Lakers: Russell Westbrook Questionable To Play Amid Kyrie Irving Trade Rumors
Today, your Los Angeles Lakers will try to finish their current five-game road trip with a winning record when they do battle against a New Orleans Pelicans team without its best player.
Unfortunately, LA might be without not one, not two, but all three of its highest scorers in the offing.
Per a new league injury report, the Lakers' All-Star frontcourt of power forward LeBron James and center Anthony Davis may miss the final contest of their stint away from Crypto.com Arena.
James is considered questionable to suit up with that sore left ankle, as he has been for several games of late. The Lakers have listed Davis as probable to play through his right foot stress injury.
Brad Turner of The Los Angeles Times, meanwhile, reports that sixth man Russell Westbrook has been downgraded to questionable to play himself, due to a non-COVID-19 illness. Westbrook of course has been the subject of renewed trade speculation, after Brooklyn Nets All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving reemerged as a realistic potential target yesterday.
Two-way Los Angeles rookies Scotty Pippen Jr. and Cole Swider are away from the team, getting in reps with LA's NBAGL affiliate, the South Bay Lakers.
Aside from Zion Williamson (already ruled out), the Pelicans will be missing rookies Dyson Daniels (right ankle sprain) and E.J. Liddell (who's recovering from a right knee ACL injury), plus Liddell's fellow two-way player Dereon Seabron.
Will Davis suit up against his former team? Will James play through the ankle, as he has in three of LA's four previous road trip bouts? Will Westbrook, who rarely misses games, power through his illness? Time will tell, but this writer, at least, is optimistic. Even without them, there's a chance Los Angeles can secure a win: New Orleans has lost its last 10 consecutive games (Williamson has been sidelined for the team's past 16 games).
