Horry is now a FA,Lakers officially decline Rob's option

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-070103 ... nes-sports

Some highlights:

By not picking up this option, it gives us financial flexibility to pursue other free agents, which is important to us," Lakers spokesman John Black said Monday, adding the team remains interested in Horry
The Lakers plan to be active in the free agent market when the negotiating period begins Tuesday. They are seeking a power forward and a guard

Thanks Robert

So it's official... Thanks for all the memories, ROB!

I still think he'll be with us next year.

As do I. It's not over yet guys.

Besides, I wouldn't resign him for 5 million either. Especially after his Horry-ble shooting drought in the playoffs.

Don't worry, he isn't officially nothing...

I'm sure he'll love his memories of L.A.

Don't worry Rob, I won't burn your jersey because of this.

I will never burn or get rid of his jersey... I have the authentic home white one, and that's full of memories. He's been the clutch man, but there comes an end at one time or another.

Robert had a great run, he has 5 rings, he is blessed. I would like the best for Robert. If we sign him to less money thats good, and if we leave him, its all good also. I think Robert wants to spend more time with his daughter, and that Houston would be a good place for him, I wouldn't want to trade him away to a city that would bad for him...It may come back to haunt us, you know when you do so much for a team and then you treat the player like Don King treats boxers, that is wrong. if we do trade him, it would be good for the lakers to let Horry know and that he leaves with a good relationship with us. Good Luck Robert, if you don't stay, I'll remember the good things.

If you don't come back next year, Rob, I wish you the best of luck and thank you for all the memories you've given us.

Rob will always be the guy who saved us in that SAC series. That was BIG SHOT ROB AT HIS FINEST....
THAT SHOT IS WANT I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HORRY FOR....



if this is truely the end of ROB's carreer with the LAKERS .......
All I want to say to him is .........

GOOD LUCK OLD FRIEND.... the lakers couldn't have done it without YOU and BRIAN SHAW..

If it's his end let me say this:

He is what an NBA player should be. Selfless, talented on both ends of the court, looks to make his team better and he's a winner through and through. I'd be sad to see Bobby go, he's one of the few class acts and true talents in sport. Never a bad word, never unjustified trash talk, never a negative attitude even in the grimmest of circumstances, never another one like him. Thank you Robert for everything you've done for the Lakers and the NBA - thank you.

Amen to that.
If you don't come back, Rob, thanks for the memories...and best wishes.

Thank you god. I never liked Horry. At this point, he is veterans minimum salarie player at best.

I found this quote by Rob in the LA Times article to be quite interesting:

"If the person they get, if I have respect for that person, then I know there's a reason behind them not picking up my option," he said. "It depends on if the person they get I think is better than me. I think I would be a little upset if they went out and got somebody and paid them a lot of money. If it's [Gary] Payton, I won't be mad. I'd take Payton, too, because he's a hell of a guard. [Karl] Malone, I won't be upset. But, Juwan [Howard] and P.J. [Brown], I think I'd be a little upset, because we're all about the same speed. Maybe Juwan scores more points, but I still think there's a lot of things I do that they can't do."

Horry!!! Dawg.... U couldn't be more on target... Thanx 4 tha quote, gyrl...