Vlade Divac: 'Lakers are an elite team,' 'can win the championship'

The Los Angeles Lakers went 45-37 in 2012-13.

Since then, they've lost Dwight Howard to free agency, had their superstar, Kobe Bryant, suffer a major Achilles tendon injury, and watched father time take another year from Steve Nash and Pau Gasol.

But they brought in Swaggy P and Chris Kaman, so no worries.

Or so thinks former Laker Vlade Divac, who told the Daily Express, "The Los Angeles Lakers are an elite team and I'm sure they're going to do better than last year."

He also added that, "The Lakers are going to be definitely one of those teams that can win the championship next year."

All credit to Bryant and the organization, but it's really hard to craft a basketball-based case for this team to improve in 2013-14.

Dap: Eye on Basketball