Seventy games. As of Monday, only 70 games and however many contests the playoffs may hold for them remain for the Los Angeles Lakers before the end of the 2013-14 season. And before Kobe Bryant, one of the most celebrated Lakers in the franchise's history, becomes an unrestricted free agent.
Before one of the most glorious chapters in Lakers history, one that bore witness to five world titles hanging from the rafters of the Staples Center, could potentially come to a close.
Signing Bryant, a former NBA MVP in 2008, 15-time NBA All-Star, two-time league scoring champion and two-time NBA Finals MVP, seems like a no-brainer. Last season, at age 34, Bryant proved he still had the right stuff by single-handedly powering the Lakers into the playoffs with a late season blitzkrieg of scoring and domination that ended only when he tore his Achilles tendon on April 12. Yet, his performance drew rave reviews. The New York Times called the game "some of the finest work of his career."
However, Bryant's age—he'll be 37 years old when the 2014-15 season tips off next October—and the seriousness of his injury give the Lakers plenty to think about when the offseason comes around. Do they pay him the max contract he is entitled to, and arguably deserves, while pairing him with another big superstar in free agency? Or do they cut their losses and go in a younger direction?
There are good reasons both for and against those moves.
On the one hand, Bryant is a legend. A star whose name belongs in Lakers lore alongside names such as Magic, Kareem, Shaq, James Worthy, and George Mikan. The public relations cry would be widespread in Lakers Nation if the front office lets the beloved Bryant walk before he's ready to hang it up for keeps in purple-and-gold. Plus, if what he did last season was any indication, Bryant's nowhere near done. When his team needed him, and they risked missing the playoffs for the first time in his now-17 year career, he dug down deep and answered with 26.0 points and 46.8 shooting from the field and 30.5 points in April before he got hurt. That's what separates the great players from the good ones, the superstars from the talented—the ability to rise up to any challenge, no matter the size.
On the other hand, one has to ask: how long? How much longer can Kobe keep this up? With the clock running out on him and a tough injury that has robbed even the greatest of athletes of the explosive step in their legs, how much longer can Kobe Bryant still be Kobe Bryant, the Black Mamba, the game-changing, nigh-unstoppable scorer that has reigned down terror on NBA defenses for nearly two decades and brought five more rings to Los Angeles? Knowing these things, is it wise for the Lakers to hold onto Bryant out of sentimentality and the uninsurable idea that he can fully recover and still play at his Hall of Fame-level greatness? And let's not forget, pairing Bryant together with another superstar hasn't always worked out. Sure, Shaq and Kobe brought three rings and four NBA Finals appearances to the Lakers, but their split was bitter and messy. And speaking of messy, there is Exhibit B—Dwight Howard. Everyone knows by now how acrimonious their short-lived partnership in L.A. was last season, one that added more needless drama to a season that was already largely in turmoil. Will bringing in another big name in his prime to the Lakers create yet more infighting?
What the Lakers decide to do regarding arguably one of the greatest to ever play the game is something only time will tell. But if the Lakers decide to part ways with Bryant, there is a promising crop of free agents out there next summer, with a few big names that can potentially replace Kobe as the Lakers' new superstar.
Latino Post breaks down the best possible free agents—who may or may not come—that the Lakers can sign next offseason who could replace Kobe Bryant:
5. Dirk Nowitzki
Why He Will
One of the best forwards to ever play the game, the former NBA champion and 2006-07 league MVP still has the touch at age 36, averaging 19.2 points and 5.2 rebounds for the Dallas Mavericks this season. But with Dallas having fallen into disarray after many of the stars of the 2010-11 team that did the unthinkable and beat Miami for the NBA Championship left, Mavs legend Nowitzki may want one last shot at the James Naismith trophy, and L.A. might be just the place to get it.
Why He Won't
Nowitzki IS the Mavericks. He's the greatest player to ever wear a Dallas uniform, no question about it. He wouldn't be the first player to ever leave the only team he ever played for his entire career, but with Nowitzki's Hall of Fame legacy all but assured, maybe he would rather live out his playing days with the team that drafted him with the ninth pick in the 1998 NBA Draft. Yes, that's ninth pick. The Clippers, Grizzlies, Denver, Toronto, Golden State, Sacramento and Philadelphia all passed up on the future 11-time NBA All-Star before Milwaukee, who picked Nowitzki and traded him that night to Dallas for the late Robert Traylor, whose career never quite took off in the NBA. Unbelievable, right?
