The Los Angeles Lakers have been very shorthanded lately, and it has gone beyond the stress injury that has sidelined Anthony Davis for the past month.
Guards Lonnie Walker IV and Austin Reaves have also been out for the past two weeks with a knee ailment and hamstring strain, respectively.
All of these injuries have placed an even greater load on 38-year-old LeBron James to carry the Lakers, and it looks like he’s starting to fatigue.
But help may be on the way. Davis appears to be nearing a return to game action, and so are Walker and Reaves.
According to Ham, Walker is closer to a return than Reaves, and the latter will be re-examined in one week.
Darvin Ham said that Lonnie Walker IV is closer to being back than Austin Reaves, with Walker IV now being evaluated day-to-day, and Reaves set to be examined again in one week.
Meanwhile, Anthony Davis “Responded well, very well” to non-contact work at practice yesterday.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) January 21, 2023
Walker’s ability to score from the outside and attack the rim, both in transition and in a halfcourt setting, will greatly help the Lakers, while Reaves’ toughness, smarts and 3-point shooting will fortify the wing spot.
