Lakers under impression Kobe Bryant is done after 2015-16

Just a quick reminder: the summer of 2016 is still really far away.

Having established that, the conversation surrounding what Kobe Bryant will do when his contract expires at that time can continue. With Bryant playing on a two-year deal that runs through the 2015-16 season - which will be his 20th in the league - the NBA's fourth all-time leading scorer continues to be asked if he'll play beyond that point.

For his part, Bryant has been noncommittal, but has strongly suggested he'll hang up his kicks when the deal expires. While that's not a guarantee or a promise, it's the premise the Los Angeles Lakers organization is operating under.

"All indications are, to me, from him, that this is going to be it," general manager Mitch Kupchak said Monday. "If somebody's thinking of buying a ticket three years from now to see Kobe play, I would not do that."

Again, things can change, and the Lakers could be in a position to make a major splash in free agency that summer. Perhaps a core of Nick Young, Julius Randle (the only two players on the books for 2016), a top pick from the 2015 draft and a marquee free agent or two would be enough to entice Bryant to play another season. It would be strange for the hyper-competitive Bryant to finish his career on a losing team, which the Lakers may still be next season.

Bryant is leading the league in scoring through 21 games, averaging 25.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.8 assists. At age 36, he can clearly still score - if that remains the case at 38, and the team asks him to do a lot less of it with a better supporting cast, maybe Bryant re-evaluates.

Until then, as Kupchak says, make sure you see Bryant now, just in case.