Los Angeles Lakers VP Jim Buss clears the air on Kobe Bryant - NBA Update
Jim Buss, Los Angeles Lakers executive vice president has emerged as a new power broker over the years. This was a painful transition for Kobe Bryant as he has a strong influence over the franchise, especially when it comes to
matters related with the team. Naturally when the status quo was challenged Kobe differed to go down without a fight, there have been numerous issues in which the two tycoons found themselves on different pages.
The traces of the intractability can be traced back to Andrew Bynum, Jim kept a consistent stance about not trading All-Star centre Andrew Bynum while Kobe wanted him to do otherwise.
Things aggravated with Pau Gasol episode, Kobe went public on this one and was found telling the franchise to find out what to do with Gasol. He was surrounded in trade winds since being part of the failed Chris Paul trade saga
in December.
Naturally this all attracted a huge criticism from the fans and Jim started to lose his popularity. However things changed recently after Jim went all for a confidence building campaign.
Buss during a session with ESPNLosAngeles.com cleared the air, as he said that it’s vital to take players into confidence especially under the circumstances that deal with uncertainty. But it is also difficult to update the players
on a minute to minute routine. He continued that he is communicating more with Kobe now and he cleared the issues over a dinner.
“Yes, we had dinner,” Buss said. “We talk all the time now. What it is is, be it my fault, I should communicate more with the players in a certain way”.
In the wake of the recent development Buss said that he took Kobe in confidence before replacing Mike Brown with former Coach Phil Jackson. Though Kobe didn’t comment about the new coach but there were vibes that could lead us
to assume that things are not that smooth.
Before black mamba’s injury the coach replaced him with Metta World Peace during a crucial match at the death. Kobe didn’t say anything but naturally he was not happy as the Lakers lost that match due to their clutch shooting maestro
on bench.
This was just a ripple as the VP solidified Kobe Position after showing his intentions in keeping him for more than 2 or 3 seasons. Kobe is a life time Laker and Buss thinks of nothing less. During a radio interview on Friday he
reiterated that Kobe is going nowhere.
"I might disagree with you that Kobe only has three or four years left, but we'll see," Buss said. "As you see, we make trades and our whole focus isn't to win a sixth (championship)”. I think Kobe is going to be a Laker for
life and I'm pretty sure he's not going to hang them up after two years."
This is a powerful statement, especially after the collective bargaining agreement the franchise is not making the escalating profits as it once used to do. Moreover Kobe is one of the most expensive and successful player in NBA.
He is earning around $25.2 this season and it is estimated that his salary will range to $30.5 in 2014.
He is 33 and this means he will have salary cuts in the next contract. It will be interesting to know what the franchise can offer him in the next agreement. As VP himself said Kobe is Laker for life.
For now, apparently things have cooled down between the two and the Lakers are in an upswing 3rd in Western Conference. We shall have to wait and see if the Kobe and company can bring another championship home.
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