The Los Angeles Lakers are far from a finished product, but they have begun to play some better basketball recently. Part of the reason for the improved play is that the team is beginning to get healthier as the NBA season progresses.
LeBron James has returned with a vengeance from everything that sidelined him earlier in the season. Ankle soreness, an abdominal injury, suspension, and the NBA’s health and safety protocols have all kept James sidelined this season.
Getting healthy and building chemistry is key for this Lakers team. There were a lot of new faces on the roster coming into the season, as only James, Anthony Davis, and Talen Horton-Tucker returned from last season’s team.
The constant shuffling of the lineup has caused the team to lag in the chemistry and cohesion department, as Westbrook and Malik Monk are the only players to appear in all 28 games thus far.
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Frank Vogel has been doing his best with what he has at his disposal and will be happy to know that more help is on the way soon. According to The Athletic, a prescription-based website, the Lakers will be getting some reinforcements in the way of Trevor Ariza and Kendrick Nunn.
“The Lakers are hopeful forward Trevor Ariza (ankle surgery) will return within the next one-to-two weeks and are hopeful guard Kendrick Nunn (bone bruise, knee) will return in January, sources said.”
Ariza and Nunn were both signed as free agents this past summer. Ariza signed for the veteran’s minimum while Nunn was signed using the team’s mid-level exception.
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They were expected to be key parts of the team’s rotation, but neither has suited up yet this season as they are recovering from injuries. Once caught up to speed and ready to play, both should receive rotation minutes right off the bat.
Los Angeles has struggled to find consistent point guard minutes behind Westbrook thus far this season, which Nunn will help rectify. Ariza will help provide some defense on the wing, as his 3-and-D skill set is something the Los Angeles Lakers could certainly use more of as well.
