Lakers in review: Preseason wraps, team readying for opener
In the not-too-distant future, All-Star guard Kobe Bryant should be back in uniform and on the court for the Lakers.
The Lakers completed their exhibition season with three wins in eight tries, falling on Thursday to the Golden State Warriors, 136-97.
Second-year guard Jordan Clarkson suffered a shoulder injury, but an MRI the following day showed it was not a serious concern. The Lakers would treat the shoulder conservatively leading up to the upcoming season opener on Wednesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Veteran guard Kobe Bryant remained sidelined with a bruised leg, but was able to return to practice over the weekend and is probable for the start of the season.
The Lakers needed to cut the roster down to 15 players, first letting go of rookie forward Jonathan Holmes, followed by second-year guard Jabari Brown.
Metta World Peace, the veteran forward who helped the Lakers win the title in 2010, made the squad after playing overseas last season.
With 15 players on the roster, the Lakers are full of hope to start new season, but the picture isn’t pretty.
Coach Byron Scott still hasn’t committed to starting rookie guard D’Angelo Russell.
Meanwhile, in a gesture to raise money for “family defense,” World Peace will raffle off his 2003-04 NBA defensive player of the year trophy.
World Peace also said he’s trying to stay positive for his friend Lamar Odom, whose health is improving after he fell into a coma in a Las Vegas hospital.
Odom has since been transferred to Los Angeles, where his wife, Khloe Kardashian, is at his side at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.
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