Kobe Bryant is projected to return early in the 2013-14 regular season, but the superstar guard could be ready enough to make his comeback during pre-season games.

In an interview with NBA TV during one of the Los Angeles Lakers' Las Vegas Summer League games, team vice president Jim Buss revealed that Bryant is ahead of schedule in his recovery from the Achilles tendon surgery, and that he expects the veteran guard to play in at least one pre-season game.

"Well, we're in Vegas, and I would bet a lot of money that this guy comes back probably in preseason," Buss said. "He's real sharp in taking care of himself and he's not going to rush anything just to get back and prove a point. He's going to come back when he's right. He's a machine. He's inhuman. I see him coming back at the beginning of this season. I can't believe how much he's progressed so far."

After sustaining a season-ending torn Achilles tendon in April, Bryant underwent surgery and was initially ruled out for the next six to nine months. However, Bryant recently said that he is already way ahead of schedule and he is expecting to be ready for training camp in October.

When the 34-year-old superstar returns to the Lakers, a heavier load will be on his shoulders with the departure of Dwight Howard, who signed with the Houston Rockets. Yet Buss was quick to assure Lakers fans that they are going to make necessary steps to make the team a title contender, saying that they are looking to make a big splash next summer.

"When we traded for him, we basically knew we were renting him for a year," said Buss when asked about Howard's decision to leave the team. "We were prepared. Mitch Kupchak and I, we had quite a few meetings. If he leaves, this is what's going to happen, this is what we're going to do, and if he stays, this is what's going to happen, this is what we're going to do."

ESPN recently reported that the Lakers will look to sign superstar-caliber players next summer. An ESPN source confirmed that they will aggressively pursue either LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony, who are both expected to become free agents in 2014.