Kobe Bryant was, and is, excoriated in some circles for demanding a deal commensurate with his standing in the game. As a player, he has not, in the last season and a half, demonstrated elite-level game. But that's not the point. His very existence with the Lakers has blown the value of the franchise sky-high over 18 seasons. And he did take a pay cut in his two-year, $48 million deal. He could have been paid more than $30 million next season. He took less. That's not debatable.