The Lakers have been playing without a true point guard for the past week, and despite discouraging news on Jordan Farmar today, the team remains hesitant to make a roster move, reports Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News. Farmar will be out at least another week as he continues to mend a torn left hamstring, according to Mike Trudell of Lakers.com (Twitter link).
Farmar had been optimistic about returning as early as Friday, but an examination today wasn’t as promising as he’d hoped, and it’s unlikely he’ll return until after Christmas, Medina notes. Steve Nash is still out, and Steve Blake won’t be back for at least five more weeks, leaving the point guard position to Kobe Bryant, Xavier Henry and Nick Young.
The Lakers are a tax team, but they have plenty of flexibility, with an open roster spot and three players on non-guaranteed contracts. Still, the Lakers don’t expect to add anyone via signing or a trade. GM Mitch Kupchak last week acknowledged interest in Leandro Barbosa, Chris Duhon and Darius Morris, but Kupchak said then that he didn’t expect there was anyone worth signing. Other recent rumors suggest the team could be involved in trades to address other parts of the roster, as the Lakers are apparently fielding offers for Pau Gasol and have spoken to the Knicks about Tyson Chandler and Iman Shumpert.