Kobe Bryant serves as the perfect symbol for the argument by the players' union that they drive the NBA's popularity. Yet, the Lakers star reportedly urged his colleagues to accept a 50-50 split in basketball-related income.

Bryant definitely loves making money, and is paid lots of it, ranging from his remaining three years, $83.5 million with the Lakers and his Nike endorsement deals. But he also recognizes he has limited years left in winning as many championships as possible. Whether Bryant wants to admit it, time also appears closing in on his chance to climb up the NBA's all-time scoring list. 

He is sixth on the list with 27,868 points, trailing Shaquille O'Neal (28,596), Wilt Chamberlain (31,419), Michael Jordan (32,292), Karl Malone (36,928) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387). So it's only realistic he can pass O'Neal this season and possibly throw a parting shot at his former nemesis and teammate. Even with a compressed 66-game schedule, however, Bryant will likely surpass Chamberlain and Jordan before his contract ends.

It remains unclear to what degree Bryant's prolonged off-season and innovative procedure on his right knee will do to his game. But just for the sake of playing it safe, let's assume Bryant can maintain the 25.3 points per game average he posted last season through the rest of his career. Through 230 regular-season games, Bryant would score 5,819 points in 230 regular-season games, putting him still in third place ahead of Jordan with 33,282 points. It's never fair to compare Bryant and Jordan since they're players of their own time, but that milestone and Bryant's quest for a sixth championship ring will inevitably spark that debate. 

But it's unlikely given Bryant's nature that he'll be satisfied with only passing Jordan. Surpassing Karl Malone and Abdul-Jabbar, however, remain unrealistic should Bryant play for only three more seasons. He would have to average 39.39 points through 230 regular-season games to eclipse Malone and 45.73 points in that span to surpass Abdul-Jabbar. 

Of course, this all presumes Bryant won't sit out a game and won't suffer any more serious injuries. Something tells me Bryant has prepared for this challenge. 

RELATED:

How will work stoppage affect Kobe Bryant's scoring?

Shaquille O'Neal calls Kobe Bryant 'greatest Laker of all time'

Kobe Bryant still needs to pace himself during 2011-2012 season

--Mark Medina

Email the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

Photo: Kobe Bryant and the Lakers will be one of the first teams to hear from fans when they are part of a season-opening tripleheader on Christmas Day. Credit: Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times

Finally, we can talk about money and contract lengths without feeling further agitated about the NBA's labor dispute.

With both sides agreeing to the overall framework of a new collective bargaining agreement, we can now apply those economic terms to free agency, slated to coincide with training camp beginning Dec. 9. The CBA affects how teams will approach free agency, but there's something more tantalizing about discussing this issue than over the previous fight between millionaires and billionaires. I put together an extensive list this off-season of free agent profiles. But below are the four free agents who both fill the Lakers' needs and appear to be feasible in acquisitions.

Laker fans will either suffer a rude awakening or feel validated in their unyielding faith in the purple and gold.

Even with a new coach, an aging roster and improved opponents, they still believe the Lakers will win their 17th championship this season. In our online poll, 68.1% of those responding believe the Lakers will carry the Larry O'Brien trophy on a championship parade at season's end.

That's a much better image than that four-game sweep to the Dallas Mavericks that ended the last Lakers season. The sight of Andrew Bynum clotheslining J.J. Barea, Phil Jackson ending his storied coaching career on a bad note and Mark Cuban celebrating like a rock star remain fresh in the minds of Laker fans. And in this case, that might be a good thing. A plurality of fans (34.5%) believe the motivation from such a poor playoff showing will help make the difference. Also, 62.4% believe the Lakers will win between 50 and 59 games (in a 66-game season, no less); 66% predict the shortened schedule will sharpen the Lakers' focus and improve their rest; 87.1% say Pau Gasol will immediately bounce back from a poor playoff showing; and 71.9% predict Lamar Odom will remain consistent. In something that rarely sparks optimism, 64.1% also believe Bynum will remain injury-free. 

--The Times' Mike Bresnahan explains why the Lakers may have trouble securing so-called "amnesty" players, such as Baron Davis, Brandon Roy or Rashard Lewis.

--Sports Illustrated's Sam Amick obtains a seven-page letter National Basketball Players' Assn. Executive Director Billy Hunter wrote to the players about the steps leading up to training camp beginning Dec. 9.

--The Orange County Register's Carlos Arias reports that Nirra Fields, who has Mike Brown as her legal  guardian, isn't eligible to play for Mater Dei.

--ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard reports that Chris Paul wants to play for the Knicks. 

--The Orange County Register's Janis Carr looks at some of the free agents the Lakers might pursue. 

--Ball Don't Lie's Kelly Dwyer expresses appreciation for Kobe Bryant's work ethic but doesn't consider him to be the greatest Laker. 

--Fox Sports breaks down the winners and losers in the NBA lockout. 

--Sheridan Hoops' Mark Heisler reports the Lakers will try to acquire both Dwight Howard and Paul. 

--Sports Illustrated's Zach Lowe breaks down what the amnesty clause will do to the league. 

