Bryant does not opt out of contract
By The Associated Press
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| Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant (24) and teammates celebrate after deafeating the Orlando Magic 99-86 during Game 5 of the NBA basketball finals Sunday, June 14, 2009, in Orlando, Fla. ((AP Photo/Orlando Sentinel, Jacob Langston) ) |
Kobe Bryant insisted his contract status wouldn’t be an issue, and he was right.
Now the Los Angeles Lakers can turn their attention to some NBA champion teammates.
Bryant chose not to terminate the final two years of his contract and will remain with the Lakers, the team he wanted to leave just two summers ago.
Team spokesman John Black on Wednesday confirmed Bryant’s decision. The MVP of the NBA finals had until Tuesday to become an unrestricted free agent, but downplayed questions about his future plans throughout the Lakers’ five-game victory over Orlando.
Now the Lakers and Bryant’s agent will negotiate a contract extension. If they somehow cannot agree, he would earn $23 million next season and could opt out next June.
Alston excited to return home: Rafer Alston, unlike a lot of NBA players, isn’t the least bit bothered about being traded to the New Jersey Nets.
“I’m excited,” said Alston, who was packaged with forward/center Tony Battie and guard Courtney Lee by the Magic in order to receive Vince Carter and Ryan Anderson in a pre-draft deal. “Most people get upset and are disappointed about being traded, but for me, this is a great feeling. It’s definitely a dream come true. I’m coming home to play in front of my family and friends.”
Alston, a New York playground legend known by the unique nickname of “Skip to my Lou,” learned of the trade to the Nets last week from a friend while Alston was visiting his family in his home of Jamaica, Queens.
Mavs happy after meeting with Kidd: Mavericks owner Mark Cuban probably slept pretty soundly after his early morning meeting with Jason Kidd.
Cuban had a 12:01 a.m. meeting Wednesday with Kidd in New York.
Later Wednesday, Cuban wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press that the get-together “went well, i was really happy how it turned out.”
