Mitch has a HuGE TV contract to look after .......sucking up to those executives is his PRIME objective....meaning he needs to keep the customer happy......which means winning or putting stars on the floor ....Lakers need a top show......so the TV people can charge their customers for premium air time. Kobe is the ONLY star they have or CAN get right now.
They had NO chance of making noise from the get go...nobody wanted to play with Kobe....nobody really wants his whining tail on their team a this point ....he is terrible teammate ...no Melo , Howard , LeBron , Love , Bosh or any other star.
Mitch only choice was to resign Kobe for mega bucks . Give the TV people and fans some reason to,tune in....even if he is over the hill as. NBA star. People still want to see a legion play.
If Mitch really wanted to be competitive , he'd brought in some serious close to star fire power like Mavs did to go with Dirk ..... Instead ...he threw in the towel.....dumped Pau ......and will tank for the best new center. .
Lakers are tanking and Kobe is being PAID to assist them . Just go out and play for a couple years whlle Lakers get top picks .