The Lakers haven’t missed a beat with Anthony Davis out of their lineup for the last three games, beating Dallas, Oklahoma City, and Cleveland by an average margin of nearly 20 points per contest as the star big man recovers from a lower back injury. As Tania Ganguli of The Los Angeles Times writes, the team’s success prompted Davis to joke today that the Lakers don’t actually need him, but head coach Frank Vogel wasn’t quite ready to make light of the situation.
“This is L.A., you know everything I say will be quoted out of context,” Vogel said. “So I was gonna make a joke, but I’m not gonna joke because we definitely need Anthony Davis.”
As for when Davis might return to the Lakers’ lineup, the team isn’t ready to offer a specific timeline, once again listing AD as questionable for Wednesday’s game vs. Orlando. For his part, Davis said he feels much better, but hasn’t yet taken any contact or sprinted, per Ganguli.
“When I feel like I’m able to get back to my old self and do the moves I’ve always done and be successful at it, that’s when I’ll be able to get back on the floor,” Davis said.
Here’s more on the Lakers:
- Rajon Rondo missed Monday’s game due to a fracture in his right ring finger and is expected to be sidelined for a few more days, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN. The veteran point guard has been ruled out for Wednesday, while his status for Saturday’s game in Houston remains up in the air.
- Despite Kyle Kuzma‘s strong recent play, Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report makes the case that newly-promoted head of basketball operations Rob Pelinka has to do his due diligence to see if the Lakers can upgrade their roster by moving the third-year forward, since the team doesn’t have many other draft assets or prospects to offer.
- He wasn’t one of the Lakers’ most noteworthy offseason signees, but Jared Dudley has proven his value to the franchise. As Mike Bresnahan of Spectrum SportsNet relays (via Twitter), LeBron James referred to the veteran forward as “one of the best teammates I’ve ever had.”
- In contrast to the first go-round, Dwight Howard‘s second stint with the Lakers has been “pure joy” for both sides, Helene Elliott writes in a column for The Los Angeles Times.
Dudley is the emotional leader of the Lakers. He can cry on command.
Lakers are such a joke of a franchise. They sacrificed an entire decade of future success on pairing Davis and LeBron for 1 year to try and buy a championship. It’s sad.
you clearly know nothing.
Actually, you both know nothing.
If AD indeed signs with the Lakers long-term, all will be well.
If AD decides to bolt in FA for whatever reason and the team doesn’t win a championship this year, the Lakers will look like a joke.
Hindsight is going to rule this trade, whether any of us likes it or not.
What the heck? Delusional.
They sacrificed ball, ingram and hart and some picks.. to get a top 5 player.. Pelicans are really killing it with those three… Here’s the facts, ingram is up for a max contract and Ball and hart will need to be paid as well next year.. anthony davis will be here for many years as a franchise player.. don’t think ingram or b-ball or hart are franchise players..lakers still have protections on those picks with pelicans and can always buy picks.. lakers didn’t give up a decade of success for one year.. they set themselves up by bringing in an established superstar that will bring in players for the next decade
Very well put. The Lakers avoided a money crunch brought about by spending high on lesser players. Lebron & AD are both relatively underpaid at max.
Dodgethis is unable to change outdated & biased opinions.
I must say KCPope looks better than what I thought he was… He still plays in a cocoon but he has fit it to the team.
The only joke is you. So the Lakers can not dare to make a trade to improve the team??? LOL. Ball and Hart are role players. Ingram is great but AD is better and only 2 first round picks are still owed, wow thats crippling. How about when Draymond was crying for KD in the parking lot? Love how silicon valley is freaking out about how the Lake show is back and the Warriors are irrelevant again.
They’ve always made sacrifices. That’s why they got a winning franchise. Tied with Celtics with the MOST championships in NBA history..
Bron has always talked up DSJ. Morris fits best with Lakers. Knicks will take Kuzma. Make it work. Kuzma, Pope, Cousins, Bradley. For DSJ, Morris works.
Doesn’t work.. marcus Morris burned bridge with rich Paul over that spurs contract.. lakers aren’t giving up depth or cousins.. for 2 months of marcus Morris.. pope has no trade clause as well so he’s not gonna waive that to go to knicks..
Dwight has proven his value to this team. Time to get him a few more minutes. He’s outplayed McGee, even if McGee is the smarter and more versatile player. Actually… it’s a good argument… they should continue with this platoon.
Lakers don’t matchup well against. Kawhi and George. I don’t think they trust Kuzma here. Considering their window. It’s now or never. I’m not saying move Kuzma. Cause they can pick up help. When someone gets bought out. But they need a guy like Morris, Iggy, Crowder. Those big 3s that can bang and go at Clippers duo. Clippers will make a move too. So it’s an interesting dilemma.
I’m all for moving kuzma.. they need a wing defender for sure.. kuzma to me is a good player on a bad team like ingram.. not convinced he’s a 3rd option on a great team.. he doesn’t play any defense and he’s inconsistent offensively.. he’s a straight iso player that doesn’t play defense. Lakers need a wing defender like iggy, crowded or even Bogdanovic from kings..
Cavs announcers were laughing after a technical on Dwight Howard. Said it was for excessive joviality… But they focussed in on DH after the call and he was the opposite of jovial!
Gotta respect the criticized DH, KCP & Laker defense. The Lakers can manage & shape their defense like most teams maybe can with their offense. Gd by Vogel.
Kuzma shows the limits of a star mentality, esp a third star. Not an AD; maybe a Tatum if he goes where he’s the man.