Kobe Bryant: Entering His Final Season With Lakers

Bryant (shoulder) intimated recently that the 2015-16 season will be his last with the Lakers, ESPN reports. "He has indicated to me that this is it," Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak said.

Analysis:

Bryant, who will make an league-high $25 million next season, enters his 20th NBA season and the final year of his contract. The 36-year-old has been plagued by injuries over the last three season, and a shoulder injury limited him to just 35 games in 2014-15. He's expected to return healthy for the start of the 2015-16 season and will play a major role for a Lakers team that could look drastically different come October. Los Angeles holds the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, gets Julius Randle (leg) back from injury, and has loads of cap room with which to play this summer. The Lakers figure to compete for a playoff berth, but the team's success may ultimately hinge on Bryant's health. The same can be said about Bryant potentially continuing his career beyond 2015-16. He said he hasn't ruled out the possibility of playing beyond next season, but it's unclear whether that would entail moving to another franchise.