The eventual return of superstar guard Kobe Bryant will certainly help in that regard, but the rest of the roster is very much up in the air as is the head coaching position. The Lakers do hold the No. 7 overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft, though, so they could find an impact player that way.
With the draft and free agency on the horizon, here is the latest buzz surrounding the Lakers as they attempt to return to their winning ways.
Joel Embiid in Play?
Just a couple days ago, it seemed like Kansas center Joel Embiid was a definite option for the Cleveland Cavaliers with the No. 1 overall selection in the draft, and he was most definitely a top-three pick at worst. Due to a new revelation regarding Embiid's health, though, the Lakers may surprisingly find themselves in position to draft the talented 7-footer.
According to SportsCenter, Embiid suffered a stress fracture in his foot that will require surgery:
It remains to be seen how long that might keep him on the shelf as agent Arn Tellem has opted to keep things largely under wraps until the situation has more clarity, per Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com.
"Joel Embiid suffered a stress fracture to the navicular bone in his right foot," Tellem said. "He is scheduled to have surgery (Friday). Joel will be unable to participate in any additional workouts, and will not attend the draft in New York. We will have no further comment until after the surgery."
Embiid's health was already a question mark entering the draft as he dealt with a back ailment during his freshman season at Kansas, but this foot problem could make teams even more apprehensive to draft him.
There is no doubt t...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
