Lakers News: Latest on Kobe Bryant's Injury, Metta World Peace

With their season opener on Wednesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Los Angeles Lakers still had some issues to address with their roster beforehand. 

The team had a few more cuts to make, and the legendary face of the franchise was once again battling injury, possibly putting his 2015-16 start in jeopardy. But things look to be settling down for a franchise that won just 21 games last year.

Here is the latest coming from the purple-and-gold side of Los Angeles. 

Metta World Peace Makes Roster

The Lakers had to cut one final player in order to decide the final roster. Trying to hang onto a spot, veteran Metta World Peace, who hasn't played since 2013-14, was well in the mix. 

On Monday, the Lakers announced they had cut forward Jabari Brown, thus finalizing their roster with World Peace well within the ranks. 

Turning 36 in November, World Peace spent four seasons with the Lakers from 2009 to 2013, winning a championship with them in 2010. He rejoined the team toward the end of September on a one-year, non-guaranteed contract. 

If he is able to produce in the league by flashing the kind of tenacity that made him such a serviceable forward over the past 15 years, it would be a bonus for the Lakers. 

If not, they might have another plan for him, per Yahoo Sports' Shams Charania: "World Peace’s return to the Lakers includes a long-term plan to transition into an assistant coach for the franchise, league sources told Yahoo. He has been a mentor for several young Lakers players, including 2014 No. 7 overall pick Julius Randle."

Peace brings a veteran presence to a forward group that lacks experience in the league. Other than World Peace, of the five listed forwards on the roster who are 6'7" or taller, four of them were born in 1991 or later. 

While he might not do much on the court, he'll be valuable on the bench, telling the younger players how to do it for him.

Kobe Bryant Expected for Opener

One of the aging faces of the NBA made his way back onto the court Sunday, as Bryant practiced for the first time since he picked up a lower leg contusion on Oct. 13, according to Baxter Holmes of ESPN.com. 

Lakers head coach Byron Scott spoke with Holmes about Kobe Bryant's upcoming availability:

"

Yeah, I told him if he couldn't go [Sunday], [Monday] we could start worrying. He walked out [Sunday], he said it felt good. He gave me a thumbs-up. Went through the scrimmage and everything. You can see a little rust, but other than that, he was moving pretty fluid again. It was just good to see.

"

He then stated that Bryant had two more days (Monday and Tuesday) to "knock some more rust off."

At 37 years old, Bryant has seen his last two seasons end prematurely due to injury, playing in just 41 regular-season games. But he wasn't just going through the motions at practice. 

According to Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times, he wasn't taking the trash-talking from teammates Nick Young and Lou Williams lightly. World Peace explained: "He was shooting in peoples' faces, they'd foul him for an 'and-one'...turnaround right, turnaround left, talking trash. Somebody decided to talk to Kobe. That was the wrong thing to do."

It's that kind of competitive spirit and fire that shouldn't have many people writing him off this season if he manages to stay healthy. 

With a revamped roster and some fresh new talent, the Lakers could start turning things around in the Western Conference. 

Stats courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com.