Kobe Bryant: Delusional or Genius? 

 

 
According to Yahoo! Sports, Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant believes the team will “absolutely” make the playoffs this year, despite only winning 21 games in 2014. 

Bryant is on the last year of his contract, as he made $23.5 million last season until he injured himself in January. Will the Lakers continue to invest into the veteran? The Lakers pushing away Bryant is doubtful. 

According to Bryant, this may or may not be his last season, only he knows when his “time” will be. What does this mean for the future of the Lakers? 

Expect D’Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson to be an elite pair of guards in the NBA. These two young players can shoot, but also tend to create a lot of turnovers. With some guidance, the backcourt for the Lakers should not be an issue. 

The big men are where the Lakers may struggle. Roy Hibbert was a big offseason gamble for the organization, as he struggled to put up points and rebounds over the course of the 2014 season. Brandon Bass is the same type of player as Hibbert, but he can provide a nice relief off the bench in 2015. 

Will the Lakers ultimately make it into the playoffs in a competitive Western Conference? The odds are against the organization, but crazier things have happened within the NBA.