The Los Angeles Lakers have gathered some concern about Kyle Kuzma's injured left ankle, which rendered him unable to take the floor with Team USA earlier this summer, making him the last cut before the team traveled to China for the 2019 FIBA World Cup.

Kuzma's injury was listed as “left ankle soreness” initially, but that diagnosis seems to have changed, as the “soreness” has continued nearly a month since he first suffered it. The Lakers now fear he might miss the start of the upcoming training camp, according to Marc Stein of The New York Times.

The Lakers will hold their first pair of practices on Saturday and will likely have to wait until Kuzma is 100% able to return before he takes part in drills and scrimmages next to his many new teammates.

The move to place LeBron James at the point guard position opens the possibility of Kuzma starting at small forward next to new acquisition Anthony Davis. That itself would make him hugely important to new head coach Frank Vogel, though even in the role of a sixth man, Kuzma's shooting and athleticism will be a great boost for a team shooting for the top spot in the West.

Yet the Lakers will need to practice utmost caution with Kuzma, as risking a potential setback this early in the season could have awful repercussions for a team that has already has a great deal of hardship after would-be starter DeMarcus Cousins was lost for the season with a torn ACL earlier this summer.