The latest Los Angeles Lakers news brings us to the signing former Cavs coach Byron Scott, who is literally the missing piece before the Lakers call it an off-season. 

After missing on Carmelo Anthony during the free agency period, a lot of people thought Los Angeles could still be contenders with Kobe Bryant coming back from a torn Achilles tendon injury. 

However, when All Star big man Pau Gasol decided to opt out of his final year and chose to leave Los Angeles for Chicago, the once hopeful season for the Lakers immediately turned the other way around. 

In spite the crucial loss, as well as other minor losses brought about by free agency, the Lakers front office slowly tried to bring good pieces around Bryant in what many says to be his penultimate year in the league. 

First up is center Ed Davis, whom the Lakers acquired for cheap from Memphis. Right after LeBron chose to go home to Cleveland, the Lakers added star Jeremy Lin after the Rockets traded him to save some cap space hoping they would get Chris Bosh. Unfortunately, that did not turn out the way they planned, and they lost a good role player in Lin. 

Los Angeles once again filled up some scraps and pieces when it acquired scoring forward Carlos Boozer from waivers after the Chicago Bulls waived his contract year. 

Of course the rookie Julius Randle is there to power the frontcourt which is composed of the Jordan Hill, Robert Sacre and Boozer. 

Coach Byron Scott is a defensive specialist, and he will surely make the team work and improve on defense. Defense wins championships, right? Not quite. 

The Lakers definitely need to get the old 'Mamba' back in form, as well as former MVP Steve Nash to do the facilitating skills, while Lin learns from him. Boozer is instant offense, and as long as someone picks up for him in D, the Lakers are better with him on the court. 

Randle has tremendous upside, and his respect and excitement to play alongside Bryant will make him a loyal piece of this rebuilding squad. 

Los Angeles may not be title contenders this season, but as underdogs, they have to prove something, and coach Scott will help them with that.