Knicks · Mitch Kupchak: Kobe Bryant 'indicated to me that this is it' (page 1)

"He has indicated to me that this is it," Kupchak said Thursday in a radio appearance with SiriusXM NBA Radio.

Bryant is scheduled to make a league-high $25 million in his final contract season -- his 20th -- with the Lakers. But there's speculation that Bryant could play beyond next season, and Bryant said he hasn't ruled out that possibility.

"I think first and foremost, he's on the last year of a deal," Kupchak told SiriusXM NBA Radio. "There have been no discussions about anything going forward. I don't think there will be."

Bryant will be 37 years old when next season begins, and his past three seasons have ended early because of injury. He played only 35 games last season before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.

"A year from now, if there's something different to discuss, then it will be discussed then," Kupchak said of Bryant potentially playing beyond next season. "I talk to him from time to time ... and he is recovering. He's running. He's getting movement and strength in the shoulder. We expect a full recovery, but yeah, he's much closer to the end than to the beginning."

Because of the uncertainty about Bryant's future, Kupchak said he's unsure if there will be a farewell tour next season.

"It's kind of up to the player, if they want to do something like that," Kupchak said. "And it also may take away some options a year from now and put a player in an awkward position, but he will be recognized appropriately with great gratitude when it is time."

Kupchak was also asked if it's important for free agents to have clarity on Bryant's future plans with the Lakers, particularly if they're wary of joining the team while Bryant is still playing, a notion that has been reported in recent years.

"I think it is clear," Kupchak said. "He's on the last year of his deal. There have been no discussions [about playing beyond next season]. He hasn't indicated that he wants to continue to play.

"But if there is a player out there like that, that won't come here for that reason, then we don't want them. Every great player is demanding and focused, and if you don't want to play for a guy like him that's driven to do nothing but win championships and work hard, then you shouldn't be here. You should go someplace else."

Kupchak also said that about a decade ago, Bryant wanted to be involved in just about every decision the organization made, including which players it drafted.

But with the Lakers holding the No. 2 overall selection in the June 25 draft, Kupchak said he doesn't expect Bryant to have much -- if any -- input on who the team selects this year.

"Seven or eight years ago, he just backed away and said, 'You guys know what you're doing,' which was flattering," Kupchak said in a radio appearance Thursday with ESPN's Colin Cowherd.

"[He said,] 'I'm just going to do what I do during the offseason. If you need me, I'll help recruit. If you want my opinion on a player, give me a call. I'll be at the gym today, let's sit down and get lunch, let's talk.' That's kind of where we are today.

"... He knows about the guys at Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina, but I don't think he wants to be involved in the draft at all."

Kupchak reiterated that Bryant is still involved in recruiting free agents.

"He's more than willing [to call a player] every time I ask him," Kupchak told SiriusXM NBA Radio.

But Kupchak can't yet publicly say whether that includes Rajon Rondo, the mercurial four-time All-Star point guard.

"I know I can't comment on free agents," Kupchak told Cowherd. "But I mentioned earlier, we have two things: No. 1, we have a rookie [Jordan Clarkson] who had a good year who's a ballhandling guard who can also, I think, be in the backcourt with another ballhandling player. I think that would work.

"But the other thing we have is, we do have a lot of cap room. We feel like we do have to be aggressive. Getting the [No. 2 overall] pick takes a little bit of the pressure off to do something borderline this summer [in free agency]."

nyk4ever wrote:as a fan of the league, i hope kobe doesn't retire. he's a guy i will always stop what im doing to watch... one of the true last of a dying breed of guys that will rip your heart out and then spit on it. his will to win and approach to the game, will sorely be missed.

The draft Kobe was selected in was the first draft I ever watched (having just really got in to basketball a few months earlier)- when Kobe retires, it will be like the end of an era for me so I'll feel a bit sad and nostalgic about it. Man, that was such a good draft.

smackeddog wrote:

nyk4ever wrote:as a fan of the league, i hope kobe doesn't retire. he's a guy i will always stop what im doing to watch... one of the true last of a dying breed of guys that will rip your heart out and then spit on it. his will to win and approach to the game, will sorely be missed.

