Lakers Rumors: LA 'Very Intrigued' by Knicks' Cam Reddish; NY Wants 1st in Trade
Dec 22, 2022
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 04: Cam Reddish #0 of the New York Knicks looks on during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on November 4, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
Some officials within the Los Angeles Lakers are "very intrigued" by New York Knicks forward Cam Reddish, according to Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times.
Woike reported the Knicks are looking to get a first-round draft pick for Reddish but that "the asking price is expected to eventually dip" because he isn't featuring for New York at the moment.
Reddish hasn't played since a 121-100 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Dec. 3, and the Knicks' recent turnaround makes it tough to see his role increasing anytime soon. Following that Mavericks defeat, New York went on an eight-game winning streak.
If the Lakers want Reddish, then they probably just need to play the waiting game.
The 23-year-old is eligible for restricted free agency in the summer, and you wouldn't expect the Knicks to re-sign a player who's not even in the rotation right now. Sooner or later, the front office will have to settle for whatever's on the table because getting a second-round pick is better than nothing.
For Los Angeles, Woike's report symbolizes the predicament for general manager Rob Pelinka.
Especially in the wake of Anthony Davis' foot injury, which will sideline him for at least a month, the need to upgrade the roster became more pressing. But identifying a solution that makes the Lakers meaningfully better is easier said than done.
"The Lakers certainly have options, but under the circumstances, most of them involve overpaying with no real certainty that Davis will be whole enough to make a trade matter—at least for a playoff run this season," Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus wrote.
Reddish was a top-10 pick in 2019 for a reason. He was a 33.3 percent three-point shooter in his one season at Duke and had a boatload of defensive potential thanks to his 6'8" frame. Coming out of the draft, Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman pegged him as a three-and-D starter in the NBA.
That's the kind of player Los Angeles needs, and he could be a contributor for years to come if he worked out.
Reddish is also a reclamation project, though, and that kind of midseason gamble is never ideal when a franchise is operating with the kind of short-term view the Lakers are.
Darvin Ham: Lakers Have to 'Give More Effort,' 'Be More Competitive' After Kings Loss
Dec 22, 2022
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 09: Head coach Darvin Ham of the Los Angeles Lakers look on during the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on December 09, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham wasn't happy after his team lost 134-120 to the Sacramento Kings on Thursday, their sixth defeat in nine games.
"We have to be more competitive and give more effort," Ham told reporters. "We will figure it out. That's why we have put together a great staff like we have done."
Los Angeles led 26-25 after the first quarter but slowly unraveled and trailed by as many as 23 points before getting the score a little closer in the fourth quarter.
Los Angeles couldn't slow down Domantas Sabonis, who finished with 13 ponts, 21 rebounds and 12 assists. The Kings' other four starters all scored at least 20 points as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAcTsK0oEXE
At 13-18, the Lakers are 13th in the Western Conference but just 2.5 games out of the final play-in tournament spot. The sixth-place Kings (17-13) widened their lead to 4.5 games over L.A.
Effort—or a lack thereof—might have played a level in Ham's squad committing 15 turnovers and allowing Sacramento to shoot 50.5 percent from the floor. Working harder on the floor probably won't remedy the Lakers' biggest issue, though.
Prior to his foot injury, Anthony Davis was elevating himself into the MVP conversation. He's averaging 27.4 points and on pace to set career highs in field-goal percentage (59.4) and rebounds (12.1 per game).
This is the version of Davis that's required to make Los Angeles a serious title contender.
But now the eight-time All-Star is out for at least a month. Ham is without one of his best players, and there isn't a lot the front office can do to strengthen the squad in the interim.
That leaves the coaching staff and the Lakers players having to look for solutions from within.
LeBron James' Supporting Cast Called out by Fans After Lakers' Loss to Kings
Dec 22, 2022
SACRAMENTO, CA - DECEMBER 21: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on December 21, 2022 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
LeBron James did his part, but the Los Angeles Lakers weren't good enough as a team Wednesday to avoid a 134-120 loss to the Sacramento Kings.
