The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to return stronger next season, and their success will greatly depend on how Kobe Bryant will perform coming off a long layoff.

Bryant only played in six games this season due to an Achilles injury and fractured knee, but Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak is convinced that the 16-time All-Star will regain his old form next season.

In a recent interview with ESPN Los Angeles, Kupchak said that Bryant is fully healthy at this point in the offseason, while also adding that the 35-year-old was actually ready to return before the Lakers' season ended.

"I think he'll be ready to go," Kupchak said. "He was probably ready to go a month ago. Our season ended early. But he'll be ready to go."

Bryant, who averaged 13.8 points to go along with 6.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds in six games this season, signed a two-year, $48.5 million contract extension in November. Eyebrows were raised when the deal was completed, but Kupchak expressed confidence that they made the right decision.

"We don't have many players under contract right now. Fortunately, we did sign a good player back in November: Kobe Bryant," Kupchak said. "So, we have him to rely on. He's been working out every day at our facility. He looks good."

But while Kupchak had nothing but praise for Bryant, the 59-year-old executive insisted that they will not allow Bryant to influence their decision in hiring a new coach this offseason.

Kupchak said that his lines of communication with Bryant are always open, but he reiterated that it doesn't mean that the 18-year veteran will have a role in their ongoing coaching search.

"From time to time we ask his advice," Kupchak said. "He really won't weigh in on something like this. I'm not even sure that we'll talk to him prior to interviews. But from time to time, he is in our facility, I'll go downstairs and I'll talk to him about a bunch of different things."

Bryant said in a recent interview that L.A.'s front office failed in their last two coaching searches, referring to the hiring of Mike Brown and Mike D'Antoni, and he is hoping that the team will not fail for the third consecutive time.