Los Angeles ready to move on and start a new era post-Bryant
Still plagued with injuries and entering his 20th season of professional play in the NBA, Kobe Bryant is currently the league’s highest paid athlete at $23 million a year. With his two-year deal coming to an end next summer, the Los Angeles Lakers are looking to move on from their most decorated player of all-time.
After missing consecutive seasons with career threatening injuries, the Black Mamba looks to be finally healthy after his torn rotator cuff rehabilitation process and extended time to heel his Achilles tendon. Last summer, the team failed to land a key free agent and saw their miss the post-season significantly.
Earlier this week, however, the team gave Laker Nation hope when they landed the 2nd overall lottery pick in the league’s upcoming draft in June. General Manager, Mitch Kupchak spoke this week revealing that this is indeed Kobe’s last season with the team. However, he didn’t confirm that Bryant would be retiring and playing beyond the 2016 season – which no. 24 has reiterated his dreams of only playing for one team his entire career.
The team currently has $35 million in player payroll and $25 million goes directly to Kobe. Kupchak plans to draft either Jahlil Okafor or Karl-Anthony Towns and start a new era alongside Julius Randle to attract free agents this summer and next for their significant cap room ability for spending.
We played like crap all season so it's only right we get the #2 pick HA #lakerluck #goodday
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) May 20, 2015
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