LeBron James Rumors: Lakers 'Hope' SF Can Play vs Clippers in Return from Injury
The Los Angeles Lakers have "hope" that superstar LeBron James can return to game action Thursday against the Los Angeles Clippers, according to Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times.
Ganguli reported that James is "looking to get a few more practices in. His availability will depend on how his body reacts to those."
The Lakers desperately need James back in the lineup. The 34-year-old forward has missed the team's last 16 games, and the Lakers have floundered in his absence, going 6-10. They've dropped to 26-24 on the season and are in ninth place in the Western Conference standings, two games behind the Clippers.
It isn't surprising that a young Lakers core that went 35-47 a year ago is struggling without James. He is averaging 27.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 51.8 percent from the field and 35.6 percent from three.
James is L.A.'s leader, its best scorer and also its best playmaker. He's impossible to replace.
But the team's distinct lack of a second superstar has been readily apparent while he's been missing in action. Kyle Kuzma (19.1 PPG) has played well, but neither Lonzo Ball nor Brandon Ingram has taken the next step toward becoming a star, leaving the Lakers with a roster of role players alongside James.
That could change by the Feb. 7 trade deadline with the Lakers sure to make serious offers to the New Orleans Pelicans for Anthony Davis. Davis' agent, Rich Paul, told Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com on Monday that Davis has informed the Pelicans he won't sign a long-term extension with the team and wants to be traded.
However, virtually every team in the NBA will make an offer for Davis, and the Pelicans may wait to deal him until the summer, when the Boston Celtics can enter the fray. League rules regarding the Designated Player Rookie Extension mandate that Boston can't have both Davis and Kyrie Irving on the roster under their current deals, but Irving is likely to opt out of that deal this offseason.
Regardless of how the Davis situation plays out, the Lakers' struggles without James are a reminder that the team needs to add another superstar or two if it wants to compete for titles late in James' career.
