The LA Lakers have Kobe Bryant healthy and cleared for training camp coming up at the end of the month and Los Angeles hopes he can stay on the court this season. The team is reportedly interested in adding free agents Metta World Peace and Sebastian Telfair, which would help add depth behind young players like Julius Randle, D'Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson.
The Lakers are coming into the season expecting some improvement and while they may not make the playoffs, they should be much better than last year. Bryant will be one of the key players to that success, as he has not been able to stay healthy over the past two years. Bryant has played in only 41 games for the Lakers over the past two seasons and this year he is hoping to be active for the majority of the schedule. According to ESPN Los Angeles, Bryant has been cleared for all basketball activities into training camp after dealing with a shoulder issue last season.
Bryant was playing at a high level when he was injured last year, as he was averaging 22 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game for the Lakers. Bryant only played in 35 games for the team last season and this year Byron Scott and the team could be cautious with how they use the future Hall of Fame player. Bryant is not getting any younger and according to the Orange County Register, Scott said that Bryant could have a "hard cap" on his minutes this season.
The Orange County Register also reported that Bryant will be "uncertain" for back-to-back games since he is coming back from shoulder surgery, which was performed in January. Keeping Bryant out of back to backs is probably a good idea, as those games can be very tough for veteran players and especially for Bryant, who has not been able to play a full schedule in a few years.
The Lakers are continuing to look at options for the roster heading into training camp, as reports have the team interested in Metta World Peace and Sebastian Telfair. The interest in Peace dates back to earlier in the summer, as Yahoo Sports reported in August that the Lakers were "seriously considering" signing Peace to a free agent deal. Peace reportedly has been working out at the team facility and Fox Sports writes that Peace has been working with Julius Randle and has helped give the young star advice as he comes back from a major injury.
Randle, Jordan Clarkson and D'Angelo Russell are all future starters for the Lakers and there is a chance they could start at times this season depending on how camp goes. The team also reportedly has interest in Telfair as a depth option, as Michael Scotto at Sheridan Hoops reports that the team has "expressed interest" in Telfair. Scotto added that "nothing is imminent" with Telfair, but that a deal could happen after camp depending on how things go with Marcelo Huertas, who was signed from the Euroleague to a partially guaranteed deal.
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