--ESPN Los Angeles' Andy Kamenetzky wonders what the Lakers' offense will look like under Mike Brown.

--ESPN Los Angeles' Brian Kamenetzky examines how the new collective bargaining agreement affects the Lakers.

--Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix breaks down the league's top free agents. 

--Pro Basketball Talk's Rob Mahoney believes the Lakers are at a franchise crossroads. 

--NBA.com's Shaun Powell believes Commissioner David Stern has left the league in better shape. 

--Lakers.com's Mike Trudell has an extended Q&A with Lakers' play-by-play announcer John Ireland about eating healthy on the road. 

--Forum Blue and Gold's J.M. Poulard reflects on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's career.

--Silver Screen and Roll's Ben R. breaks down the CBA. 

Tweet of the Day: "I've been told any deal involving @CP3 is unlikely as long as the NBA is the de facto owner of the Hornets. They don't want that PR mess." -- ChrisMannixSI(Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix)

Rick Friedman Reader Comment of the Day: "Shaq's playing days may be over, but his playing with us, is just getting started. 'The Big Mouth' will always have something to say that is entertaining. This is why I have a 'love/hate' relationship with him. If he wasn't so lovable, you'd want to kill him. - Fatty

--Mark Medina

Email the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

Photo: Among potential 'amnesty' free agents the Lakers might pursue (from left) are point guard Baron Davis, shooting guard Brandon Roy and forward Rashard Lewis. Photos from Associated Press.

1. Less rest between games. The NBA won't release its compressed 66-game schedule until possibly later this week, but one thing remains clear: The whole notion that the Lakers will benefit from a shortened season will prove to be unfounded. The schedule will feature teams playing at least one set of back-to-back-to-back games on three consecutive nights. The schedule helps mitigate that somewhat since 48 of the 66 games come against conference opponents. But that's not enough. Whatever benefits players received from prolonged rest this off-season will quickly evaporate.

2. Demand for focus increases. The Lakers have notoriously treated parts of the regular season with seeming disinterest. Part of that's understandable, because three consecutive Finals appearances proves taxing. The Lakers will also likely enter the 2011-2012 season motivated from last season's poor playoff showing in the Western Conference semifinals against Dallas. But any temptation to coast through games will hurt their development even more. 

Anytime a Lakers player held the ball on the perimeter last season, the defenses left them wide open. And in Metta World Peace's case, the Staples Center crowd gasped, knowing disaster might ensue.

Saying the Lakers' three-point shooting last season remained a problem doesn't emphasize the severity enough. Their regular-season three-point shooting (35.2%), post-season mark (28.9%) and overall clip from with 16-23 feet (28.9%) exposed all sorts of problems that left the team vulnerable.The perimeter players stubbornly took the open shots. Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol didn't receive enough paint touches as defenses collapsed on them. And Kobe Bryant then felt further compelled to take over, with mixed success.

In something that proves to be a no-brainer, The Times' Mike Bresnahan reports that the Lakers are "monitoring" whether the Washington Wizards will waive Rashard Lewis' two-year, $43.8-million contract through the new amnesty clause. Lewis' 34.7% mark from three-point range last season may have marked his worst percentage since 2002, but the Lakers' supporting cast could help Lewis return to his normal numbers (39%). The Wizards may shed ties with Lewis because of his bulky contract, but the market value will immediately make Lewis more affordable. And for someone who enjoys the limelight, Lewis wouldn't feel overwhelmed with the Hollywood spotlight.

Oh, there are some uncertainities. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Ira Winderman reported that teams under the salary cap could offer Lewis as little as $3 million, and that Lewis wouldn't become a free agent unless he received no bids. Lewis also refused to have surgery on his bothersome right knee. Even if most of the Lakers' perimeter players vowed they worked more on their shooting this off-season, Lewis' résumé still suggests he'd be a better alternative.

RELATED:

Baron Davis wouldn't fit in with Lakers

Lakers can upgrade outside shooting from within

Brandon Roy could be risky for the Lakers

— Mark Medina

Email the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

Photo: Rashard Lewis played for the Orlando Magic before being traded to the Washington Wizards last season. It's possible the Wizards could waive him via the amnesty clause. Credit: Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times 

That sudden wave of relief Laker fans feel over a salvaged NBA season will quickly evaporate over a sobering reality.

The Purple and Gold has issues, and Las Vegas oddmakers have noticed, which is why they have given the Miami Heat better odds at winning the 2012 NBA championship. MGM Mirage's race and sports director Jay Rood considers Miami a 2-to-1 favorite to win the title, followed by the Lakers (9-to-2) and the Chicago Bulls and Oklahoma City Thunder (5-to-1). Meanwhile, Jay Kornegay, director of the Las Vegas Hilton Race and Sports Book, has tabbed the Heat as 2-to-1 favorites, unless the Chicago Bulls (6-to-1) get past them. That puts the Lakers (7-to-1) in a third-place tie with the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder.

The reasons appear fairly simple.

"They're aging and have miles on them," Kornegay said. "They don't have a true point guard. And the coaching is a question mark."

