After a disappointing 109-90 loss to the Indiana Pacers last night, the Los Angeles Lakers could use some good news. And the Lakers got perhaps even better news than they could ever have dreamed of today.
Los Angeles, playing its third game in four nights, all on the road, looked drained. While the game was relatively close throughout the first half, the Lakers trailed every game of the final 39 minutes. The Lakers were outshot 48.3%-to-40.7% and made just 5 of 30 (16.7%) from the 3-point line. The Lakers also committed 16 turnovers.
Los Angeles Lakers Rumors: Biggest Beneficial Of Recent NBA News? Biggest Issue The Rest Of Season, Key Rotational Players Set To Return, And Offseason Priority
“We didn’t have the energy we’ve had the last few weeks,” LeBron James said after the game. “You’ve got to be able to play through it. We know it’s three in four nights, but there’s no excuse for unforced turnovers. They can’t happen.”
The loss was Lakers first in three games to the Pacers this year. The Lakers defeated the Pacers earlier this season at home and in the finals of the In-Season Tournament in Vegas. The setback snapped the Lakers season-high five-game winning streak.
Lakers Continue Season-high Road Swing
While last night’s setback snapped a season-high five-game winning streak, Los Angeles (41-33) remains in ninth place in the Western Conference. The Lakers are one and one-half games clear of 10th-place Golden State and two and one-half games ahead of Houston, which is 11th in the conference but very much still alive for a play-in tournament berth.
Los Angeles, which has the 10th-best record since the all-star break at 11-7, is only one and one-half games behind eighth-place Sacramento. LA continues its season-high six-game road trip at Brooklyn tonight.
The Lakers have been lousy on the road this season, which could be their undoing going forward. Granted, they weren’t great away from home a season ago, but they weren’t this bad. The Lakers have lost 21 of their 35 road games with a -5.1 scoring differential.
Five of Los Angeles final eight games are away from Crypto.com. After tonight’s game in Brooklyn, the Lakers travel to Toronto (April 2) and Washington (April 3). They then are home until closing the season in Memphis and New Orleans.
Reason For Optimism
LA’s three home games are much more challenging, with games against Cleveland, Minnesota, and Golden State. So, it is imperative the Lakers win their road contests.
If the Lakers can pick up five or six wins down the stretch, they may be able to sneak past the Kings. This would allow the Lakers at least the opportunity to host one play-in tournament game.
A reason for this observation is that Sacramento is depleted in the backcourt following the injury news of Malik Monk. Monk is expected to be out four to six weeks with an MCL sprain, meaning the Kings would have to reach the second round of the playoffs for Monk to have a chance to return this season. Kevin Huerter is already out for the season.
Sacramento (43-31) has lost two straight games. According to Tankathon, the Kings have the fifth-toughest remaining schedule, with six teams with a .500 or better record. Four of the games are on the road. The injuries have left Keon Ellis, Davion Mitchell, and Chris Duarte as De’Aaron Fox’s main sidekicks.
Gabe Vincent and Jarred Vanderbilt Set To Return
While Anthony Davis and James played quite well against Indiana, though James did have five turnovers, both players were hampered by injuries. Davis is dealing with left knee hypertension, and James continues to play through ankle issues. Mike Trudell of Spectrum SportsNet said both players are questionable against the Nets.
Gabe Vincent, who has played in only five games this season (last on Dec. 20) joins LeBron and AD as questionable for tomorrow at Brooklyn. pic.twitter.com/9DnmeLONac
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) March 30, 2024
But the Lakers did receive some good news, as Gabe Vincent has been upgraded to questionable. Vincent has missed the past 48 games due to a knee injury. If Vincent does return tonight, he could be the Lakers’ fourth guard, thus taking minutes away from Max Christie.
Meanwhile, The Athletic’s Jovan Buha said yesterday that Jarred Vanderbilt appears close to returning.
“From what I’ve heard, the Lakers are targeting early April. I don’t have a concrete date in terms of is that like April 2nd? Is that April 9th? But sometime within that first week to week-and-a-half of April, the Lakers are trying to get Vando back. The season ends on April 14th, so they are trying to get him back to get him three or four games under his belt.
“One good sign is he’s been traveling with the team. So Gabe, for example, was not with the team. Gabe is just joining the team today in Indianapolis and then gonna be traveling with them to Brooklyn. Vando’s been on this whole trip, and we see him working out in the weight room pregame and going through his different stuff.”
Vanderbilt has reportedly been progressing in his rehab from a foot injury that has kept him out since February 2, though he has yet to be cleared for contact. Vanderbilt started to amp up his conditioning on March 26.
Offseason Top Priority
Buha didn’t just discuss the Lakers’ injury situation. He also said the Lakers plan on going “big-star hunting” this offseason and that Trae Young is their top target.
Yes, the Lakers must take advantage of James’ waning time in the NBA. But I’m not sure that Young is the answer. Young is too small and fragile and terrible defensively. He is also turnover-prone.
Granted, Young would provide the Lakers with the shooting and playmaker they desperately need at point guard. However, another question is at what cost? Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura would undoubtedly have to be included in a trade along with some draft capital though the Lakers can’t trade a first-rounder until 2029, per NBA rules as they already have their 2024 or 2025 and 2027 top selections spoken for.
Donovan Mitchell and Dejounte Murray make more sense to me for the Lakers. However, Mitchell likely won’t be available for a trade until next season’s trade deadline if he decides to decline his 2025-26 player option with Cleveland.
Does a Paul George, seeking an extension with the Los Angeles Clippers, trade or signing unrestricted free agent Klay Thompson work?
George is an LA kid who likely prefers to stay in SoCal if he can’t get a deal with the Clippers. Thompson is not the player he was a few years ago, but the 34-year-old wing can still shoot the ball and defend a little.
Thompson’s father, Mychal Thompson,played with the Lakers, so they would make as much sense as anyone if he didn’t re-sign with Golden State.
