General manager Mitch Kupchak seems very much aware of the threat on South beach, so he slightly tweaked their roster to maximize the team’s defensive capacity without compromising their efficient offensive game.
The Lakers are once again set for a month-long training camp in El Segundo, California this September. With another NBA title on their mind, Kobe Bryant and the rest of the purple and gold squad would certainly push themselves to the limit, as they try to reach their peak form after a long layoff.
Court leadership will remain intact in the Lakers backcourt after successfully re-signing veteran guard Derek Fisher. Fisher and the Lakers had failed talks early in the offseason, but in the end the 14-year veteran decided to value loyalty despite lucrative offers from several NBA contenders, including the Miami Heat.
Of course, Kupchak did not forget to retain the service of high-flying swingman Shannon Brown, who averaged 8.1 points and 2.2 boards as Bryant’s backup man last season. The only significant casualty for the Lakers this offseason was guard Jordan Farmar.
After four solid seasons with the Lakers, the former UCLA star will be trying his luck with the rebuilding New Jersey Nets. Although the East made aggressive moves to upgrade their rosters, many observers believed the Lakers are still the team to beat this coming season.
Buss not pushing panic button
As usual, Lakers head honcho, Jerry Buss, is expecting his team to once again deliver the goods. Despite the star-studded additions to the Heat roster, Buss feels the Lakers have still the best chance of any teams t...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
