I’m watching the Pau interview on lakers.com – can anyone think of a more eloquent foreigner? Where’d he learn his English?

I agree with you on that. Especially because Luxury Tax is a an issue the Lakers can “decide” to pay versus not being able to. My point is that perception may be factored in the deal that gets made. Personally, I think the Lakers will give Kobe a a front loaded deal that makes sure he retires a Laker, but that will ensure they have some flexibility to keep a good roster when decision time on Pau comes up. No matter what happens from this point, the Lakers will look like the party who did their part. It will look like they bent over backwards to make it happen. How it actually plays out is in Kobe’s hands.

Craig,

I agree with you. I don’t think Kobe needs to be the highest paid player, just recognized as the best player. Kobe is a player who benefits more from the position he’s in now. Rings would bring more money.

As far as his image – he is a lightening rod in the USA, but we really shouldn’t forget he is bigger than Jordan in the rest of the world. Yup! that is true – even though we can’t conceive it because of ESPN and sports writers. Now he just needs 4 more championships.

One last note: I doubt Kobe will suffer much, from a business point-of-view, any more than Magic did when he left the game.

You know why Buss is making money on this team? You know why season ticket holders renewed at a 99% rate? You know why team jersey sales are at the top of the league? I deserve a fair share of that.

Will that perspective overcome the ego boost of getting a max contract, and the chance it would give him to say “F U Shaq Fu, they wouldn’t pay you but they paid me”?

I understand where Omar is coming from. It’s not about us worrying about Kobe’s image. it’s about Kobe worrying bout it. I’m not going to say he’s going to accept less than he can get, but on the PR side, it might serve him well to appear to conced something to the Lakers a la Gilbert Arenas.

Supposedley Gil left money on the table, but accepted less so that the team could keep Jamison. I don’t believe that for a second, but it sounded good. Now, in Kobe’s case, he kind of put himself in a situation where the Lakers provide him with an elite caliber team, and he should help them have flexibility. It’s like this becasue it’s Kobe. Only he gets judged on EVERYTHING he does, and the drama last summer didn’t help his cause.

I’m pretty sure the some members of the media are going to remind he public that it was Kobe who demanded a trade, who demanded help, and then got it, so it’s now up to him to allow the Lakers some room to keep it an elite team for him. He’s already signed the lrgest contract in NBA history, and could come across as being very selfish if he insists on getting every penny. I’m sure he has tobe aware of this. PR has been very good for him this past year. We see him back in commercials, Nike is pushing his apparel more, and he’s going to get more. That image will only be enhanced by conceding something to the Lakers. i’ve sid this months ago. Will he? Should he? Who knows. Could he? Yes.