The Los Angeles Lakers are hoping to start the 2019-20 NBA season with a bang with a souped-up lineup. However, the injury bug has not spared the purple and gold from possibly missing some players. The latest casualty is Kyle Kuzma.

Kuzma suffered a foot injury last month, forcing him to withdraw from USA Basketball. The 24-year-old sustained the injury when Team USA defeated the Australian Boomers, 102-86. He chipped in 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the three-point region per USAB.com.

Initially, it was presumed that Kuzma's injury was not that serious. According to Marc Stein of the New York Times, it appears that his recovery has been progressing slower than expected. Hence, the Lakers could be starting the season without the 27th pick of the 2017 NBA Draft.

The Lakers have had their share of bad luck this summer. First to go down was DeMarcus Cousins who will likely miss the entire 2019-20 season. Dwight Howard has taken his place. Now, the Lakers will have to find someone else to fill the void of Kuzma in the early part of the season.

Apparently, first-year head coach Frank Vogel may need to do some tweaking if Kuzma is not ready by the time the regular season starts. LeBron James could start at small forward and backe up by Jared Dudley. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope could be playing some time at the position as well. It all depends on the type of play the Lakers have in mind for the coming season.

Looking beyond that gap, one thing the Lakers need to do is establish team chemistry. They have nine new players in the mix. This is expected to be the key to their success if they are to make a serious run at the NBA title.

The Lakers need to get their act together and fast. They are favorites in the Western Conference but have to contend with other favorites. The list includes the Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors, Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets, and the Utah Jazz. The Anthony Davis-LeBron James combo is something to look forward to. But without a proper supporting cast, the Lakers may be in for some rough sailing.

Kyle Kuzma
Kyle Kuzma, #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers, grabs his ankle after landing awkwardly during the second half of a game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, Mar. 04, 2019. Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
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