"The Lakers have potential to be this year's Philadelphia Eagles more than anybody right now," Rood said. "Two of their guys (Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher) are getting long in the tooth. Kobe has been injured more often than not. With a shorter season, you don't know if it will help or hurt them. If a significant player gets injured, it'll be more difficult to overcome in a shorter season. They also don't have the luxury of taking six weeks off and get back in the thick of things."

Here's one area of disagreement between Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant that won't further fuel the divide between them: debating who deserves to be named the all-time greatest Laker.

Bryant has long insisted that Jerry West holds that honor for his role as both a player and a general manager. But O'Neal counters that the recognition should go to Bryant himself. 

"Based on what he's done, he's probably the greatest Laker of all time,'" O'Neal said of Bryant on KTLA Monday to promote his book, "Shaq Uncut." "If he gets another championship, he'll tie with Kareem. That will put him up there."

Over the years, Shaq may have questioned Bryant's shot selection and taken digs at his personality, and the two sometimes have behaved too much like children. But even if Shaq's book details some of their well-documented spats, the Big Fella has never wavered in his admiration for Bryant's talent and work ethic.

"It's a different kind of great," O'Neal said of Bryant, who has five NBA titles and remains in sixth place on the NBA's all-time scoring list (27,868). "He had the skills to be an all-around player. I'm just a big man so I just do big-man stuff. I'm just in the big-man category."

RELATED:

Kobe Bryant considers Jerry West the greatest all-time Laker

Shaquille O'Neal says he admires Kobe Bryant's work ethic

Shaquille O'Neal's book blames exit from Lakers on Mitch Kupchak

— Mark Medina

Email the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

— The Times' Mike Bresnahan explains how the new labor deal might inhibit the Lakers' spending. Bresnahan also reports that the NBA schedule for the abbreviated season will have each team playing at least one set of three games on three consecutive nights.

— True Hoop's Henry Abbott breaks down the winners and losers of the NBA lockout.

— NBA.com's David Aldridge lists 10 things to look forward to in the coming season.

— True Hoop's Kevin Arnovitz previews how the CBA will affect the league six years from now.

— Fox Sports' Sam Amico previews the frantic upcoming month before the NBA season starts.

— The Orange County Register's Kevin Ding tells how the Lakers benefit and suffer from the new collective bargaining agreement.

— ESPN Los Angeles' Brian Kamenetzky analyzes how the compressed schedule will affect the Lakers.

— Sports Illustrated's Zach Lowe weighs the pros and cons of a 66-game schedule.

— Sports Illustrated's Michael McCann believes writes about peripheral issues that players and owners still have to iron out.

— Fox Sports' Bill Reiter explains why the NBA needed to start on Christmas Day.

— ESPN Los Angeles' Ramona Shelburne reports that NBA players are confident the proposed deal will become final.

— Yahoo Sports' Marc Spears lists the top NBA free agents.

— Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski reports the NBA and players are discussing the formation of a committee to study the minimum age for the league's draft.

Tweet of the Day: "I love that we can argue about basketball now." — teamziller (SB Nation's Tom Ziller)

Rick Friedman Reader Comment of the Day: "The games would actually be better because more rested, more prepared athletes would simply play better. It wouldn't be fair to start a 66-game season on Dec. 25 every year, though, as the compressed schedule probably hurts player performance." — Phred Phredphredington

— Mark Medina

E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

Photo: When the Lakers and Bulls open the season, Chicago's Derrick Rose could be guarded by Metta World Peace, formerly the defensive stopper known as Ron Artest. Credit: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

 We knew before the NBA reached a labor deal that it likely would drastically affect the Lakers for the worse. We knew it could tighten their spending. We knew it could result in roster changes. We knew it could force the Lakers to share more of their revenue. But now that we know the actual details of the proposal, expected to be ratified among the owners and players this week, we can break down exactly what it will do. 

1. New taxes. Lakers owner Jerry Buss often took on a heavy payroll with high luxury taxes in hopes it would pay off in a championship. Now he has to consider if such a tactic is worth the price. The Lakers, who had a league-high $91 million payroll last season, paid an additional $21 million in luxury taxes last year. The Times' Mike Bresnahan notes that the tax penalty will move from dollar to dollar to a $1.50 to $1 ratio for the first $5 million over the threshold beginning in the 2013-14 season. The ratio increases between $5 million to $10 million ($1.75 to $1), $10 million to $15 million ($2.50) and $15 million to $25 million ($3.25). That means the Lakers would pay an additional $68 million in luxury taxes if they maintain the $91 million payroll. 

2. Sign-and-trade gives the Lakers a better chance to land Dwight Howard, Chris Paul or Deron Williams. Don't feel too bad for the Lakers. Sheridan Hoops' Mark Heisler noted the owners' willingness to keep sign-and-trades will allow the Lakers to trade Andrew Bynum for Howard, or Pau Gasol for Paul, once free agency hits next season. According to the terms of the proposal, obtained by Sports Illustrated's Sam Amick, teams can't pursue players via sign-and-trade after the 2012-2013 season if it causes their luxury taxes to jump over $4 million.