Los Angeles Lakers to announce Kyle Kuzma’s absence in upcoming training camp this week

The Los Angeles Lakers have their fair share of injury issues before the regular season starts and it appears that another of their star is plagued by this fact. Kyle Kuzma will reportedly miss the start of training camp this week due to an ankle injury that hasn’t fully healed yet.

The Lakers are apparently planning a starting unit consisting of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, JaVale McGee, Danny Green, and Kyle Kuzma. But with Kuzma gone, the team will need someone to temporarily fill that spot once preseason starts.

Quin Cook and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are the two obvious options for the Lakers, although Rajon Rondo could also be slotted in as well. The team will officially announce Kuzma’s absence this week, according to Marc Stein of the New York Times.

“The Lakers indeed expect Kyle Kuzma to miss the start of training camp as he continues to recover from a stress injury in his lower left leg, league sources say. The team will issue a formal update this week, with Kuzma's rehab said to be progressing well,” Stein tweeted.

Howard meshing well with the Lakers

Meanwhile, Dwight Howard’s integration into the Lakers roster has been going swimmingly so far. Howard has been brought to the team after DeMarcus Cousins suffered an ACL injury that will sideline him for a while.

The addition was somewhat controversial since the Lakers and Howard has a rocky past. But since Cousins was injured deep into the offseason, the Lakers felt that Howard is the best option they got. The team is cautious, however, and has signed the back-up center on a summer contract that has zero salary protection.

Los Angeles Lakers have a long road ahead of them

Meanwhile, Lakers legend Kobe Bryant said that Howard might be ready this time around to be an integral piece for the team as they battle their way to Playoff contention. Bryant is one of the main reasons why Howard left the team in 2013, so his positivity towards his former teammate may be an indication that Howard has indeed corrected his ways.

The Lakers have made some pretty serious commitment this 2019-2020 season, trading away a trove of assets for Davis as they’re gunning to snatch the coveted title. But that’s going to be a tall order since the offseason brought a host of superteams into the fold, with the Clippers posing the biggest threat for the Lakers’ goal.