pt,
The Lakers wont be able to spend much until 2007. There was a 5 game strech last year that Jackson coached the Lakers w/o Shaq, Kobe and Malone. He said it was one the most enjoyable periods of coaching he has ever had. Phil Jackson loves being in the spotlight. If you notice all the bargaining he is doing is going on during the most important part of the NBA season. He loves the idea of breaking Reds record by showing he can do it w/o a ready made team. If my source is right the Lakers had a very formal meeting with Kupchek, Buss and Jackson involved....Kobe was not part of these talks. They came out of the talks and said there would be a press conf. next week to make some sort of announcement. I think it will be interesting to see if Kobe really is an untouchable in the Laker organization.