By Matthew Klein
The Knicks can cross off Kobe Bryant off their wish-list as he signed a three year extension with the Lakers Friday. Bryant, 31, signed the deal which will keep him on the team he has played for his whole career till the 2013-14 season. Bryant could have opted out of his deal which would have let him become a free agent with the likes of Lebron James and Dwayne Wade. "It's something that could have been done much earlier" said Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak.
Bryant, who is one of the most popular Lakers of all time and has helped lead them to four championships wanted to wait for the team to sign Pau Gasol so he would be assured he has the pieces to help him out in the future. "I thought it was only a matter of time and that it would get done sooner or later" Gasol said to reporters.
The focus now will set to whether Phil Jackson will be the coach for next year. "I don't think the organization's position with Phil has changed" said Kupchak. The Lakers will wait till after the season is over to do that as they want no distractions while they move toward the playoffs to defend their championship.
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