The Los Angeles Lakers face a summer of uncertainty. Kobe Bryant is finally out of his walking boot, but he has a long way to go before returning to the court. Pau Gasol, meanwhile, might not be a Laker for long.
"Boot comes off today. Will be in a 'medical mamba' shoe. I still need a lil heel lift for the achillies," Bryant tweeted on Thursday.
Bryant's boot coming off is a positive step, but the 34-year-old guard faces an uphill battle. An Achilles tear is one of the hardest injuries to return from — Bryant's age doesn't help, either.
Former Lakers coach Phil Jackson told Time magazine last week that an Achillies tear is "devastating" and incredibly difficult to come back from. He added, "If anybody can, Kobe will."
Nobody doubts the ferocity that Kobe will attack his rehab with. But the question still lingers of just how close to form he can return to. Time is another issue — his contract expires after next season.
Bryant debunked rumors last week that he might retire this season, but even he admitted retirement is coming soon. The window to win his coveted sixth title is closing. Even if Bryant is able to come back in All-Star form during the season, what kind of team would he return to?
Steve Nash told a judge on Wednesday that he doesn't plan on retiring, but Dwight Howard and Gasol might not be around next season for Bryant's return. Howard, who has been uncharacteristically quiet this offseason, is expected to explore his options in free agency.
Gasol, seemingly as always, could be on the trading block. Some folks at Lakers Nation don't foresee Gasol being on the roster past training camp. With Nash and Bryant nearing the end of their careers, and Howard a wild card, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak could look to the post-Kobe-future and trade Gasol to start rebuilding.
A piece from the Bleacher Report suggests there is a market for Gasol. The Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks are among teams B/R reports as interested in the Spaniard's services.
The Lakers team is in flux, more so than any time in recent memory. Everything seems to hinge on Howard's decision this summer. If Howard departs from Los Angeles, one can assume Gasol will become a casualty in L.A.'s subsequent youth movement.