4. Zach Randolph (Players Option)
Why He Will
On offense, he's a presence (15.1 points this season). On defense, he's a beast—intimidating, nearly immovable and relentless. Randolph has not only been the star, but also essentially the heart of what has made Memphis one of the best teams in the West since arriving in 2011. He might not be a spring chicken at age 32, but the talented, board-grabbing Randolph has the ability to give the Lakers the defensive presence down low in the post that they are missing with Dwight Howard gone. And if Randolph wants a ring, going to the Lakers may at least give him a fighting chance on a team with more money to burn than the smaller Memphis market does.
Why He Won't
He's still due a $16.5 million option if he stays put in Memphis. It's hard to say "No" to that kind of money, even for a title shot. Plus, Randolph's last stint in a big market with a struggling team—his 2007-08 run with the 23-59 Knicks—probably left a bad taste in his mouth. He might not want to try that all over again.
3. Rudy Gay
Why He Will
Memphis was known for years as a defensive powerhouse with little offensive sizzle, but Gay's light shone brightly during those years. Gay is explosive, and he can be handful for defenses to contain. He won't come cheap, nor should he, but at age 27 and in his prime, Gay is a star with a lot of upside and the legs to keep up with Mike D'Antoni's running offense. He might not yet be a superstar, but he is a star in the making, and with the right pieces and a—presumably—slightly more affordable price than some of the other big names on the market, the Lakers can build a more complete roster with Gay as the cornerstone.
Why He Won't
Gay has made a splash in Memphis and Toronto, but those are fairly small markets. Not everyone can rise to the expectations of playing in a big market, which is the epitome of what the Lakers represent. Gay might be content to be a big fish in a little pond for a while. Plus, while Gay is very good, the Lakers may be looking for someone with more superstar appeal to draw in future free agents. Gay has the talent, but he might not have the "I've gotta play with that guy" factor necessary to draw big names out to Hollywood.
2. LeBron James (Early Termination Option)
Why He Will
If there is one person that could possibly fill Bryant's shoes, it would have to be the man who is quite possibly the best player on the planet right now. James' resume is without equal: four league MVP trophies, two NBA titles, nine NBA All-Star Game appearances, two NBA Finals MVP awards, five NBA All Defensive First Teams, seven All-NBA First Teams, two Olympic gold medals, an NBA scoring title (2008), and that's just the short list. James has a good thing going with the Heat right now, there's no doubt about that. But with the Lakers having salary cap space to burn and a proven reputation as a winning franchise, James could jump at a chance to head to the warmth, lights, glamour and marketing opportunities of Hollywood, where the biggest basketball star in the game could grow even larger.
Why He Won't
The Heat are likely to three-peat this year as NBA champs. If LeBron, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh stay onboard, Miami could be on the verge of a truly special dynasty. Is that worth leaving to head to a city where his every move will be scrutinized and the roster is one big question mark? Carrying a team by himself is what drove James out of small market Cleveland, and the prospect seems no more appealing in the big city of L.A.
1. Carmelo Anthony (Early Termination Option)
Why He Will
In terms of dominant scorers, Melo has all the tools to be "The Man" in L.A. Bryant, a lethal defender, has stated himself that he would rather guard James over the strong-as-a-bull Anthony, who packs a lot of power into his 6'8", 235-pound frame. Paired with the right players to compliment his tremendous scoring talents—which the Lakers have the room to add next season, unlike the Knicks—and that sounds like the recipe for yet another NBA title banner for L.A. to be hanging from the rafters, which is the most important accolade that has eluded Anthony.
Why He Won't
Two words: Mike D'Antoni.
It was no secret that Anthony was no fan of D'Antoni's frantic "Seven Seconds or Less" offense that favored the fast break, which Melo, who likes his spots and is more effective as an isolation player, did not like. And while there are conflicting reports as to whether D'Antoni was forced out by Anthony, given the rumored friction and history between the two, it's hard to see Anthony wearing a Lakers uniform with D'Antoni on the sidelines.
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