Just three games into the NBA season, the Lakers have been decimated by injuries. Against Portland, Los Angeles had seven players out, including their two biggest stars, LeBron James and Luka Dončić.
This
forced the team to play all three of their two-way players and the end-of-the-bench guys. The result was predictable, as the Lakers fell 122-108 to the Blazers.
After the loss, though, head coach JJ Redick gave Lakers fans a morsel of good news. He said that he was hopeful that Marcus Smart and Jaxson Hayes would be available for the team’s upcoming game against the Wolves.
Hayes has only played in one game this season. He’s been dealing with left knee soreness, which has forced him to miss the last two games.
Hayes’ return would add some much-needed center depth. In his absence, the team hasn’t played a traditional center behind Deandre Ayton, instead opting for minutes with Jarred Vanderbilt or Rui Hachimura at center. Hayes would bring back some more traditional lineups and slot players back into normal roles.
Given all the injuries the Lakers are dealing with, Smart’s return likely gives LA a starter. He’s been a defensive wrecking ball and, whether good or bad, you always know when Smart is playing.
His defensive tenacity and overall energy could give the short-handed Lakers the boost they need to survive this injury-riddled stretch.
Smart has only missed one game so far with a right quad contusion, so hopefully, missing Monday’s game gave him the necessary rest and recovery so that he can be back for Wednesday’s game against the Wolves.
Unfortunately, injuries will be a factor for the Lakers during these next few games. LeBron is likely to return in mid-November, and Luka will be out at least a week with a left finger sprain and a lower leg contusion.
If Smart and Hayes are back, it gives the Lakers hope that they can field just legitimate NBA players on Wednesday against the Wolves, instead of relying so much on the out-of-rotation and two-way guys.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
