The 24-26 Lakers are struggling to develop consistent chemistry due to injuries across the board, but most importantly to All-Stars LeBron James (currently out with a swollen knee) and Anthony Davis (recently back in the lineup after missing much of the season with knee and wrist injuries), as Kyle Goon of the Orange County Register writes.
Though starting point guard Russell Westbrook has begun to improve his scoring (if not his late-game decision-making), the absences of Davis and the 37-year-old James have made for choppy waters. The team has also not seen its fifth highest-paid player, Kendrick Nunn, since the preseason.
“It’s a long season; I wouldn’t count this team out,” head coach Frank Vogel said on the West’s current ninth seed.. “[We] have a belief in what we can be when all of the pieces finally come together and have a chance to jell. We’ve seen it in different bursts.”
There’s more out of the City of Angels:
- Lakers rookie shooting guard Austin Reaves has been one of the few bright spots during what has been an otherwise largely underwhelming season for L.A., opines Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times. “He’s doing a great job of learning and adjusting,” future Hall-of-Famer teammate Carmelo Anthony raved. “And figuring out, ‘OK, if I don’t have the ball in my hands, back cut, offensive rebound, loose balls.’ He’s been doing a great job with doing that, and crashing from the weak side, getting tip-outs, diving on the floor for loose balls, taking charges, getting hit in his face. It seems like he gets hit every play down the court.” The undrafted rookie out of Oklahoma is averaging a fairly modest 5.9 PPG and 2.7 RPG, with .467/.316/.850 shooting splits, but the numbers belie his impact as a defender and as an occasional scoring option off the bench.
- A depleted Clippers team missing perennial All-Star forwards Paul George and Kawhi Leonard has managed to find a way to recover from disadvantages of 20 or more points in three January games. Mirjam Swanson of the Orange County Register notes that the exhausted 25-26 club is in the midst of an epic eight-game road trip.
- Clippers reserve long-range marksman Luke Kennard is interested in being considered for NBA All-Star Weekend’s three-point contest, writes Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times. He has the support of his head coach. “I think he would do great,” head coach Tyronn Lue said. The 6’5″ vet is currently the third-best three-point shooter in the NBA by percentage, making 43.9% of his 2.8 triples a night.
Now Wolves look much better than Lakers and Clippers
Wolves supporting casts are good
Lakers may not pay $30+ million luxury tax next season if they miss the playoffs this year
I agree with wolves over Lakers. Clippers without Kawhi and George… Okey maybe. But Wolves are a play in team and, clippers with both dudes are a contender
Lakers
great organization
great culture
great players
……
Would you say “current head coach Frank Vogel” is just a typo or the writer’s not so subtle hint as to where he believes this Lakers season will end?
Lakers still have 2027 First available for trade
Clippers still have 2028 First available for trade
Both teams trade away future for present
Warriors owners want to be the best from 2021 to 2030
Chris Paul looks young to me
Doncic is not top efficient
Grizzlies look solid
Snakes have no arms. That’s why they don’t wear vests.
Lakers are almost sure to be in the play-in by now.
Lakers are better defensive team than Kings and Rockets.
Lakers just got outscored in the 4th quarter 38-20 (18 points) to lose by 7.
That’s poor game management and decision making.
I think the Lakers have to be willing to risk upsetting the locker room and ruining the chemistry by trading Russ. They need more options and more consistency.
Some ideas they could explore
(Not saying they are all hugely likely but could be explored)
1. Russ, THT and 2 seconds for Dinwiddie, KCP and Bertans.
2. Russ, THT and the 2027 first for Wall and Wood
3. Russ and the 2027 first for Horford, Schroder and Langford
4. Russ for Bledsloe, Morris and Winslow
Nobody wants Russ. Maybe #2 works, but I don’t see the other teams biting.
