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Los Angeles Lakers Gear Up For The Kobe Bryant Finale

By Chris Walton

Oct 16, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) reacts against the Utah Jazz at the Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) reacts against the Utah Jazz at the Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Los Angeles Lakers have a huge season ahead of them next year. A list of feats includes a possible top-five draft pick, hitting the free agent market and the returns of both Julius Randle and Kobe Bryant from season-ending injuries. With the former, the team expects this to be the first of many years to come in the Laker purple and gold.

For the latter, this will be the end to a 21-year career filled with every major basketball accolade that a player could desire attaining. From MVPs, Olympic gold medals, to several Larry O’Brien trophies, Kobe Bryant has hoisted each during his legendary tenure. Now the team will prepare to bid him farewell in a storied journey.

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Bryant’s Laker exit won’t end as he may competitively desire. The team is undergoing major reconstruction, looking for pieces to carry the torch once he does call it quits. The elusive sixth ring and pursuit of his idol, Michael Jordan, seems to be distant barring major moves by the team’s front office.

There won’t be a Pau Gasol heist, no big man emerging like an Andrew Bynum, and there’s no elite center looking to make his way to Los Angeles like Dwight Howard. It will be Kobe Bryant, mid-tier free agents, and more rookies than the Lakers are accustomed to having.

As we have all witnessed, it won’t stop Kobe from being hell-bent on leaving 100 percent effort on the floor every game available. Hopefully Bryant’s body holds up in the upcoming year. The past two have not been as kind to him as the previous ones. Achilles and rotator cuff tears have robbed us of the Kobe we wanted to see.

We wanted the monster that carried the Lakers to a 28-12 record to end the 2012-13 season.

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    • The Lakers are definitely gearing up to show Kobe their appreciation, as they did when inking him to a two-year, $49 million deal before the end of the 2013 season. Lakers president Jeanie Buss spoke to Los Angeles Daily News‘ Mark Medina regarding the team’s plans:

    With Bryant set to return for the 2015-16 season in what could mark his last year, Buss said the Lakers are “talking about a bunch of different things” to honor Bryant in his 20th season with the Lakers at home games. Buss promised “we will make it special.”

    If the team can’t make moves, then why not make Bryant’s exit a spectacle for fans to enjoy.

    It definitely should be must-watch TV in 2015 for the Lakers. Excitement will still be there, but the unknown of what’s to come next when Kobe leaves exist. Who will become the big name to carry the historic torch? Who will keep fans in the seats every night? How does the team find way back to their 17th NBA championship? The questions won’t stop until they are answered.

    For now, the team is gearing up to receive some clarity on what the future means. They can only hope that it can be as successful as they have been over the last 15 years.

    Next: The Greatest Player In Every Franchise's History

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