His hope was that the Lakers could remain competitive in the West playoff picture until Bryant returned and that, perhaps, some of his younger players could benefit from the increased roles they’d play in Bryant’s absence.
“I don’t think it is going to be a problem them buying in,” D’Antoni said. “Matter of fact, I think some are excited to get more room to play. They’re excited about it. We know how important Kobe is. But as a player, you have a unique opportunity to show what you can do. We know that Kobe will be back and we can’t wait till it happens.”
Through 12 games, the Lakers are 5-7 and only 2.0 games out of a playoff slot. What’s more, Bryant returned to the practice court with the Lakers on Saturday, and underwent shooting drills on Sunday, raising speculation that his return is in sight. The Lakers don’t play again until Friday, and it is possible Bryant comes back on Sunday, when the Lakers play the Kings.
D’Antoni cautioned that nothing is imminent, and the Lakers need to monitor how Bryant feels after long stretches of putting pressure on his Achilles. That figures to be an issue throughout the year for the Lakers. But when Bryant returns, he will be coming back to a situation that is rife with issues beyond his immediate health. Worth watching in Lakerland:
• Young blood. Bryant certainly has to be encouraged by what he has seen in the frontcourt from Jordan Hill, the big man who is having a breakout year, averaging 10.4 points and 8.4 rebounds, including a 24-point, 17-rebound performance against the Pistons on Sunday. But on the perimeter, Bryant will most certainly take shots away from a quartet of players who have performed reasonably well.
Sharpshooter Jody Meeks has been one of the best perimeter threats in the league, shooting 49.2 percent from the 3-point line and leading the team with 13.7 points. Xavier Henry and Wesley Johnson have breathed some life into their flagging careers with their 3-point efficiency (42.9 and 40.5 percent, respectively). Nick Young, meanwhile is thriving since moving into a sixth-man’s role four games ago—he is averaging 16.3 points on 50.0 percent shooting in those games. It is possible that Bryant’s return will actually help some of the Lakers’ young perimeter players, but it is just as likely that they will sink as Bryant commands more of the ball.
• D’Antoni style. When Bryant returns, he is going to find a Lakers team that is playing at the quick pace on which D’Antoni’s coaching reputation is founded. This season, the Lakers’ games are averaging 98.8 possessions per 48 minutes, which ranks third in the league. That’s something that Bryant is just not used to.
Last year, with D’Antoni taking over during the season, the Lakers averaged 94.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and that was up from 90.5 the previous season and 90.7 the season before that. Last year marked just the third time in his career Bryant played for a team that had a pace factor higher than 94.0. He has never played for a team that moves as fast as this Lakers team has been moving, and coming off Achilles surgery, the Lakers need to wonder whether Bryant will be able to keep up.
• From 3. The quicker pace has led to good 3-point looks for the Lakers’ shooters, and high-volume, efficient 3-point shooting is another D’Antoni hallmark. They are sixth in the NBA in shooting from the arc, at 40.7 percent. Bryant has long thought of himself as a 3-point shooter far more than he should. Over the past four years, Bryant has shot just 32.1 percent from the arc, and hasn’t been shy about taking them—he shot 4.6 per game in that span.
• The contract. While Bryant’s return from this injury will obviously have an impact on the Lakers’ season in the short term, it is the bigger picture that provides the real intrigue. Bryant is in the final year of his contract, and he and the Lakers have begun discussions about a new deal. Bryant has said he would not be offering the team any hometown discounts, but how much the Lakers—who have unprecedented cap space next summer—are willing to spend on Bryant will come down to how healthy he is and how he plays after he comes back.
Bryant is eligible for a contract starting at $32 million, and while it is difficult to imagine the Lakers putting up that much, if he returns to All-Star form, even at age 35, the Lakers will have to pay something starting in the range of $20 million per year. The Lakers might be in the fight for a playoff spot, but in reality, the future of the franchise is at stake with Bryant’s return.
