LeBron James is well on his way of missing the NBA playoffs, something that many hoop fans are not accustomed to seeing. The campaign of the Los Angeles Lakers has not exactly been a smooth one and their late-season decisions are seen as part of their inability to reach the postseason wars.
At any rate, there are critics who feel that it would be best for James to sit out the remainder of the season. James is believed to be not at 100-percent so resting and allowing him to nurse himself to complete health makes plenty of sense.
The latest on James is that he will be on restricted minutes, perhaps a good idea seeing that the Lakers are likely to end the current NBA season on a sour note. According to Yahoo Sports, this was agreed upon by both the camp of James and the Lakers where the 34-year-old All-Star will play between 28-32 minutes per game.
Being on his first year, it was not exactly what most Lakers fans had expected. Reaching the NBA playoffs was the least most had expected but obviously, James cannot carry the load all by himself. While the purple and gold took in some veterans to tandem with potential rising new stars, it was not enough to help head coach Luke Walton to reach their goal. The blame game has begun with most anticipating the 38-year-old former LA Laker getting dismissed at season's end.
Another wacky scenario suggested by some was to trade James. It seems petty especially since the three-time NBA champion is only his first year, SB Nation reported. Should the Lakers do the unthinkable, they would probably end up as the laughing stock of the league and question their ability to trust a certified NBA star to lead the ballclub.
The only thing the Lakers can do right now is looking at the bigger picture. They are expected to scour the free agent market this summer for another superstar. Although they failed to get Anthony Davis before the NBA trade deadline last month, expect Los Angeles to revisit that and consider another pitch for the 25-year-old center.
There are of course other positions to fill on the Lakers roster. It all depends on how well they balance their budget and get the right personnel to fill key positions. There are a lot of precedents such as the future of Walton. But seeing James getting traded is perhaps the worst thing that the Lakers can do at this point.