James scored a game-high 31 points to go with 11 assists, six rebounds and two blocks, plus some impressive highlights on both ends of the floor:
The Lakers have failed LeBron. They know Anthony Davis is injury-prone and decided to surround Bron with no depth. Rob Pelinka promised he would do everything in his power to protect LeBron’s legacy. Now for the next month his best teammate is undrafted sophomore Austin Reaves. pic.twitter.com/FNGeWMQj74
Not even a two minute break for LeBron and the Lakers spot the Kings a 16 point lead. And now he has to come back to lead a fake comeback and burn him out even more?
The Lakers’ defense didn’t make the trip to Sacramento. After allowing 41 pts in the 2nd Q, the Kings put up 40 pts in the 3rd. SAC is shooting 54.3% from the field, 37.1% from 3 and has scored 46 pts in the paint so far.
The defense was especially an issue with Davis out with a foot injury. Four different Kings players scored at least 20 points with six hitting double figures. Domantas Sabonis had 13, points, 21 rebounds and 12 assists with the Lakers unable to compete inside.
Los Angeles fell to 13-18 with the latest loss, putting them 13th out of 15 Western Conference teams. A home game against the Charlotte Hornets on Friday could be an opportunity to turn things around, but the rest of the team must figure out how to pick up the slack.
Lakers Reportedly Seeking Additional Opinions on Anthony Davis' Foot Injury
Dec 21, 2022
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - DECEMBER 11: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on December 11, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers are seeking additional opinions on Anthony Davis' foot injury, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin on Wednesday.
Davis continues to receive treatment on his foot and is not wearing a boot, McMenamin added.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Sunday that Davis was expected to miss "multiple weeks" because of a right foot injury. He had exited Los Angeles' win over the Denver Nuggets at halftime last Friday after his leg collided with Nuggets star Nikola Jokić.
Davis had been playing some of the best basketball of his career before being sidelined. The 29-year-old led the Lakers with averages of 27.4 points, 12.1 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 1.3 steals while shooting a career-best 59.4 percent from the field. Los Angeles had started the season 2-10, but Davis powered the team to a 10-4 stretch before he was injured.
The No. 1 overall pick in 2012, Davis is one of the best talents in the NBA. However, the Kentucky product has developed a reputation for his inability to stay on the court. He appeared in 76 games in the previous two seasons combined.
Any absence by Davis is a major blow to the Lakers, who have struggled to compete against elite teams for much of the year.
While Davis is out, Thomas Bryant will be inserted into the starting lineup. The sixth-year big man has averages of 10.3 points and 4.6 rebounds in 16 appearances this season. Lakers star LeBron James could also see time as a small-ball 5, which is a position he's familiar with.
Lakers Should Avoid Major Trade Following Anthony Davis Injury amid Latest NBA Rumors
Dec 20, 2022
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 19: (L-R) Russell Westbrook #0, Anthony Davis #3 and LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers watch from the bench during the first half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center on December 19, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
It's just not happening for the 2022-23 Los Angeles Lakers.
First, there was the abysmal 2-10 start to the season that put them in a hole they may not climb out of before the playoffs. Then, just when things were starting to look better, their best player went down with another injury that will reportedly sideline him for significant time.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, Anthony Davis will "miss at least one month" with a right foot injury.
It's more of the same for Davis, who is a generational talent but struggles to stay on the floor. He played 40 games last season and 36 in 2020-21, and he has never appeared in more than 75 games since he was taken with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft.
With all due respect to LeBron James' greatness, the Lakers' best chance to compete in 2022-23 is through Davis. He was playing some of the best basketball of his career right before the setback, making the timing all the more difficult to deal with for the Purple and Gold.
Not counting the loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers when he exited early, Davis notched 10 straight double-doubles before the injury during a stretch that saw him score 55 points against the Washington Wizards, 44 points against the Milwaukee Bucks and 37 points with 21 rebounds against the Phoenix Suns.
Without that level of production on the floor, the 12th-seeded Lakers will surely fall even further in the standings and become more untenable in terms of a potential championship run.
That should impact the front office's approach ahead of the Feb. 9 trade deadline.
"Even before Davis was hurt, the team was conflicted internally about sacrificing its future for anything that didn't catapult the franchise back into contention," Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus reported in reference to the team's available first-round picks in 2027 and 2029.
Pincus also highlighted the reality that Los Angeles doesn't have much leverage with other teams knowing it is facing pressure to win now with James turning 38 years old this month ahead of his player option for 2024-25.
