With the Los Angeles Lakers sitting on a 12-27 record (fourth-worst in the league), reports indicate team superstar Kobe Bryant could be riding the bench for the rest of the season.
The team that faces its worst season since the franchise relocated from Minneapolis to Los Angeles during the 1959-1960 season, the LA Times reports that while the team hasn't decided on the length of play the 36-year-old will have throughout the remainder of the season, it's quite possible the basketball icon will be shut down before the season ends.
LA coach Byron Scott said on Tuesday, following their 78-75 home loss to the Miami Heat, that there have already been internal meetings to discuss the best way to "preserve" Bryant for the remainder of his 1.5 year contract.
"A lot of it is trying to preserve [Bryant] as much as possible," said the coach of the struggling team. "That's the biggest thing, to be honest with you, is just trying to make sure that he can get through this season healthy - relatively healthy - and get ready for the next season as well."
Bryant's remaining contract gives the All-Star and MVP $23.5 million this year with $25 million for the next season.
"This is going to be game by game," added Scott. "And I think it's going to be that way until the end of the season or until March or February if we ever decide to say, 'OK, let's just shut it down for the rest of the season.' We haven't got nowhere near that point at this particular time."
Bryant has already gotten quite a bit of rest in the last few games. Prior to Tuesday's face-off against the Heat, number 24 rested three of the four games leading up to Tuesday night, recalled NJ.com.
While part of it could be preserving the Bryant physically, the site notes that the the team may also be ensuring a top five pick in the upcoming 2015 NBA draft.
"If the Lakers finish with one of the five worst records this season, they keep their pick. But if their place in the standings is higher, then the pick will be turned over to the Phoenix Suns as part of a July 2012 trade in which the Lakers acquired point guard Steve Nash," noted the publication.
LA Daily News also reports that presently, Bryant barely practices and plays with a 32-minute cap, regardless of overtime. Kobe is scheduled to play Thursday and Friday against the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Utah Jazz.
