Kobe Signs Two-Year Extension With Lakers

Kobe Bryant signed a two-year extension on his contract worth 48.5 million dollars, 23.5 in the first year and 25 in the second year making him still the highest paid player in the NBA

“This is a very happy day for Lakers fans and for the Lakers organization,” Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak said in a statement released by the team. “We’ve said all along that our priority and hope was to have Kobe finish his career as a Laker, and this should ensure that happens. To play 20 years in the NBA, and to do so with the same team, is unprecedented, and quite an accomplishment. Most importantly however, it assures us that one of the best players in the world will remain a Laker, bringing us excellent play and excitement for years to come.”

The salary cap has been a big talking point of the Lakers as they don't have many other contracts for next season and were primed to make a big splash in Free Agency namely Carmelo Anthony and Lebron James. The Lakers still have enough money to offer a max contract next season but that would make it virtually impossible to keep Pau Gasol as he has stated he wont take a pay cut, also it would be hard to see how they keep Jordan Hill, Farmar, Steve Blake, Meeks, Kaman and Wes Johnson should they spend their remaining 22 million on a max contract.

This extension adds more questions about the Lakers' future now with many fans hoping Kobe would take a Tim Duncan or Kevin Garnett style pay cut and accept a 10-15 mill contract.
Kobe is all about winning but we have to wonder was this the best option for a ring? He will most likely be a Laker for life now unless he is traded down the road.