That led to an "inflated trade market at the deadline" last season, and that will surely be the case again in 2022-23. Throw in Pincus' reporting that the Indiana Pacers could re-sign Myles Turner this offseason, and the much-discussed potential trade that would send the big man and Buddy Hield to Los Angeles may not even be an option.
It's not a pretty picture for a team that also has to worry about the health of its franchise cornerstones.
It is a testament to James' individual brilliance that he is still playing at a high level, but the aging star missed Monday's loss to the Suns and hasn't played more than 67 games in a season since joining the Lakers before the 2018-19 campaign.
Los Angeles' ceiling at 13-17 with Davis out for a month or more feels like the play-in tournament, and even that is only if everything goes right with the health of its two future Hall of Famers once the big man returns.
It is difficult to imagine the team competing with the likes of the Suns, Memphis Grizzlies, Denver Nuggets and even New Orleans Pelicans from that position, even if it adds another impact player or two via trade.
Perhaps such a trade would involve Russell Westbrook, which seemed inevitable this past offseason before he settled into a sixth-man role. His contract will come off the books after the 2022-23 season, and the Lakers would likely still have to attach one of their 2027 or 2029 first-round picks to move him.
Success is defined by championships for this franchise, and that isn't happening this season.
Instead, they can reset with that additional cap space after Westbrook's deal expires, hold onto those future picks to either use or perhaps move in a different season with a better outlook and avoid mortgaging the future for a bleak present.
It's just not worth jeopardizing future Lakers teams for the 2022-23 one.
Twitter Deems Lakers 'Brutal to Watch' with LeBron James, More Out in Loss to Suns
Dec 20, 2022
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 19: (L-R) Russell Westbrook #0, Anthony Davis #3 and LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers watch from the bench during the first half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center on December 19, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers were without their star trio of LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook on Monday night against the Phoenix Suns, and the game played out exactly as expected.
The depleted Lakers limped to a 130-104 loss in a game where they trailed by as many as 27 points. Los Angeles allowed Phoenix to blow the game open early, as the team didn't hold a lead after the 8:25 mark of the first quarter.
Dennis Schroder led the Lakers with 30 points on 12-of-19 shooting. Kendrick Nunn added 17 points off the bench, while Lonnie Walker IV and Thomas Bryant chipped in 16 points apiece.
Los Angeles was doomed by its defense, as the Suns shot 51.3 percent from beyond the arc and got at least 15 points from all five of their starters. Chris Paul turned back the clock with a 28-point, eight-assist performance to lead the way.
Fans on social media let loose on the Lakers for their ugly performance on Monday night:
I know the Lakers have a ton of guys out, but even bearing that in mind, their current bench unit is BRUTAL to watch. Suns up 19
While Davis is expected to miss multiple weeks with a foot injury, the Lakers have to hope that James and Westbrook return to the court sooner rather than later so they can try to stay afloat in the Western Conference.
Los Angeles (13-17) will look to bounce back when it visits the Sacramento Kings (16-12) on Wednesday.
Lakers' LeBron James, Russell Westbrook Won't Play vs. Suns Because of Injuries
Dec 19, 2022
CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 6: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on December 6, 2022 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James (left ankle soreness) and Russell Westbrook (left foot soreness) in Monday's game against the Phoenix Suns because of injuries.
Austin Reaves (ankle sprain) will also be sidelined.
James has averaged 27.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game in his 20th NBA season and fifth with the Lakers. He's an 18-time All-Star, 18-time All-NBA team member, four-time NBA champion and four-time NBA MVP, among other accolades.
However, the37-year-old has been forced to the sideline on numerous occasions this year.
James was ruled out for the Lakers' Dec. 7 game against the Toronto Raptors with left ankle soreness. He played 36 minutes the night before against the Cleveland Cavaliers and dropped 21 points and 17 rebounds in 36 minutes.
He sat out the Lakers' Nov. 7 matchup with the Utah Jazz because of left foot soreness. He returned two days later against the Los Angeles Clippers but departed in the fourth quarter with a left adductor strain and missed the next five games. He returned Nov. 25 against the San Antonio Spurs.
Meanwhile, Westbrook is averaging 14.5 points, 7.6 assists and 6.2 rebounds per game this season. Since taking on a bench role, he averaged 15.0 points on 41.3 percent shooting, 8.0 assists and 6.1 rebounds in 25 appearances.
