After Anthony Davis suffered a stress injury in his right foot on Dec. 16, the Los Angeles Lakers went on a four-game losing streak, but they have figured out how to win without him.
They have won five games in a row and six of their last seven. To those who claim they haven’t beaten any high quality team, take notice: The Lakers defeated the surging Miami Heat without LeBron James and took down the Sacramento Kings on the road on Saturday.
While it is an encouraging streak, it also seems to add some more urgency for the team’s front office to make a trade to put it over the top.
Los Angeles has reportedly been reluctant to part with its first-round draft picks in 2027 and 2029 unless they bring back a player or players that will significantly move the needle. That doesn’t seem to sit well with James, who is spending the twilight of his prime years on a non-contending team, even though he has been putting up eye-popping numbers.
In an exclusive interview with Sam Amick of The Athletic, James was asked about his communication with general manager Rob Pelinka and owner Jeanie Buss on potential moves. James tried to hold back, but he eventually relented and seemed to issue a message.
Via The Athletic:
“Y’all know what the (expletive) should be happening,” James said. “I don’t need to talk.”
James is under contract with L.A. through at least next season (he has a player option for the 2024-25 campaign), but the message is clear: Time is running out.
