The Los Angeles Lakers were great on Friday night. However, their best player — Anthony Davis — scored only 10 of the ...
...Lakers’ 126 points. The reason for the low scoring output, he left the game in the second quarter with a foot injury.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania is reporting that Davis will be out for at least a month, but there is a significant chance that it will be longer. He is averaging 27.3 points per game on nearly 60 percent from the field.
Combine that with his usual stellar defense, and Davis was playing like a legitimate MVP candidate. The Lakers got off to a ghastly start to the 2022-23 season, going 2-8.
The playoffs are very much in reach, but with Davis out until possibly after Valentine’s Day it is very unlikely that the Lakers will be able to continue their winning ways.
The Lakers gave up too much for both Davis and Westbrook, and didn’t need to go all in on another deal. There is no time left for a wait and see approach. James turns 38 years old at the end of this month.
He cannot carry the Lakers for maybe 20 games, maybe more, while waiting for Davis to return. He has been coming off of ...
...the bench, playing less than 30 minutes per game, and playing with more restraint and efficiency when on the floor.
Of course that is not the most impressive group of names, but if the Lakers care about saving this season there is no time to be picky. Their fortunes were looking up, but now they have to make a choice.
Either act swiftly and make a trade to try and steady the ship until Davis can return, or punt on this season, ...
...and try to do something with all of their cap space this offseason, with James inching closer to 40 years old.