Bryant extension next?

Now that Odom has been re-signed, Kupchak said he and his staff will now ``turn to the future, beyond this season.''

He wouldn't specify whether that meant he'd open talks with Kobe Bryant's agent Rob Pelinka on a contract extension, but all indications are that discussions about that very issue will begin immediately.

Earlier this summer, Bryant said he was content to let the organization take care of unrestricted free agents Trevor Ariza, Shannon Brown and Odom before beginning extension talks with him.

``Mitch has a lot on his plate,'' Bryant said during an interview in early July. ``I'd rather him take care of those pieces first. But he'll get around to me.''