Rebuild

The rebuild is never a pretty scene.

And as Lakers fans, it's time to pick up the pieces and deal with reality.

It's 2014. Free agents are not going to sign to the Lakers just to live in LA, play for a storied franchise, and have an access pass to Hollywood.

That's not enough to entice the big names.

Sure you can grab a Lance Stephenson or a Nick Young based on those things and the right amount of money. Sure you can have a journeyman like Kendall Marshall become a respectable NBA bench player because he put on purple and gold last year.

But the big guys know that their success will ultimately be tied to winning. They are financially secure. Money will continue to follow them as long as their successful. Do you think Chris Bosh, Lebron James, and Dwayne Wade ultimately lost money when they each took a few million dollars less than their market value to team up on the Heat? Of course not. Their stars only grew.

Players have the internet and social media to build their brands these days. Kevin Durant has done just fine in OKC. Even guys like Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving, who have never seen a playoff game and play in the middle of nowhere, are in national commercial campaigns and are highly regarded by basketball fans everywhere.

Free agents want to go to teams that can offer them the best basketball opportunities, fair market contracts, and success.

The Lakers have only 1/3 of those components. The only problem is Kobe Bryant's obscene contract dampens what their capable of doing with that salary space.

Here's a newsflash...

NO STAR PLAYER IN THEIR PRIME WANTS TO PLAY ALONGSIDE A STUBBORN, OLD, INJURY PRONE KOBE BRYANT MAKING MORE MONEY THAN THEY ARE.

It's easy to dump on Kobe these days, but that is the reality.

Kobe Bryant is embarking on his own Derek Jeter tour these final two years.

Think of the Godfather Part III. That's Kobe's 2 year $ 48 million dollar contract. Think of Michael Corleone in Godfather Parts I and II and compare him to Michael Corleone in Godfather Part III. That's Kobe Bryant before his injuries and in his prime compared to Kobe Bryant with a torn achilles and broken knee.

But hey, it's not his fault...someone actually had to offer him that contract in order for him to accept it.

After a failed free agency that I believe Lakers management w
as semi-expecting, they have traded for Jeremy Lin who is owed a ridiculous salary this next season. But even more crazy is the 2 year, 18 million dollar contract that they've signed Jordan Hill.

One thing is clear. Lakers are probably not taking any long term contracts until Kobe's runs off the books in two years.

The bright side is that Julius Randle can really develop these next two years.

And the Lakers are really going to need that. Because hopefully the next time the big stars are free agents, it will appear that they have an actual plan and are building towards something.