was relaxed and humorous Sunday in an interview, revealing with a glint in his eye how badly he wanted a Finals rematch with Boston while also saying how much he wanted to keep Kobe Bryant if the 10-time All-Star became an unrestricted free agent next July. Along those lines, Buss said he would continue to pay luxury taxes on an annual basis "if that's what it takes to win." He also envisioned Coach Phil Jackson staying beyond the expiration of his contract after next season because "this team looks like a delight."

Los Angeles Times

Kobe Bryant, Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images Kobe Bryant, Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images
November 10, 2008  06:40 AM ET

Yeah pay out the nose for Kobe, as he has delivered so many titles since Shaq left town. Hey that MVP trophy is a nice consolation prize with that Gold medal draped over it. Phil will leave to grow hippie lettuce in the hills of Montana and play the bongo's naked with Jerry's daughter.

November 10, 2008  06:42 AM ET

Jerry Buss doesn't need to care about the luxury tax, he can always raise the ticket prices to keep his profit. You know in LA, they pay anything just to see kobe and the Lakers.

November 10, 2008  07:09 AM ET

I can only hope this is not a ploy to keep Kobe happy this year. A four-year 100 mil contract will be fair to both sides. Anything more than that will be bad for the Lakers future.

Comment #4 has been removed
November 10, 2008  08:10 AM ET
QUOTE(#1):

Yeah pay out the nose for Kobe, as he has delivered so many titles since Shaq left town. Hey that MVP trophy is a nice consolation prize with that Gold medal draped over it. Phil will leave to grow hippie lettuce in the hills of Montana and play the bongo's naked with Jerry's daughter.

Spoken like a true Spurs fan... Hey how is TP doing?

November 10, 2008  08:21 AM ET

**** the spurs. i despise everything about them. man..the good ol days when olajuwon schooled david robinson. ahhhhhh

November 10, 2008  08:21 AM ET

It's about time an owner is willing to give up some of those millions in profit for the betterment of the team... 99% of the time, the owner would never pay $10 of those 100 million in profits...

November 10, 2008  08:38 AM ET

Jerry Buss knows what it takes to make the organization very successful. Signing these 2 guys are a must especially Kobe is becoming to be the ultimate team player. Kobe and the Lakers killed Houston last night. The only way to play against a physical defender is to be physical in return and that's what Kobe did to Ron Artest.

November 10, 2008  08:43 AM ET

Save that money and go after Lebron James!

November 10, 2008  08:43 AM ET
QUOTE(#1):

Yeah pay out the nose for Kobe, as he has delivered so many titles since Shaq left town. Hey that MVP trophy is a nice consolation prize with that Gold medal draped over it. Phil will leave to grow hippie lettuce in the hills of Montana and play the bongo's naked with Jerry's daughter.

The Lakers were beginning to rebuild when Shaq left town. How long did it take Boston to get back to the Finals?

November 10, 2008  08:51 AM ET
QUOTE(#1):

Yeah pay out the nose for Kobe, as he has delivered so many titles since Shaq left town. Hey that MVP trophy is a nice consolation prize with that Gold medal draped over it. Phil will leave to grow hippie lettuce in the hills of Montana and play the bongo's naked with Jerry's daughter.

vaughn9, you make it sound like bongos in the raw, a pipeful of loco weed and Miss Jeannie Buss all together at one time is a bad thing....

Phil's got his flaws, but I gotta say the man appears to know how to party.....

November 10, 2008  08:52 AM ET

"Buss said he would continue to pay luxury taxes on an annual basis "if that's what it takes to win."

Exactly what you want from an owner.....

November 10, 2008  09:02 AM ET

Of course he is. Buss knows who sells tickets and the luxury tax is more than offset with the amount of money these guys bring in.

November 10, 2008  09:11 AM ET

You got to do what you need to do to keep that nucleus together.

November 10, 2008  09:14 AM ET

I hate the Lakers--however, it just makes sense to keep the core of this team intact. Kobe, even with his shortcomings, is the face of the franchise. Buss knows this, and will do whatever it takes. Kobe won't even test the market. There is no story here.

November 10, 2008  09:27 AM ET
QUOTE(#15):

I hate the Lakers--however, it just makes sense to keep the core of this team intact. Kobe, even with his shortcomings, is the face of the franchise. Buss knows this, and will do whatever it takes. Kobe won't even test the market. There is no story here.

I agree he is the face of the Lakers and in this case that is a tremendous thing. Kobe has to have Lakers merchandise flying out the doors year after year. Whether I like him or not he is an icon. More people in the world likely know who Kobe is than who our president is even after the big hooplah of getting our first African American president. The only thing I disagree on is whether or not Kobe is movable. It isn't like other teams don't recognize the status symbol that Kobe has become and the money he would bring any team. I do think he will end up staying with LA but I think it might be more difficult than one would think as other teams start flashing big money.

November 10, 2008  09:35 AM ET

Dude,

He will definitely opt out and receive plenty of lucrative offers from the league. Unfortunately, teams with enough cap space to offer him the best deal would most likely be the bottom of the barrel teams like OKC and Kobe would NEVER make a move like that. Buss will give him what he wants an dkeep the rest of the team. This team is too young and talented to pass up over a few million bucks in luxury tax that he makes up in merchandise and ticket sales anyway.

November 10, 2008  09:44 AM ET
QUOTE(#17):

Dude,He will definitely opt out and receive plenty of lucrative offers from the league. Unfortunately, teams with enough cap space to offer him the best deal would most likely be the bottom of the barrel teams like OKC and Kobe would NEVER make a move like that. Buss will give him what he wants an dkeep the rest of the team. This team is too young and talented to pass up over a few million bucks in luxury tax that he makes up in merchandise and ticket sales anyway.

I can't disagree there UNLESS some team (Dallas, San Antonio, Suns and the list goes on and on) blow things up and try to rebuild around someone like Kobe. I certainly agree that Kobe wouldn't think about going to a very poor team for a few extra million when he has a chance at another ring AND good pay in LA but strange things happen and the way the Mavs look (and other teams) I can see them blowing things up after this year and other teams have owners who wouldn't hesitate to pay a salary tax for someone like Kobe. This being said, in all honesty I don't see Kobe leaving LA regardless of who does what but it would make it a little more interesting.

November 10, 2008  09:46 AM ET
QUOTE(#11):

vaughn9, you make it sound like bongos in the raw, a pipeful of loco weed and Miss Jeannie Buss all together at one time is a bad thing....Phil's got his flaws, but I gotta say the man appears to know how to party.....

there is nothing wrong with it. I'm sure he'd rather deal with that than Kobe's ego. Phil has to be questioning himself his last two trips to the finals did not go so well for him.

 
November 10, 2008  09:47 AM ET
QUOTE(#5):

Spoken like a true Spurs fan... Hey how is TP doing?

He's doing fine with Eva helping the healing process. It's an odd year The Spurs will be fine once Ginobili and TP return.

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