General manager Mitch Kupchak said in a Los Angeles Lakers news and rumors update that they are ready to surprise the skeptics in the upcoming season as long as their key players would stay healthy.
Kupchak said in an interview with ESPN Los Angeles that the Lakers, who finished with a disappointing 27-55 record last season, could turn the tables around as long as Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and Carlos Boozer will avoid injuries that could sideline them for several games.
"For me, a lot of our success this year is going to rely on Steve and Kobe and Carlos. We have three proven veterans," Kupchak said in the Lakers news and rumors update. "We have other veterans. Jeremy Lin is a veteran. Jordan Hill is a veteran. Those are our three most accomplished veterans. They will have to stay healthy and play their best for us to be the best team we can be."
The longtime general manager added in the same interview that Bryant is showing good signs this offseason as he is also aching to prove that he still has a lot of gas left in his tank.
The 36-year-old superstar played in just six games last season after sustaining a knee injury just as when he was starting to regain his rhythm following his recovery from an Achilles tendon injury.
"I've watched Kobe throughout the summer. I've gone to watch him work out down in Orange County and he's been up here several times and he looks really good. He said he feels great. No ill effects on either injury," Kupchak said when asked about Bryant's health in the Lakers news and rumors update.
Kupchak is also confident that Nash, who only played in 15 games last season, is also feeling better this offseason, while Boozer has no history of having major injuries over the past two seasons.
The Lakers tried to make big roster moves this offseason, but they failed to lure their top targets, which includes LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, who signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks, respectively.
But while they did not succeed in their bid to sign a superstar, Kupchak firmly believe that the Lakers will have a lot to offer in the upcoming season.
