Kobe Bryant is not in the long-term plans for the Los Angeles Lakers. General manager Mitch Kupchak has already stated that he believes this is the final season for the face of the franchise as Bryant prepares to enter the final year of his contract. With Bryant on his way out, the Lakers are not altering their draft or free agency plans around the star as they begin to finalize their offseason plans.
Bryant has not confirmed whether or not he plans on retiring from the NBA once his contract with the Lakers has expired. However, the franchise is not counting on his return. The Lakers are sounding more and more unattached from the star who has had three straight season-ending injuries and now the Los Angeles Daily News is reporting Bryant will not be consulted regarding future plans.
"We're not going to pick a player because he can play with Kobe, likes Kobe or dislikes Kobe," Kupchak said, via Los Angeles News Group. "We're going to pick the player that can have the longest and best career."
Bryant has been deemed as a recruiting tool for the Lakers, but his recent slew of injuries has changed that belief. Bryant is no longer the home run hit he once was. Therefore the Lakers are not altering their long-term plans around him. That means players like Rajon Rondo might not be in the plans despite his friendship with Bryant. The point guard's value took a hit after his stint with the Dallas Mavericks and now ESPN.com believes the Lakers might not be interested.
Bleacher Report has the Lakers linked to options like Patrick Beverley or Reggie Jackson in free agency to pair with rookie success Jordan Clarkson. Head coach Byron Scott noted that Clarkson did have a strong season, but cannot yet be fully trusted. That means the team will want an experienced point guard to pair with him rather than another rookie like D'Angelo Russell or Emmanuel Mudiay.
With Bryant out of the picture, the Lakers will likely stick with most mock draft reports and select either Karl-Anthony Towns or Jahlil Okafor while trying to bring in players like Paul Millsap or Jimmy Butler with a max contract. That will help ease the transition into a post-Bryant era for the franchise.
