it s a marketing move, kobe brings in fans in arena on tv sell s marchandising, so what he earns is proportional to what he make them earn out of his image, it has nothing to do with basketball or winning games anymore it is strictly business at this point.
Everyone themsleves included knows they re not going anywhere anytime soon, the question is how to keep stupid people who identify with, imitate kobe pouring their money into the franchise, nothing else.