As if general manager Mitch Kupchak and executive vice president of basketball operations Jim Buss needed anything else to fret about this time of year, they've got the upcoming summer league in Las Vegas with which to concern themselves.
And for good reason. With so few players currently under contract with the big club (i.e. Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and Robert Sacre) and so many potential permutations as to who might be—and who could coach them—the Lakers will have some serious work to do in Sin City to secure even the slightest semblance of certitude for the summer ahead.
There's plenty still to be done before the Lakers send their contingent across the border to Nevada for the start of Las Vegas Summer League on July 11. First and foremost, they'll have to sign Julius Randle, the No. 7 pick in last month's draft, before they can hope to see what he looks like in purple and gold. Randle's been cleared to play since seeing a foot specialist in Indianapolis but has yet to sign a contract as the Lakers try to preserve every sliver of cap space they can for the likes of LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony.
"We'll see," Randle told ESPNLosAngeles.com's Dave McMenamin about participating in L.A.'s opener against the Toronto Raptors on Friday. "It’s kind of really out of my hands right now. I’m ready to play whenever, but it’s not really in my hands right now."
To be sure, Randle wouldn't be the only Laker worth tracking in the event that he's signed in time. Up front, the Lakers will get a good, long look at former New York Knicks center Jerom...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
