Medical imaging conducted on LeBron James‘ injured left foot this week didn’t show any damage, but the Lakers star will miss a second consecutive game due to what the team is calling left ankle soreness, writes Dave McMenamin of ESPN. The Lakers have officially ruled out James for Saturday’s contest vs. Golden State.
Chris Haynes said on his latest #thisleague UNCUT podcast with Marc Stein that LeBron’s foot issue was bothering him quite a bit during Tuesday’s game against Oklahoma City, when he broke the NBA’s all-time scoring record.
“I was told LeBron was severely struggling with that foot injury he has,” Haynes said. “It’s something that’s been nagging him for a few weeks already, but it gets to points where it just gets unbearable, and he plays through it. … The way it was explained to me is that might be something that lingers all season long.”
Although the Lakers will be without James on Saturday vs. Golden State, they’ll get a chance to see several of their newly acquired players in action, with D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Davon Reed all expected to be available, according to McMenamin. Mohamed Bamba is still serving a suspension that he earned while he was with the Magic.
Here’s more from around the Western Conference:
- Tim Kawakami of The Athletic (Twitter link) hears from a source that the Warriors actually have until Sunday evening, not Saturday evening, to finalize a decision on whether or not to nix their four-team trade with the Trail Blazers, Pistons, and Hawks due to Gary Payton II‘s failed physical. However, Kawakami notes that the Warriors probably don’t want to drag out the situation any longer than they have to and could make their call sooner.
- Speaking on Friday to reporters, including Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News, Mavericks president of basketball operations Nico Harrison discussed the Kyrie Irving trade, why he doesn’t think the team needs another ball-handler, and whether the club will be looking to add one more free agent. “We’re going to look at it closely,” Harrison said of the buyout market. “If there’s something we think can help strengthen our bench, then we’ll definitely do it, for sure.” Dallas is reportedly considered a frontrunner to sign Terrence Ross if and when he’s bought out by Orlando.
- Spurs wing Devin Vassell told Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News (Twitter link) on Friday that there’s still no “set date in stone” for his return from a left knee procedure, but he said it definitely won’t happen until sometime after the All-Star break.
LeBron went from crying they didn’t get Irving, to be excited over Russell who like Westbrook can’t shoot from outside.
That’s basically the only thing Russell does well, shoot. Try again Filly Fan
He is terrible at defense so teams target who he is covering.
@13Morgs LMAO WHAT? Do you even know anything basketball? You know that D-Lo had been taking like, 7 3pa a game, right? And hitting at a 39.7% clip? League average is 36%. He’s also a career 36% shooter.
Westbrick was taking about 4 3pa a game, and only hitting 29.6%. Dude’s a career 30% shooter from 3, and yes, definitely a terrible shooter.
Tell me again why D-Lo can’t shoot from outside? Not even a Laker’s fan, and your take is hot trash LOL
Did LeBron do whatever it takes to protect Westbrook on trade deadline?
Something like
If you want to trade Westbrook, trade me first.
So medical imaging says that Lebron’s ankle has no damage??
But on Tuesday he was struggling and sometimes it is unbearable?
So what are we to believe?
Inflammation can still hurt without any pulls, strains, tears or sprains.
He’s trying to build his resume of excuses as to why he won’t be making the playoffs.
The dude’s almost 40 years old. It hurts to get out of a chair if you’ve been sitting there longer than 30 minutes..
I don’t know about anyone else but when I stand up from sitting my knees go snap crackle and pop louder than a bowl of rice krispies.
It’ll be interesting how it all pieces together
When from good defence poor shooting to what could be now bad defence good shooting.
Going to have to be good at Mitch and matching players minutes and finding the combinations.
If your to make any more moves I’d bring in Tristan Thompson as centre competition. Offers a very different skill set to Bamba. Won with LeBron in the past, does all the little things right and works really hard.
I’d start with
Russell Beasley Bron AD Thompson
Schroder Walker Hachimura Vanderbilt Bamba
Reaves BrownJr
No doubt AD will get injured and in which case put Hachimura in as your starter and promote Reaves or BrownJr
For the first time in ages the Lakers options just make sense…