Lakers Rumors & News Recap: Jim Buss Confident Kobe Returns Early

Jim Buss taking overThe storied Los Angeles Lakers franchise is now in the hands of Jim Buss, and the team has already taken a major blow with Dwight Howard leaving Los Angeles in favor of the Houston Rockets.

With Dwight heading to Houston, the Lakers’ front office has been scrambling to fill the void and build the team with veterans willing to take the minimum.

So far, the Lakers have done much better than anticipated with the team signing Chris Kaman, Nick Young, Jordan Farmar and Wesley Johnson. Although not All-Star-caliber talent, the Lakers have brought in pieces that may help maintain the team’s status as a legitimate playoff contender in the Western Conference.

Along with the team bringing in a few better-than-expected free agents, the Lakers have received promising reports of Kobe Bryant’s recovery from surgery on his Achilles. Kobe is supposedly three months ahead of schedule and may make a return to the basketball floor as soon as the first game of the 2013-14 NBA season.

Apparently, Buss is confident Kobe will be back in uniform much earlier than expected. A good sign for the team and the fans moving forward, but it remains to be seen whether or not the five-time NBA champion may be planning on coming back much sooner than he should be.

Lakers Nation News

Jim Buss Believes Kobe Bryant Will be Back for Beginning of Regular Season

This Date in History: Shaquille O’Neal Officially Signs with Lakers

Wesley Johnson Says Playing for Lakers is “Dream Come True”

VIDEO: Nick Young Throws Down Monster Dunks in Drew League Game

Kobe Bryant 2000 NBA Championship Ring Being Auctioned for $35,000

VIDEO: Jon Hamm Mocks Dwight Howard at ESPYs Awards

Lakers News: Team Officially Signs Jordan Farmar

Lakers News: D’Antoni Thinks Howard Needed to Accept his Role 

Lakers News: Snoop Lion Says That Jeanie Buss Should Be in Charge

Kobe Bryant Tweets Respect to Yankees’ Closer Mariano Rivera

Dwight Howard Describes “Saddest Moment” as Member of the Lakers

Lakers Rumors: Lakers, Kurt Rambis Moving Closer to Deal

Lakers News: Chris Kaman Likes Mike D’Antoni’s Offensive System

Lakers News: Chris Kaman Believes He Can Still Play at All-Star Level

Lakers News

Lakers Sign Jordan Farmar to One-Year Deal [LA Times]

Chris Douglas-Roberts Trying to Get His NBA Career Started Again [LA Times]

Lakers Up to 11 Guaranteed Players Under Contract [LA Times]

New Laker Chris Kaman Surprised, Happy to be Back in Los Angeles [LA Times]

Mike D’Antoni Says Lakers Lucky to Get Kaman, Young in Free Agency [LA Times]

VIDEO: Are Free Agents Choosing Clippers Over Lakers? [OC Register]

Ding: Lakers Still Waiting for NAsh to Create Fun for All [OC Register]

Douglas-Roberts Talks Kobe, Earning a Spot in NBA [Silver Screen & Roll]

Rambis ‘Close’ to Joining Lakers Coaching Staff [Silver Screen & Roll]

Kobe ‘Three Months Ahead’ of Schedule [Silver Screen & Roll]

NBA News

NBA Rumors: Baron Davis Eyeing Return to NBA this Season [Sports City]

NBA News: Samuel Dalembert Agrees to Join Dallas Mavericks [Sports City]

Dwight Howard is Given Zero-Second Long Highlight Clip at ESPYs [Sports City]

Paul George Says It’d Be Difficult to ‘Say No’ to Kobe Bryant [Sports City]

NBA News: Milwaukee Bucks Choose to Amnesty Drew Gooden [Sports City]

The Flip Side of Shorter Contract: More Sagas [SB Nation]

Mike Miller Clears Amnesty Waivers [SB Nation]

Dwight Howard, Greatest NBA Player Ever [SB Nation]

Paul Pierce at His Introductory Press Conference with the Nets: ‘It’s Really Starting to Sink in as We Speak’ [Pro Basketball Talk]

Jason Maxiell to Sign Two-Year, $5 Million Contract with Magic [Pro Basketball Talk]

Canadian Andrew Wiggins Wants to Play for Raptors [Pro Basketball Talk]

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