The LA Lakers are expecting to have Kobe Bryant back for training camp after dealing with injuries last season and Los Angeles is hoping Bryant can play with D'Angelo Russell for the full 2015-16 slate. The Lakers are also reportedly close to signing Metta World Peace to a free agent deal, while Robert Upshaw has finally signed a contract for camp and other free agents on the market could be options to come in and compete for roster spots.
The Lakers have training camp opening up in a couple weeks and the team is expecting to have Kobe Bryant ready when things start up. According to USA Today, general manager Mitch Kupchak spoke about the team heading into camp and he said that his "understanding" is that Bryant "will be ready for camp." The team has exhibition games scheduled for early October and while Bryant may not play in those, he is expected to participate in camp workouts early on.
Bryant is getting up there in age, but he has shown over the past two years that when he is healthy he can still be a productive player. Bryant has only played in 41 games over the last couple season and last year he was averaging a solid 22 points when he went down with an injury. Bryant could be the key to the Lakers at least contending for a bottom playoff spot and the team is hoping he can contribute this year.
The Lakers have a young core coming in with D'Angelo Russell, Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson and the team made some strong additions with Roy Hibbert, Lou Williams and Brandon Bass this summer. The team would like to add some veteran experience to that mix and that is where Peace could help things. According to Yahoo Sports, Peace has been working out at the Lakers facility already this offseason and the team is "inching closer" to bringing him back on a deal.
The Lakers have added some players ahead of camp and the team is expected to continue adding some more before they head to Hawaii. According to Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times, the team is considering adding Peace and the team also may sign "1-3 more players" as free agents ahead of camp. Those players could be on non-guaranteed or partially guaranteed deals, as the team can carry 20 players before the season starts.
The Lakers have been active in adding players, including signing Marcelo Huertas, Jonathan Holmes and Michael Frazier to deals. Those players are on non-guaranteed or partial deals and they are battling for roster spots. The team also has Jabari Brown and Tarik Black in that mix, but they are more likely to make it than the younger players. Frazier and Holmes are solid options for the D-League if they can't make the roster and Robert Upshaw also could be considered for the Lakers as a roster option.
The Lakers signed Huertas as a potential depth option at point guard and if he plays well in camp, he could be a good option to mix in with Russell and Clarkson. The Lakers know that the duo of Clarkson and Russell are the future and while they will play a lot this season, adding a veteran like Huertas could give some solid depth to the position on the roster.
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