http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1832381
I'm hoping this was planned out long beforehand with Kobe.
Suns = 106M
Laker = 136M
With taxes and last year flex option, the numbers are even closer than that.
Suns contract , 10% raises 1,417,500$ per year
1st year................2nd year.............3rd year..............4th year...
14,175,000$........15,592,500$........17,010,000$..........18,427,500$
5th year..............6th year.
19,845,000$........21,262,500$
=6yrs/106.3M$
Lakers contract, 12.5% raises 1,771,875$ per year
1st year..............2nd year........3rd year..........4th year..........5th year
14,175,000$......15,946,875$....17,718,750$.....19,490,625$.....21,262,500$
6th year...............( 7th year )
23,034,375$..........(24,806,250$)
=6yrs/111.6M$ or 7yrs/136.4M$
Why the 7th year doesn't really matter?
Because whatever contract Kobe signs he will almost definately opt out before he ever plays the 7th year to sign another contract again or he will sign an extension before.
With respect to tax rates, la's highest bracket is 9.3%, phoenix is 5.04%.
Arizona 1st year...2nd year......3rd year.....4th year.....5th year.......6th year
714,420$.......... 785,862$......857,304$....928,746$....1,000,188$...1,071,630$
Total taxes over the 6 seasons = 5,358,150$
California 1st year....2nd year......3rd year......4th year.......5th year
1,318,275$............1,483,059$...1,647,844$...1,812,628$....1,977,412$
6th year
2,142,197$
Total taxes over the first 6 seasons = 10,381,415$
Saves Kobe Bryant 5.3M$ taxes. The contract difference over the first 6 seasons is 5.3M$ in favor of the Lakers.
Conclusion?
Money doesn't make a difference whether he chooses Phoenix or LA. If he signed with San Antonio it would be financially even better for Kobe.