#2 atleast gives them Wood. Wood and AD would be a very very good big man duo, both can space the floor aswell. Even if Wall for Russ doesn’t do much you can line up
Bron Monk Melo Wood and AD which would do bits
I only see 5 options and none of them very promising
Hou for wall- doubtful, doesnt help LAL
Okc -With their cap and favors( doubtful doesnt do much for Lal to win)
Orl- If they view Fultz as underwater and want to move forward with Cole Rj and Suggs
NYK- If they want to look forward to 24 – They can clear Fourn and net the 27 pick- Salary matching is actually really easy here
And lastly the one that might make a little sense is the Clippers with Bledsoe Ibaka and Kennard or/ Morris …. Don’t think it does much for Lakers but Clippers could bite on it inn all honesty making it the most feasible out of the 5
Id be down with the Knicks package but it would take them flushing the next 1.5 years away and I don’t think they are prepared for that today…Could still happen offseason tho
1 is doubtful, 2 doesn’t make much sense at all but gives them cap space I guess, 3 Fultz would be a downgrade and magic would still have to many PGs, 4 I can’t see the Knicks doing but I did look into it. It would have to involve either Randle, Kemba or DRose which I can’t see them wanting to part with. 5 the clippers I think would actually be really good for both sides but because the rivalry wouldn’t happen. Clippers would have Russ PG Kawhi Ibaka and Zubac plus Jackson Kennard Batum Hartinsetin etc
Russ helps them rebound, and can help with playmaking, plus with PG and Kawhi injured they might be desperate.
Lakers would have Bledsloe Monk LBJ Morris AD. Not much improvement but more manageable contracts.
Fourn Kemba Noel Gibson for Russ DJ Baze and Ellington +1st works…Dont need Randle or Rose. If they wanted Tht for Burks they could even go 5-5
Agree I actually think Clippers win that trade and it fits there timline/needs pretty well. Biggest downfall for them would be the 23 Tax but maybe Ballmer goes Lacob for a year . Clippers really have no way to upgrade as well so maybe they view this as a wildcard scenario
See I think Lakers would be very lucky to make that deal. Kemba would be a similar to Kyrie next to LBJ. A score first point guard, has really good dribble moves, can shot from outside and has a clutch reputation. Not as good but great fit.
In this alternate reality this deal happens, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them then flip Fouriner, Gibson and 2 second rounders for Buddy Heild and Tristan Thompson.
This leaving the Lakers with Kemba Buddy LBJ AD Thompson and a bench of Nunn THT Ariza Melo Noel.
This would make the Lakers so much stronger and younger. Kemba and Buddys shooting opens up the floor and both can create their own shots. Tristan joins back up with LBJ and he knows how to use him. Off the bench THT and Melo get good minutes, Noel and Dwight can be solid impact centres. Bradley and Ariza give you 3 and D wings aswell.
WSH can’t reacquire RW.
NYK could do C&C’s trade without necessarily tanking next season (and this season is already on the edge of the cliff). Noel is the only guy they’ll really miss. RW, regardless of his fit with the LAL, can’t be a worse fit with the Knicks than Fournier or Walker, and he’ll make Randle feel better about his 3 pt %. They’d tank this year (easy), and deal with RW’s contract over the summer (buyout if they want to tank next year, or a trade if they don’t).
lol ur joking right
The GMs I don’t want to make a trade and trade chat
Ainge and Morey
They are “snakes”
The GMs I love to make a trade
Eltan Brand and Pat Riley
Try to limit your bias more, Alex. Just friendly advice.
Rob is horrible talent evaluator. His skill is in managing the personalities of the star players and Jeannie Buss.
His rosters have been truly horrible and only LeBrons transcendent skills have allowed them to be successful.
Also letting Caruso go in an “all in year” was simply stupid. Unless the Buss family is in bankruptcy the luxury taxes should have been acceptable for the SHORT TERM (3 years).
I’ll continue to root for them, but I’m not a blind fan boy. Rob is glib and likeable. But he’s not a good GM at least not yet.