Lakers players believe team is not far from being a title contender
When the Los Angeles Lakers got off to a 2-10 start a few weeks ago, most predicted doom and gloom for them. There was even a feeling they may even end up getting the top pick in next June’s NBA draft, which would’ve promptly gone to the New Orleans Pelicans under the terms of 2019’s Anthony Davis trade.
But since then, L.A. has won five of six games, even though LeBron James missed four of those contests with a strained adductor and Davis sat out on Saturday with a calf contusion.
Although the Lakers’ success is still nascent, there is a growing feeling internally that they aren’t far away from being a dangerous team.
Via Lakers Daily:
“There is belief shared by leaders in the Lakers’ locker room, sources said, that the team is only a couple of players away from turning this group into a legitimate contender,” wrote ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “But acquiring the right players could take multiple trades.”
The one trade proposal most frequently discussed would send Russell Westbrook and draft capital to the Indiana Pacers for center Myles Turner and 3-point sniper Buddy Hield. But the Lakers haven’t pulled the trigger, partly because they feel such a trade won’t help enough.
The Lakers will get a close look at both players on Monday when they host the Pacers at Crypto.com Arena.
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Lakers vs. Pacers: Lineups, injuries and broadcast info for Monday
