The Los Angeles Lakers may have finally woken up from the fact that Kobe Bryant's era could soon come to an end.

Bryant was a factor in previous decisions when it comes to draft picks and player recruitment but if the words of Mitch Kupchak are to be taken seriously then there could be finally hope for the Lakers after all.

It is no secret that the Lakers have invested a lot in Kobe through the years. But as the Black Mamba, who has spent more time outside the court due to injuries, than inside and help the team's cause, the choice of players from hereon will be based on who the team can keep the longest and have the best career wearing the purple and gold.

The Lakers are set to pick second in the coming 2015 NBA Draft and they are in a perfect position to snag a top rookie. That could be Karl-Anthony Towns or Jahlil Okafor though there are speculations that the Lakers could opt for a guard like Emmanuel Mudiay or D'Angelo Russell.

Whoever it is, the Lakers are going to make it count and Kobe will have nothing to do with it.

As for new players in the fold, it remains to be seen if the Lakers can lure in a high profile player for next season. The Lakers are targeting players like Kevin Love, Marc Gasol and LaMarcus Aldridge but apparently have to slug it out with other teams expected to pitch at the big names starting this July.

As for Kobe, there is no telling if this would indeed be his last year of playing in the NBA though his future with the Lakers is unclear.

Kobe will be turning 37 this coming August 23 and at the rate he has been plagued by injuries, the Lakers could be thinking twice about re-signing him after the 2015-16 NBA season.

Whatever happens from hereon, let us see if the Lakers will indeed exclude Kobe from the mix as far as player recruitment is concerned.