Kobe Bryant tells GM that next season will be his last with Lakers


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LOS ANGELES — In an appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio, and as reported by Baxter Holmes of ESPN, Los Angeles Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak told the audience that star Kobe Bryant has said that the 2015-16 season will be Bryant's last with the Lakers.

"He has indicated to me that this is it", Kupchak told SiriusXM Thursday. "I think first and foremost, he's on the last year of a deal … there have been no discussions about anything going forward. I don't think there will be."

Bryant, who is a 17-time All-Star, two-time Finals MVP, and has an NBA MVP award to his name, has only played in 41 games in the last two seasons due to Achilles, knee and shoulder injuries. Despite playing in only 35 games last season, he still finished third in field goal attempts for the woeful 21-61 Lakers. Bryant missed both games against the Utah Jazz in 2014-15.

Kupchak, though, wouldn't commit to a farewell tour for Bryant next season, along the lines of the recent season-long goodbye for New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter: "It's kind of up to the player, if they want to do something like that. It also may take away some options a year from now and put a player in an awkward position, but he will be recognized appropriately with great gratitude when it is time."

The Lakers moved up in Tuesday's NBA lottery, getting the #2 pick in next month's NBA draft. While that will ensure the Lakers their choice between standout college prospects Jahlil Okafor and Karl-Anthony Towns, neither player is likely to propel the Lakers to playoff contention. Even with the return of Julius Randle and Bryant, as well as the Lakers' ability to campaign for free agents, it still looks unlikely that the Lakers will be able to put together a winning season in 2015-16.

Given that Bryant allegedly indicated only that the 2015-16 season would be his last with the Lakers, the result could be some compelling free agency drama in the summer of 2016, should Bryant choose to leave the Lakers and join only his second team in an effort to chase a sixth NBA title.

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Andy Larsen

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