LA Lakers News: Aging Kobe Bryant To Be Better Next Season? Lakers GM Certainly Thinks So As Team Releases Preseason Schedule

LA Lakers news are abuzz with general manager Mitch Kupchak's interview where he weighed in about the aging Kobe Bryant who he said would be better next season. The team also released its preseason schedule where they play the Nuggets, whose former coach George Karl, is reportedly being considered as the future Lakers coach.

In a Q&A session with nba.com's Mike Trudell, Mitch Kupchack admitted that they knew all along when they signed him to an extension that an aging Kobe Bryant wouldn't be the same next season.

"He's not going to be the player he was athletically, physically, when he was 24. He looked different then; he was thin, loaded with unabashed energy. Kobe at 36 won't be the same, but he'll be better in a lot of ways," he said.

Mitch Kupchack said most of the LA Lakers news swirling around have pointed out the "Black Mamba's" injury and age but he insisted that the aging Kobe Bryant "will still be productive and effective."

The LA Lakers signed Kobe Bryant to $48.5 million extension for two years when he was just coming off a major Achilles injury which put off a lot of fans, Lakers Nation blog reported.

But the general manager said that despite the costly contract, they feel they still have the opportunity to go after one of the "top two or three free agents" who will be available this summer.

The Lakers are only committed to three players under contract, the aging Kobe Bryant, an ancient Steve Nash and a wet-behind-the-ears center, Robert Sacre.

In another LA Lakers news, the team released its preseason schedule for the 2014-2015 NBA season: Denver Nuggets (October 6); Warriors (October 9 and 12); Utah Jazz (October 16 and 19); Phoenix Suns (October 21); Portland Trailblazers (October 22) and the Sacramento Kings (October 24).