Kobe's future

Its been a coupla days since Kobe had successful shoulder surgery, followed by the announcement he'd be out for 9 months (just in time for pre-season).  Kobe hasn't played much the last few years (kinda like Derrick Rose) and folks are starting to wonder if he'll ever be back.  With 1yr/$25m left on his deal, I'd say its a foregone conclusion he'll be back next year.  And with Karl Malone's scoring record in his sites, I say he plays hard.  Will he play another year?  Will he got another contract?  I say he does keep playing....and not necessarily with the Lakers.

Look, man, Kobe's been a pro baller since he was a little kid, he's done nothing but basketball for virtually his entire life.  His workouts are legendary, he's the fiercest competitor on the court since MJ, he's never wanted anything but success on the court, his dedication to the game has been life-consuming.  Not to the game of basketball but to HIS game.  And that is entirely the product of ego, which isn't aging as fast as his shoulders and ankles.  As long as his body holds out, why would he ever leave the game?

Will Kobe be a coach?  I doubt it, he knows his own game inside and out but I'm not sure how he helps anyone else's game get better.  Will Kobe be a GM?  I doubt it, I don't think I'd have much faith in his ability to mix and match talent on the court.  Will Kobe be an owner?  I can see that, but there's plenty of time for Kobe to slide comfortably into the easy life of a vapid LA celebrity.  But success as an owner won't feel as good to him, he'll feel removed from the action, perhaps painfully so.  So what is Kobe gonna do?

Kobe's gonna play until he absolutely cannot play any more.  Tom Brady just said he wants to play til he's 45, don't you think Kobe's thinking the same thing?  Given his legendary fitness, he may well last another ten years.  I can totally see Kobe signing 2 or 3 more contracts before he has to whip out two canes to walk on.  He wants to break records, he wants to keep doing what he does, he wants to catch Karl Malone (and then Kareem).  Some would laugh at this notion, but I can see Kobe doing the hired gun thing, sitting out til the All-Star break, picking the right fit, playing hard for 40-50 games.  If he can still make shots, get paid and contribute to a good team, why would he ever leave?  He's got plenty of time to hang around Beverly Hills just being famous all day, I suspect he's in no hurry to get that point.

But the Lakers won't keep him for 10 more years.  The team is in a bad spot right now and $25m for Kobe probably seems like a bargain since he's the only real asset they have.  But they'll be good again soon enough and Kobe will be more of a luxury than they can afford.  Weird to see Kobe in another uni but I think it will happen.  Where does he go?  I say the Sixers.  They could use an SG with some swagger, some experience, preferably familiar with the fickle Philly fans.  The Sixers are a notoriously skinflint team but overpaying a hometown Kobe making buckets isn't necessarily a waste of money.  $15m of Kobe might net them $30m in ticket sales and ancillary markets. And the Sixers are gonna be under the salary cap for the foreseeable future, even an overpaid Kobe wouldn't be too much of a burden to this squad.  And face it: the Sixers aren't getting Durant or Love or Kyrie or Westbrook or anybody that would be any better.  Why not send Kobe out there to catch Karl Malone while the youth movement continues on.  (Remember: I'm not convinced that any of the recent Sixer shenanigans are actually designed to win games, indeed I think they're willing to sacrifice W's forever if it means positive revenue; so bringing in Kobe doesn't get them closer to a championship...so?)

Kobe to the Sixers.  Gonna happen.  And when it does, it'll seem so natural, so perfect.