When the Los Angeles Lakers tip-off their 2015-16 campaign, Kobe Bryant could find himself spending some time at power forward.
Head coach Byron Scott said that the Lakers may experiment with their lineup and that could include Bryant playing at power forward.
"If we don't get another guard, then Kobe's in that mix," Scott said of a potential switch, according to NBA.com. "I'm kind of going through those scenarios. But not necessarily as far as who's starting and who doesn't. ... I think [Bryant] will play more 3 than 2. If we can get him at the elbows and at the mid-post, the more effective he'll be."
He continued: "I don't think he needs to be using up the whole 94-foot floor. If we can cut that down some, I think that saves his legs as much as possible. But if we can get him where he operates best, which to me is elbows on each area, top of the key, at the pinch post, at the mid-post, then I think he can be real effective for us."
Following the draft and free agency, Scott believes the Lakers are more versatile than they were before and that Bryant can adapt to whatever role he puts him in.
"Kobe can play 1, 2 and 3," Scott said. "There's no doubt in my mind. And there's some games, against some teams, where he'll probably play 4. With his tenaciousness, the way he guards people and when his mind is set, if I say, 'Kobe, you've got him,' he takes that as a challenge. You know how he is. He'll compete."
Bryant will look to stay healthy as he's had season-ending injuries the past three years, including a torn rotator cuff in the 2014-15 campaign.
With Bryant entering the final year of his contract, there have been rumors that he may retire come season's end as he seeks his sixth ring.
Los Angeles would need a major turnaround to win the NBA championship in 2015-16. After setting the bar for futility with a franchise-worst 27-55 record in 2013-14, the Lakers ended 2014-15 with a new record-low, a 21-61 mark.
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