Kobe Bryant is the next easy target in all of basketball after LeBron James. Even when he's not playing (basketball, at least) there are always shots fired at him, even from left field.

The Black Mamba is in Brazil watching the World Cup, and he was seen playing in the field, kicking the ball around.  Of course, he was supporting the US National Team.

But he's probably not supporting its German coach, former soccer legend Jurgen Klinsmann. Klinsmann, in the midst of his criticism over the US pro soccer player Landon Donovan, has scathing comments about the US professional sports culture in general. Of course, he picked an easy target: Kobe Bryant.

From the NY Times:

"Kobe Bryant, for example - why does he get a two-year contract extension for $50 million? Because of what he is going to do in the next two years for the Lakers? Of course not. Of course not. He gets it because of what he has done before. It makes no sense. Why do you pay for what has already happened?"

Klinsmann refers to the contract offer that the Lakers extended to Kobe. It was actually 2 years, $ 48.5 million. The contract makes Kobe Bryant the highest paid player in the NBA even though he is already quite far from being the best. Admittedly, it was more of a gesture of gratitude for Bryant's 16 years of loyal service.

Which, as Bryant points out, is a point that Klinsmann misses. From an ESPN interview (transcribed by The Big Lead): "I thought it was pretty funny. I thought it was pretty comical, actually. I see his perspective. But the one perspective that he's missing from an ownership point of view is that you want to be part of an ownership group that is rewarding its players for what they've done, while balancing the team going forward. If you're another player in the future and you're looking at the Lakers organization, you want to be a part of an organization that takes care of its players while at the same time, planning for the future."

In the fight for free agents this summer, the Lakers do not have too many assets nor cap flexibility for two max players thanks to Bryant's contract-but it does send a message to the top free agents.

The Lakers are reportedly targeting the high end free agents like Carmelo Anthony, even LeBron James and Kevin Love. The Lakers are giving the message for the new face of the franchise..that if you choose LA, we will spoil you for life-like Kobe.

This is an entirely different approach but will it work for the "win now" title chasers? We have the entire summer to find out.