The Los Angeles Lakers believe star duo Anthony Davis and LeBron James can put their injury troubles behind them to try and lead the team to the NBA championship.
The Lakers enjoyed a surprising run to the Western Conference Finals, where they were soundly defeated by Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. The iconic franchise have made a number of smart signings to bolster their roster ahead of the new season - but their chances will depend on the health and availability of their two stars.
James missed 13 successive games from February through late March due to a torn tendon in his right foot, with his absence placing the Lakers’ postseason chances in doubt. The 38-year-old was able to return to close out the regular season and lead the team on a playoff run, although his patented explosiveness was visibly limited.
After the Game Four loss which cemented the Lakers’ elimination, James told ESPN he planned to get an MRI and was weighing up surgery to deal with the issue ahead of the upcoming season. Meanwhile, Davis once again missed time - 20 straight games between December and January - with a bone spur and stress reaction in his right foot.
According to Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka, both stars have recovered. Speaking at halftime during the Lakers’ Summer League game against the Charlotte Hornets in Las Vegas on Sunday, Pelinka said: “We feel good about the offseason and the treatment that AD and LeBron are getting. All the reports have been good around both those injuries, in terms of the guys being able to move past them.”
Davis and James have two years remaining on their current contracts with the Lakers, with both men holding a player option for 2024/25. Davis will be eligible to sign a three-year deal worth $167million from August 4, with Pelinka heaping praise on the eight-time All-Star.
“He's helped deliver a championship to our franchise,” Pelinka told reporters. “He's been an incredible captain and leader. We saw last year, willing to play through a hard foot injury to get our team to the Western Conference finals. So, just love having him as a part of our team.”
The Lakers have made a number of roster moves in free agency, agreeing a two-year $37m deal to remain with the franchise. Los Angeles also re-signed undrafted star Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura before adding depth in the form of former Miami Heat star Gabe Vincent, Taurean Prince, Cam Reddish and center Jaxson Hayes.
The signing of Hayes to one-year minimum contract is an intriguing one given the Lakers have been chasing a backup stretch big for Anthony Davis since Dwight Howard left the franchise. The 23-year-old spent his first four seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans after the team spent a first-round pick on him in the 2019 NBA Draft.
Pelinka suggested the Lakers are still looking for another big, adding: “I think dimensional-ising the skills at that position would be important. So we don't want to sign someone who replicates the skills that Jaxson Hayes has. So, if we can diversify the big position and have different looks, that would be good.”
Christian Wood has been linked with the Lakers. He averaged 16.6 points and 7.3 rebounds for the Dallas Mavericks, shooting 37.6 percent from three-point range. He could occupy one of the two remaining Lakers roster spots, although the franchise plan to keep one position vacant for the start of training camp.
