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Midway by way of the 2021-22 NBA season, issues did not precisely go to plan for the Los Angeles Lakers, who’re behind the competing pack.
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In ninth place (24-25) within the Western Convention, 3.0 video games behind the sixth-place Denver Nuggets and a whopping 15.0 video games behind the conference-leading Phoenix Suns, the Lakers lie squarely within the Play-In with critical work make attain.
LeBron James Harm Replace
Although LeBron James performed a few of the greatest basketball gamers of his profession, their season was considerably derailed by accidents and absences from COVID-19 well being and security protocols, in addition to Russell Westbrook’s sluggish begin to life in LA. James sat out Thursday’s 18-point loss to the Philadelphia 76ers after they fell again to the incorrect facet of .500 once more as they headed into the second night time of a back-to-back in Charlotte.
The workforce introduced simply earlier than Thursday’s tip that James wouldn’t play, itemizing him each day with a knee damage. It is the thirteenth recreation he is missed this season, with the Lakers averaging a 5-8 report in video games he is missed.
The excellent news? Eight-time All-Star Anthony Davis is again within the lineup, returning in Tuesday night time’s 106-96 win over the Brooklyn Nets. Davis had missed the Lakers’ final 17 video games after spraining his left MCL in a matchup in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Dec. 17. The Lakers had gone 10-10 in video games Davis missed this season.
Los Angeles’ go to to Brooklyn was the third recreation of a six-game journey that may proceed with video games in opposition to the 76ers, Hornets and Hawks, with a matchup in opposition to reigning champion Bucks the next week. Of their remaining seven video games earlier than the market shut, they’re solely enjoying two groups over .500, and out of doors of their recreation in opposition to the Bucks, they’ve a paper alternative to place collectively a pleasant run and acquire some floor within the standings.
The Lakers have the third-toughest remaining schedule this season, in accordance with the Tankathon, and their subsequent set of video games main as much as the commerce deadline might show essential within the route of their season.
Lakers upcoming 2021-22 schedule
| date | opponent | time (ET) | Nationwide TV |
| January twenty eighth | at hornets | 19:30 o’clock | ESPN |
| January thirtieth | at Hawks | 1:00 pm | – |
| February 2nd | in opposition to Trailblazer | 10:00 p.m | – |
| 3 February | at Clippers | 10:00 p.m | TNT |
| February fifth | vs, curtsy | 8:30 p.m | ABC |
| February eighth | in opposition to Bucks | 10:00 p.m | TNT |
| February ninth | at Trailblazer | 10:00 p.m | – |
With their full roster again on the bottom, this subsequent set of video games will give them a superb indication of the place they stand amid swirling hypothesis that some adjustments could also be on the best way.
It is no secret the Lakers want to vary one thing, and whereas Davis’ return might properly be the lightning rod to spark a run and get them again on monitor, their roster woes run deeper than simply lacking Davis for an prolonged stretch too to have.
Head coach Frank Vogel’s job safety has been the topic of current hypothesis, with stories surfacing that he’s “coaching for his job” whereas the Lakers battle to realize a foothold within the Western Convention. A poor play streak main as much as the shut might show the final straw for the Lakers’ entrance workplace determined to take advantage of what’s left of LeBron James’ championship window. (Though it seems to be prefer it might take one other 10 years)
With restricted wage cap flexibility and virtually no draft capital, it is going to be tough to make the swap on the deadline. The Russell Westbrook-sized elephant within the room is the best to indicate off, as the common common nine-time All-Star struggles to constantly affect the workforce’s offense 18.6 factors (his lowest since 2009-10), 7.9 rebounds and seven.6 assists per recreation in 44.1/29.9/67.5 splits – to not point out he is 44 million this season $47 million participant choice in 2022/23.
“The problem is to be that workforce’s model of myself, that is what I am attempting to determine,” Westbrook instructed ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. “I wish to get higher because the season progresses and I’ve to take accountability for the issues I do and the way I make the folks round me higher. We’ve a authentic probability to win all the pieces and for that I should be higher – and I do know I shall be.”
It is going to be tough to discover a purchaser for Westbrook as Rockets guard John Wall is a reputation that has been floating round in current days. These of the undefeated Marc Spears reported Tuesday on The Hoop Collective podcast that the one “life like” goal for the Rockets to make a deal for Wall could be Westbrook, however they’d look forward to Westbrook to return off the bench in the event that they match right here would you? Appears unlikely.
“I have been instructed they’ve just a few on the desk, a number of on the desk, however the one one which has actually life like potential is with the Lakers for Russ. They really do, I do not know if it is virtually the identical greenback however an identical wage so you’ll be able to commerce them one for one with out involving anybody. The Laker choose of 2027 that you simply talked about earlier, that first spherical choose, appears to be fairly wanted and I might anticipate it to be included in such a deal. However John is in Miami. He is been coaching. He really requested the Rockets for permission to be in Miami so he may very well be close to his youngsters and concentrate on coaching.
NBA reporter Marc Stein reported that if Westbrook discovered himself again in Houston, he would probably be searching for him to finish a buyout with a major concentrate on terminating Wall’s contract and incomes the Lakers’ 2027 draft choose.
MORE: Lakers, Warriors amongst most fascinating groups at shut of commerce
Wall, who hasn’t performed a recreation for the Rockets this season, looks like a greater match than Westbrook on paper, however is it a transfer that will get them excessive? In all probability not.
Kendrick Nunn and Talen Horton-Tucker have additionally been dangled in commerce talks together with future draft belongings, however what the Lakers may get in return stays debatable.
If the Lakers are capable of put collectively a collection of video games with their full roster on deck earlier than the commerce deadline, commerce talks may die down, however by the seems to be of it, one thing wants to vary for the Lakers, be it the roster or the teaching employees, we’ll simply have to attend and see.
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