Apparently Kobe Bryant won't hit the free-agent market, after all.
T.J. Simers of the Orange County Register recently reported that Los Angeles Lakers executive vice president Jim Buss was planning on letting Bryant hit free agency before later re-signing him in the name of financial flexibility.
But Buss put an end to that rumor, telling ESPN's Ramona Shelburne that Bryant won't become a free agent at all:
"I want to put an end to any speculation that we would allow Kobe to become a free agent," Buss told ESPNLosAngeles.com on Friday night. "That's not going to happen. Kobe is a top priority for us. He's a Laker legend and always will be. I don't think we're done winning championships with him yet.
"[Lakers general manager] Mitch Kupchak and [Bryant's agent] Rob Pelinka have been talking, but with him being hurt, it has slowed the process some. I don't know when it'll get done, but I have faith in Rob and Mitch to work things out."
Buss seems pretty adamant, but when it comes down to it, it really doesn't matter whether or not Bryant hits free agency for some period of time. The e ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NBA
Article written by Tim Keeney
Jim Buss Denies Rumor That Lakers Will Allow Kobe Bryant to Become Free Agent
October 25th, 2013 by Tim Keeney Leave a reply »
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