Not having James or Westbrook means Los Angeles will be without serious star power against Phoenix, as Anthony Davis is reportedly sidelined for multiple weeks with a foot injury. For the season, the 29-year-old is averaging 27.4 points, 12.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game.
LeBron James Says 'I'm Not in the Front Office' amid Lakers Trade Rumors, AD's Injury
Dec 19, 2022
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 18: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers, Anthony Davis #3, and Patrick Beverly #21 look on during the game against the Washington Wizards on December 18, 2022 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers may need to make some moves to be a legitimate playoff threat as they attempt to overcome their slow start to the season and a foot injury to Anthony Davis, but LeBron James made it clear he isn't the one who will be doing the wheeling and dealing.
"Not a question for me," James told reporters when asked if he was worried the front office would hesitate to make a trade with Davis sidelined. "I have no idea. When I'm playing, I show up, prepare, go to work and get my guys ready to go win a basketball game. I play the game. I'm not in the front office, so we'll see. But I'm focused on the game and us trying to win basketball games, especially when I'm out on the floor."
The Lakers escaped Sunday's matchup against the Washington Wizards with a 119-117 win thanks to Thomas Bryant's late basket on a broken play, but they are facing an uphill battle in the coming weeks.
Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported "Davis is expected to miss at least one month."
The timing is particularly troublesome for Los Angeles, which was just starting to play better basketball after a 2-10 start, in large part because of Davis. It is now 13-16 on the campaign, and Davis is averaging 27.4 points, 12.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game.
Therein lies the predicament the front office will now have to juggle ahead of the Feb. 9 trade deadline.
Any team with James and Davis on it is theoretically a threat to compete for a deep playoff run, so adding via trade may be the path it chooses. However, the Lakers are also in 12th place in the Western Conference standings and could fall even further with Davis out.
This could be shaping up to be something of a lost season, and mortgaging future assets may not be worth it for the organization even though the 37-year-old James will surely be thinking about winning in the present.
Jovan Buha of The Athletic noted "over the past few years, James has been vocal against the notion that he has a significant hand in building his teams' rosters," which could have contributed to his answer when asked about the front office's decision-making process.
Yet much of the discussion still revolves around him, especially since he has a player option for the 2024-25 season and could choose to go elsewhere if he is not pleased with the direction the Lakers are headed.
For now, the Purple and Gold will look to build on Sunday's win and their 3-1 record in the last four games as they hit the road to face the Phoenix Suns on Monday.
Lakers Front Office Face Grim Options After Anthony Davis Injury
Dec 19, 2022
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 13: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during a 122-118 BostonCeltics overtime win at Crypto.com Arena on December 13, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers entered trade season last week with high hopes of finding a deal to push the franchise back into contention. Instead, Anthony Davis suffered a foot injury on Friday that may derail the season.
Davis is still pursuing treatment options. The Lakers haven't announced the exact nature of the injury, but multiple sources indicate a loss of at least a month, optimistically.
If Davis misses extended time, the team may put the brakes on any serious trade negotiation—at least when considering moves that involve one or both of their available first-round picks (2027 and 2029). Even before Davis was hurt, the team was conflicted internally about sacrificing its future for anything that didn't catapult the franchise back into contention.
Davis will get a timeline soon, but it may not be apparent by the February 9 trade deadline at what level he'll return. That may lead to the team making cosmetic changes instead of a blockbuster.
The Lakers may look for easier options like a cheaper free-agent center (perhaps DeMarcus Cousins) or whatever the team can bring back for Patrick Beverley, Kendrick Nunn and second-round draft considerations.
A Tough Market
Last year, the Lakers found an inflated trade market at the deadline, with teams looking at the pressure LeBron James puts on a franchise to "win now."
When L.A. tried to acquire Bojan Bogdanović from the Utah Jazz before this season, the asking price was a first-round pick. Eventually, Bogdanović was sent by the Jazz to the Detroit Pistons for Kelly Olynyk and Saben Lee without a first.
That's just the Lakers' current reality. They're in a position where they need to pay a premium to improve. The Davis injury only increases the perception of desperation that will jack up prices even higher.
That's not to suggest L.A. is unique. Making deals in the NBA is a challenge. While trade season may unofficially start on December 15 (when most recently signed free agents are eligible to be dealt), most deals wait until the last minute as teams tend to start negotiations with unrealistic demands.
