The Lakers are set to face the Timberwolves with a heavily depleted roster. Following the last game, JJ Redick felt hopeful about getting two of the seven unavailable players: Jaxson Hayes and Marcus Smart. Unfortunately for the Lakers, Smart remains out for the October 29 fixture in Minnesota with a right quad contusion.
While they are delighted to have Jaxson Hayes back from injury, the Lakers are still missing six key players, including their superstar duo, LeBron James and Luka Doncic, for tonight’s fixture. While addressing the duo’s return from injury, the Lakers’ head coach gave an estimated timeline for both their returns.
James is expected to stay on course with the initial timeline that suggested a mid-November season debut for the 40-year-old veteran. Meanwhile, Redick confirmed that Doncic is expected to be back in the “next couple of games.”
Redick reportedly said that the sprained finger on Doncic’s left hand has improved from being twice as large as usual to being 1.5 times larger, which is progress. Redick said Doncic stays day to day. Doncic is not traveling with the Lakers at the moment as they get set to face the Grizzlies on the road after the Timberwolves tonight.Â
The Lakers are going to start Austin Reaves, Deandre Ayton, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Jake LaRavia in the Timberwolves game.
Alongside the superstars and Smart, Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber, and Adou Thiero have also been sidelined with injuries. In a positive update for the Lakers, however, Thiero has been assigned to the South Bay Lakers and has been cleared for on-court activities. According to Dan Woike of The Athletic, Thiero is expected to be integrated into team practices over the next week.
“Lakers forward Adou Thiero has been cleared for live on-court contact work. The next progression in his return-to-play process is participating in 5-on-5 activities. He will be integrated into team practice over the next week, including with the South Bay Lakers,” wrote Woike on X.
Thiero, Kleber, and James are yet to make their season debuts, but for Thiero, it is a career debut that has been put on hold due to injuries. James, while undergoing treatment, has also been engaging in family time during this period. He went to watch the Dodgers’ World Series game with his family while the Lakers faced the Trail Blazers.
But Doncic played in two of the Lakers’ four games this season. Doncic has averaged 46.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 8.5 assists in those two games, while shooting 62% from the field. Even though Austin Reaves has been going off in Doncic’s absence, the team certainly needs its franchise player back as soon as possible.
The primary concern for Redick and his coaching staff without their superstars and veteran guards like Vincent and Smart, is primary ball handling. They believe that while Reaves can take over the primary scoring role, expecting him to also become the primary ball handler at this time is putting a bit too much pressure on his shoulders at this stage in his career.
Do you think the coaching staff is right? Or can Reaves lead the Lakers in their superstars’ absence? Let us know what you think in the comments section.
