The first month of NBA free agency was arguably one of the worst in franchise history. July saw Dwight Howard leave for Houston, the team scramble to find replacement production and the ever-looming reality of this team's aging core.
Steve Nash is pushing 40, Pau Gasol is coming off the worst year of his career and Kobe Bryant, well, we all know what's going on with him. While there remained a cautious optimism in Los Angeles—most of which was Dwight-related nonsense, but still—the most realistic fans spent most of their July with an internal sense of dread that had rarely been seen in this franchise's history.
The last few weeks have been much kinder—thus far. Those longing for a Phil Jackson return got at least a small treat, as right-hand man Kurt Rambis made his return to the Lakers' bench as an assistant. That move seemingly sparked some good vibes within the organization, reverberating throughout the news cycle this week.
While August hasn't brought a guarantee of LeBron James donning the purple and gold next summer, it has been good for those who have maintained this Lakers team could make the playoffs.
How so? Here is a quick look at the latest news and notes coming out of the City of Angels.
Kobe Says He's "Shattering" Expected Recovery Time
It's no secret that much of the Lakers' hopes are pinned on Bryant's Achilles. The future Hall of Famer went down with a ruptured Achilles last April, sparking a cascade of doubt upon the franchise before Dwight Howard even took his talents to Magnolia City.
In the aftermath of Howard's decision, Bryant's recovery became the foremost focus of the franchise. Chris Kaman and Nick "Swaggy P" Young might help...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
