So Lakers Don't Have a Big Market Appeal?

[AirTupac]

Is that why D'Angelo Russell signed with Nike? You really think the same could be said had he been drafted by the Wolves, Philly, Orlando etc? This UNPROVEN 19 year old rookie gets a Nike deal even after having a lackluster start in SL.

[GIF REACTION]

No one ****ing cares about the Los Angeles Losers.

[kennethgriffin]

what big name game changing superstar free agent has been on the market for LA since 2014



melo?


pass



when KD or A.D or wiggins are FA's... wake me up

[RoundMoundOfReb]

Alpha.

[Droid101]

I don't know. Did Towns, Okafor, Mudiay, Porzingis or anyone else sign big money with a shoe yet?

[Westbrook0]

Who said the Lakers don't have big market appeal? No one ever said that.

They just said no one wants to play with Kobe, which is true.

[Jailblazers7]

Lakers will be just fine. Kobe retires next year. Their young talent rattles off 30-40 wins that year and suddenly they have all of the potential in the world and a ton of cap space. From there we will all watch the FAs roll in.

But seriously OP, pretty much all top 10 players will get a shoe deal. Big difference between signing with Nike and getting a signature deal btw.

[kennethgriffin]

Who said the Lakers don't have big market appeal? No one ever said that.

They just said no one wants to play with Kobe, which is true.

never understood why this is a bad thing


lots of colluders/ring chasers/beta riggers avoid kobe... so in return. kobe avoided them and the asterisks that come with them


kobe goes down as alpha. tough as nails. oldschool. and still manages 5 titles and a top 5 all time career


couldnt be better IMO

[gts]

No one ****ing cares about the Los Angeles Losers.

First one to click on the thread first one to comment... evidently you do

[Beastmode88]

never understood why this is a bad thing


lots of colluders/ring chasers/beta riggers avoid kobe... so in return. kobe avoided them and the asterisks that come with them


kobe goes down as alpha. tough as nails. oldschool. and still manages 5 titles and a top 5 all time career


couldnt be better IMO

kobe still thinks he's the number one option in the last year of his career. he literally told aldridge to be his pau gasol in his last year.

[HurricaneKid]

Is that why D'Angelo Russell signed with Nike? You really think the same could be said had he been drafted by the Wolves, Philly, Orlando etc? This UNPROVEN 19 year old rookie gets a Nike deal even after having a lackluster start in SL.

Bigs don't get shoe deals, at least until they have proven to be elite. Russell was the 1st G taken in the draft. I would bet you could go back 20 years and every single top backcourt player signed a big shoe deal.

And its not that the Lakers don't have a big market appeal. Its that the advantages of being in a big market are far smaller today than in the past.

[SwishSquared]

I don't know. Did Towns, Okafor, Mudiay, Porzingis or anyone else sign big money with a shoe yet?

Mudiay got an Under Armour deal out of HS when he committed to playing in China. Not sure how long that deal was, but I think financially it wasn't a massive term sheet.

Haven't heard any buzz from the other guys, though.

But OP, are we really wondering why a highly-heralded pick in a glamour market clamoring for a successor to the Laker brand got a deal with Nike? I also think he's signing with the Jordan subsidiary. Nike's taking over NBA apparel once the Adidas contract runs out, so it's no surprise that they want somebody in a huge TV market who has All-Star potential locked into their brand.

Jabari Parker got a deal with Jordan last summer after being picked by the Bucks and made online vids with Jordan stablemates CP3 and Blake Griffin shortly afterwards. Wiggins got a deal with Adidas when he got drafted by the Cavs. Picks near top of the draft score shoe deals.

[Millslapped]

no one has ever said this. nice strawman

[Millslapped]

also, it's not unheard of for a player to get a shoe deal early. oladipo (in orlando) signed with jordan in his rookie year. exum (in utah) signed with adidas in his rookie year. it's not some special grant for only players drafted in L.A. like you think it is.

[HylianNightmare]

Let's wait and see the sort of shoe deals the other lottery picks get