SBNation - Laker mystique is dead.

[Springsteen]

http://www.sbnation.com/2015/7/2/888...ee-agency-2015

Some interesting points from the article.

Two seasons in the tank is bad enough. But now, the Lakers have struck out on their top free agent targets three years in a row. In 2013, Dwight Howard decamped for Houston after a bizarre season in L.A. and an even weirder courtship. In 2014, Carmelo Anthony chose the awful Knicks over the awful Lakers and LeBron didn't even bother considering L.A.

And now, the Lakers appear to have lost all three of their top free agent targets on Day 1 of the 2015 free agency festival. Kevin Love decided to stay in Cleveland, Jimmy Butler is staying in Chicago and LaMarcus Aldridge has reportedly ruled out L.A. after a late-night meeting.

Reflect on that for a second. The Lakers were envious that the Rockets could make a legitimate basketball case to Aldridge because the Rockets, you know, have great players. The Lakers do not. This turns out to be a pretty big deal!

It's also at least in part due to Kobe, or more accurately the crazy contract extension the Lakers gave to Kobe. He's on the books for $25 million this season. L.A. was essentially unable to offer Aldridge a second free agent star because of Kobe's contract. The Lakers would have no problem promising a co-star in 2016 when the cap rises and Kobe's deal falls off the books. But why would Aldridge waste a year of his prime mentoring up rookies and popping shots out of Bryant's shadow when there are options to contend for a title elsewhere?

This is also where we note that the Lakers' 2016 first-round pick will transfer to the Sixers unless it lands in the top three. This was a really bad July 1 to botch given that there's even less upside than normal in being awful next year. Unless L.A. can pull a DeMarcus Cousins out of a hat or something, this could get even worse before it gets better.

So much for Lakers exceptionalism.

Thoughts?

[J Shuttlesworth]

Once Kobe retires, people will want to play there again. Most of the real Laker fans have accepted this.

[Derka]

Once Kobe retires, people will want to play there again. Most of the real Laker fans have accepted this.

There's a lot more to that than people think.

I don't want to say its an outright anti-Kobe sentiment, either. But while he's there, its his team and he eats first. I don't think other guys looking to put a stamp in that franchise's history would relish the idea of being second fiddle to Kobe right off the jump.

[GIF REACTION]

There's a lot more to that than people think.

I don't want to say its an outright anti-Kobe sentiment, either. But while he's there, its his team and he eats first. I don't think other guys looking to put a stamp in that franchise's history would relish the idea of being second fiddle to Kobe right off the jump.

No.... it's just Kobe...

[Magic 32]

I wonder if SBnation writers get paid by volume.

[TheMarkMadsen]

Once Kobe's contract is up and the cap is higher , people will want to play there again. Most of the real Laker fans have accepted this.

Fixed that for you..

Anyways.

The media seems to be chomping at the bit to put out anything negative about the lakers/ Kobe

Meanwhile other players get marketing campaigns built around excuses for losing.

I guess when you've been winning for so long the haters just line up to see you fall.. The media is still butthurt after Kobe made them eat shit when he proved he could "do it without Shaq"

Funny how the biggest stories so far haven't been where these players are going, but instead that they're not going to the lakers..

[Magic 32]

A lot of conclusions considering the 3 "failures" he is mentioning.

Dwight is a spineless loser.

Carmelo is a cancer and a money-first guy.

LA has yet to make any official statement.

And all this during a time then the Lakers best players are either under 20 or over 36.

[Le Shaqtus]

That's what happens when you give all your money to an egotistical has been.

[STATUTORY]

that's why we secured meetings with all the top FAs right

[Lebron23]

That's what happens when you give all your money to an egotistical has been.

Le Shaqtus with no regard for human life.

[Doranku]

Ever since Jerry died, the organization has been in a free fall.

Jim Buss

[Springsteen]

that's why we secured meetings with all the top FAs right

Securing meetings = Current FA Juggernaut? By that logic, the Knicks are just as influential.

[STATUTORY]

Ever since Jerry died, the organization has been in a free fall.

Jim Buss

The buss family needs to sell the team NOW

they are too chickenshit and small potatoes in term of networth to own a team like the lakers

Dan Gilbert can buy the Buss family OUTRIGHT

[Haymaker]

Lakers died with Jerry Buss.

[ShackEelOKneel]

Apparently Lakers offered Monroe a max contract and he still chose Bucks

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