The draft Kobe was selected in was the first draft I ever watched (having just really got in to basketball a few months earlier)- when Kobe retires, it will be like the end of an era for me so I'll feel a bit sad and nostalgic about it. Man, that was such a good draft.

Looking at the picture, we prob have the worst player in that group..We had three picks that year and none worked out..Could we have moved up??..Still optimistic about that 4th pick??..

Knicks1969 wrote:Who was our pick again???

John Wallace
Walter McCarthy
Dante Jones..

holfresh wrote:

Knicks1969 wrote:Who was our pick again???

John Wallace
Walter McCarthy
Dante Jones..

Everyone was excited about Wallace- and mad at JVG for not playing him enough- ha! I remember on some NBA programme we were declared one of the winners of the draft

smackeddog wrote:

holfresh wrote:

Knicks1969 wrote:Who was our pick again???

John Wallace
Walter McCarthy
Dante Jones..

Everyone was excited about Wallace- and mad at JVG for not playing him enough- ha! I remember on some NBA programme we were declared one of the winners of the draft

yes. draft experts thought that we did great.

smackeddog wrote:

nyk4ever wrote:as a fan of the league, i hope kobe doesn't retire. he's a guy i will always stop what im doing to watch... one of the true last of a dying breed of guys that will rip your heart out and then spit on it. his will to win and approach to the game, will sorely be missed.

The draft Kobe was selected in was the first draft I ever watched (having just really got in to basketball a few months earlier)- when Kobe retires, it will be like the end of an era for me so I'll feel a bit sad and nostalgic about it. Man, that was such a good draft.

No Iverson?

CrushAlot wrote:Another article is out speculating the lakers might take a guard.

Is there anyone closer to the Lakers than Phil..He can trade up..Win win for both teams if that's the case..

holfresh wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:Another article is out speculating the lakers might take a guard.

Is there anyone closer to the Lakers than Phil..He can trade up..Win win for both teams if that's the case..

And I've heard rumors the Wolves are into OK4. If it's true the Lakers want Russel or Mudiay, we may get Towns after all. Stranger things have happened.

CrushAlot wrote:Another article is out speculating the lakers might take a guard.

I think the Lakers only take a guard (especially Russell) IF they are confident of landing Love and Twolves take Towns (because I don't think OK4 and Love would work defensively, plus they can put Russell at SG and keep Clarkson at PG). However if Twolves go for OK4, then the Lakers will take Towns (he would complement Love nicely).

holfresh wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:Another article is out speculating the lakers might take a guard.

Is there anyone closer to the Lakers than Phil..He can trade up..Win win for both teams if that's the case..

Unfortunately the Sixers stop this being a possibility as they will be taking a guard. Honestly, the draft went really badly for us- pretty much blocked us from trading up.

holfresh wrote:
http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story...

Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said star guard Kobe Bryant has told the GM that the 2015-16 season will be Bryant's last with the Lakers.

"He has indicated to me that this is it," Kupchak said Thursday in a radio appearance with SiriusXM NBA Radio.

Bryant is scheduled to make a league-high $25 million in his final contract season -- his 20th -- with the Lakers. But there's speculation that Bryant could play beyond next season, and Bryant said he hasn't ruled out that possibility.

"I think first and foremost, he's on the last year of a deal," Kupchak told SiriusXM NBA Radio. "There have been no discussions about anything going forward. I don't think there will be."

Bryant will be 37 years old when next season begins, and his past three seasons have ended early because of injury. He played only 35 games last season before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.

"A year from now, if there's something different to discuss, then it will be discussed then," Kupchak said of Bryant potentially playing beyond next season. "I talk to him from time to time ... and he is recovering. He's running. He's getting movement and strength in the shoulder. We expect a full recovery, but yeah, he's much closer to the end than to the beginning."

