Lakers Expected to let Kobe Bryant Test Free Agent Waters

It sounds crazy Sports Fans, but if you can believe what you read on the internet than the landscape of the NBA could become severely altered next season. Why?

Because the Lakers are going to let superstar Kobe Bryant become a free agent.

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The reason behind what many will see as the most baffling move in recent sports history is pretty simple--money. Kobe's talent brings a pretty hefty price tag and the Lakers are not likely going to be competitive enough to warrant it. 

According to an article in the OC Register:

He [Bryant]becomes a free agent at the end of the season, and Jim Buss says because of the pay structure of the NBA, the Lakers will allow Kobe to become a free agent.

He [Buss] says he has talked to Kobe and believes they have an understanding, Bryant waiting as a free agent while the team spends to upgrade and then using what is left over to pay Kobe.

Kobe didn't really want to address the issue choosing instead to concentrate on his game.

While money is a factor it could also be because of doubt that Kobe still has the skill that mandates a salary as lofty as his. He has had a series of health issues in recent years along with the Achilles injury that ended his season early last year. Eventually they all have to catch up with him and Buss probably doesn't want to be paying Kobe the money he is if/when it happens.

Most folks will probably respond with "but this is Kobe; there is no way he is anything but awesome." Yeah, we thought the same about Michael Jordan during his last comeback too.

We'll find out soon enough if Kobe is still Kobe, and if he is one of two things will end up happening. Either Buss will eat his words and pay his superstar what he is do or Kobe will do like a whole host of former superstars and finish his last season or two in a different uniform.

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