The Los Angeles Lakers are hoping to improve off a down season for the franchise and Kobe Bryant is convinced they absolutely will return as threats in the upcoming year. With uncertainty remaining in the roster despite all of the additions in the offseason, Bryant believes this is a team that can easily make the playoffs and go farther while he contemplates what his role in all of it will be,
After winning just 21 games last season, Bryant is predicting playoffs for the Lakers in the upcoming season. He believes all it will take is some chemistry and Los Angeles will have a winning roster once again. With new players like Roy Hibbert, Lou Williams and Brandon Bass onboard, is he that far off?
"We have talented players in their respective positions," Bryant said, via Yahoo Sports. "We have some really young players. How exactly will the pieces of the puzzle fit? We really don't know. We are going to [training] camp trying to piece this together just like every other team does," he said. "We have to figure out what our strengths are, figure out what our weaknesses are. And every time we step on the court we are going to try to hide our weaknesses and step up to our strengths."
The Lakers are still eyeing pieces to the puzzle as a slew of free agents still remain. With D'Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson headlining the point guard position, the Lakers have been eyeing a veteran to add to the mix. According to Sam Amico of FOX Sports, Norris Cole is starting to get some attention and the Lakers could be one of them. Cole is a restricted free agent at the moment and the New Orleans Pelicans could simply be waiting for another team to make an offer before the counter it, but the point guard would be solid for the Lakers coming off the bench as another scoring threat.
The Lakers will have some position battles taking place once training camp begins. Bass and Julius Randle will be competing to start at power forward. There is some doubt around Randle after a lack luster summer league performance. The second-year player is returning from a season-ending injury and it is unclear how he is developing. The same can be said for Robert Sacre who is backing up Hibbert. If the Lakers have concern with size, they could try and bring back Carlos Boozer or JaVale McGee to help out.