Because of the uncertainty about Bryant's future, Kupchak said he's unsure if there will be a farewell tour next season.

"It's kind of up to the player, if they want to do something like that," Kupchak said. "And it also may take away some options a year from now and put a player in an awkward position, but he will be recognized appropriately with great gratitude when it is time."

Kupchak was also asked if it's important for free agents to have clarity on Bryant's future plans with the Lakers, particularly if they're wary of joining the team while Bryant is still playing, a notion that has been reported in recent years.

"I think it is clear," Kupchak said. "He's on the last year of his deal. There have been no discussions [about playing beyond next season]. He hasn't indicated that he wants to continue to play.

"But if there is a player out there like that, that won't come here for that reason, then we don't want them. Every great player is demanding and focused, and if you don't want to play for a guy like him that's driven to do nothing but win championships and work hard, then you shouldn't be here. You should go someplace else."

Kupchak also said that about a decade ago, Bryant wanted to be involved in just about every decision the organization made, including which players it drafted.

But with the Lakers holding the No. 2 overall selection in the June 25 draft, Kupchak said he doesn't expect Bryant to have much -- if any -- input on who the team selects this year.

"Seven or eight years ago, he just backed away and said, 'You guys know what you're doing,' which was flattering," Kupchak said in a radio appearance Thursday with ESPN's Colin Cowherd.

"[He said,] 'I'm just going to do what I do during the offseason. If you need me, I'll help recruit. If you want my opinion on a player, give me a call. I'll be at the gym today, let's sit down and get lunch, let's talk.' That's kind of where we are today.

"... He knows about the guys at Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina, but I don't think he wants to be involved in the draft at all."

Kupchak reiterated that Bryant is still involved in recruiting free agents.

"He's more than willing [to call a player] every time I ask him," Kupchak told SiriusXM NBA Radio.

But Kupchak can't yet publicly say whether that includes Rajon Rondo, the mercurial four-time All-Star point guard.

"I know I can't comment on free agents," Kupchak told Cowherd. "But I mentioned earlier, we have two things: No. 1, we have a rookie [Jordan Clarkson] who had a good year who's a ballhandling guard who can also, I think, be in the backcourt with another ballhandling player. I think that would work.

"But the other thing we have is, we do have a lot of cap room. We feel like we do have to be aggressive. Getting the [No. 2 overall] pick takes a little bit of the pressure off to do something borderline this summer [in free agency]."

bryant:

-underrated team player with a career 1.3 to one usage to assist rate ratio, almost as good as jordan
-fitness freak
-great footwork
-great form on his jumpshot
-vastly overrated defender
-blatant ball palmer that never gets called thanks to stern
-poor shot selection resulting in mediocre scoring efficiency
-egomaniacal and immature
-rapist and adulterer, hypocrite
-poor leader
-greedy
-top 12 player all-time and could have won more but for lack of character

smackeddog wrote:

nyk4ever wrote:as a fan of the league, i hope kobe doesn't retire. he's a guy i will always stop what im doing to watch... one of the true last of a dying breed of guys that will rip your heart out and then spit on it. his will to win and approach to the game, will sorely be missed.

The draft Kobe was selected in was the first draft I ever watched (having just really got in to basketball a few months earlier)- when Kobe retires, it will be like the end of an era for me so I'll feel a bit sad and nostalgic about it. Man, that was such a good draft.

My first draft too. I remember buying the SlAM magazine because of that cover. That and the Lebron draft are the best of my lifetime. 1996 definitely the deepest draft of alltime.

Marbury's body language is very telling and foreshadowing of what was to come. The only one slouched with his arms crossed

gunsnewing wrote:
Marbury's stance is very telling and foreshadowing of what was to come. Only one slouched with his arms crossed

Marbury was... duh duh duh duh DUNNNNNN... THE FOURTH PICK IN THE 1996 DRAFT