We talk a lot about the upcoming free-agent class this summer, with the like of LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and Amare Stoudemire all having the potential to sign elsewhere this offseason.
But here's a name that could also join that class: Kobe Bryant.
He's yet to sign an extension with the Lakers, and has an early-termination clause on his contract, meaning he can get out of the last year of his contract this summer -- he stands to make $24 million with the Lakers next year -- and test the open market.
Is it unlikely he leaves the situation he has in Los Angeles? Probably.
But as ESPN's Chris Sheridan noted in his chat yesterday, if Phil Jackson doesn't come back next season, the Bulls could be in play for Kobe.
He may be a little older than their other potential shooting-guard gets in Dwyane Wade and Joe Johnson, but he still has tremendous value in the league right now.
Chris Sheridan
Kobe could come into play for the Bulls
"If Kobe Bryant continues to say no to the extension the Lakers are offering him, and if Phil Jackson starts to talk as though he's leaving, Chicago comes onto the radar in a big, big way. Remember, when Kobe was trying to force a trade two and a half years ago, the Bulls were the team working most diligently to get him -- right up until two days before the season-opener."
Chad Ford
Kobe could use other teams' cap space as leverage with Lakers
"It's interesting. His camp has been talking about an extension since last summer. It hasn't happened. I think Jerry Buss is playing hard ball. Kobe is in a good position if he's really willing to leave L.A. Lots of teams have cap room. The Knicks would love to land him as an alternative to LeBron. Ditto for the Bulls and Clippers. My guess is he uses it as leverage to get Buss to pay him more money. But we could see some drama this summer surrounding it, but eventually I think Kobe will end up back in L.A.with the Lakers."
opcorn:
