To the surprise of no one, the latest Laker injury update involves a day-to-day designation.
On Saturday, Deandre Ayton was a very late scratch for the Lakers with a knee injury. Jaxson Hayes and Maxi Kleber
stepped up in his place, helping the team to a victory over the Warriors.
After the game, head coach JJ Redick was asked about Ayton and his injury and you’ll never believe what the team considers him.
“He went out for his shooting stretch and just didn’t feel completely comfortable with it,” Redick said. “I don’t think there’s any reason to believe it’s anything but day-to-day.”
How helpful it is to know he’s just day-to-day, just like Luka Dončić is day-to-day with his hamstring injury. I mean, when you really think about it, aren’t we all just day-to-day?
Kleber’s play over the last two games has made the absences of Hayes against the Sixers and Ayton against the Warriors less of a concern. In fact, in both games, Kleber was the best center for the Lakers.
However, is it really that sustainable for Kleber to keep playing like this? I’d go as far as to say that it’s day-to-day whether he can keep being this impactful.
Adding to that is the fact the next two games are coming against perhaps the two best teams in the league in the Spurs and the Thunder and the team really needs to be back to full strength. Even if Ayton is in a bit of a slump of late, the best version of the Lakers includes him playing at a high level and if the Lakers are going to win either of these next two games, they need to play a high level.
Hopefully that day-to-day designation results in him playing on Monday.
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.