One executive described the annual NBA trade market: "December prices are astronomical. In January, prices are high. By February, they're fair."
The problem for the Lakers, in the absence of Davis, is an urgency to act now. You could argue the urgency was actually already there, with the Lakers on the wrong side of the play-in bubble. They're currently in 12th place in the West at 13-16 after Sunday's win over the Washington Wizards.
It's a Catch-22. If Los Angeles isn't overpaying now, teams will just wait until February. But the Lakers may fall out of playoff contention entirely by February without a healthy Davis.
Can they stay in contention without overpaying for a trade? The calculus is different now: Davis may not ever be healthy enough this season to justify a trade.
The Lakers are familiar with Davis' injury history. He recovered from injury in both of the last two seasons, but in 2020-21, he wasn't able to get through the playoffs, and last year, it was simply too late.
Hard to trade away the future facing that reality.
Bulls a Solution?
If the Lakers decide to take the leap as a buyer, it needs a seller willing to give up real talent. One team much of the league has close eyes on is the 11-18 Chicago Bulls, who continue to plummet in the Eastern Conference.
L.A. has coveted DeMar DeRozan, one of the players it chose to pass on over Russell Westbrook in 2021. If the Bulls were willing to move Nikola Vučević with DeRozan, the Lakers would have a starting-level, former All-Star center who could hold down the middle in Davis' absence.
CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 4: Nikola Vucevic #9, Zach LaVine #8 and DeMar DeRozan #11 of the Chicago Bulls talk during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on October 4, 2022 at United Center in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)
DeRozan would give the Lakers another elite scorer and underrated playmaker. Still, he's not a great outside shooter, and such a deal would presumably cost the Lakers Westbrook and at least one of its future firsts.
Internally, the Lakers weren't united on the path forward, specifically with what Chicago might have to offer, and that was before losing Davis. And the Bulls may need at least another month to decide its fate, gauge the market and try to extract the highest return.
Bigger Picture
Finally, the Lakers need to look closely at their long-term prospects. The team has improved throughout the season, but if there's no actual trade that makes the franchise a genuine contender, trading away the future to also fall short this season doesn't add up.
If the Lakers wanted to go the Indiana Pacers route with Myles Turner, Buddy Hield (who was the second-choice to Westbrook last year ahead of DeRozan) and perhaps T.J. McConnell, the 15-16 Pacers are still too competitive in the East to let go of critical veterans. Multiple sources believe Indiana may choose to re-sign Turner this summer, and if so, that's a dead end for the Lakers, even with an offer of both first-round picks.
Perhaps a team like the Charlotte Hornets would send a serviceable center like Mason Plumlee for a second-round pick or two (along with Nunn or Beverley).
The Lakers could still go after Bogdanović, but without a first, the return from the Detroit Pistons might be closer to Alec Burks and Nerlens Noel.
New York Knicks forward Cam Reddish is believed to be available, and at least he could be a piece the team looks to retain long-term if this year is a bust.
Kyle Kuzma, the former Laker now with the Wizards, may be available if Washington continues to flounder, but he'd be a more expensive get for L.A.
The San Antonio Spurs may deal Jakob Poeltl, but not to the Lakers for seconds at this early stage. The Orlando Magic cannot legally trade Mo Bamba until January 15.
The Lakers certainly have options, but under the circumstances, most of them involve overpaying with no real certainty that Davis will be whole enough to make a trade matter—at least for a playoff run this season.
Thomas Bryant's GW Dunk Thrills NBA Twitter as LeBron James, Lakers Beat Wizards
Dec 19, 2022
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 18: Thomas Bryant #31 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Washington Wizards on December 18, 2022 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
Sunday's incredible sports slate had one more unbelievable finish.
On a day when the men's World Cup final went into penalty shootouts, and nine different NFL games were decided by a single score, the Los Angeles Lakers added some drama of their own with a Thomas Bryant game-winner.
Bryant, who is playing a larger role for the Purple and Gold with Anthony Davis sidelined by a foot injury, scored off a LeBron James assist that came off a broken play. Kyle Kuzma then missed a three-pointer on the other end, and Los Angeles escaped with a 119-117 victory over the Washington Wizards.
Bryant notched a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds, while James finished with 33 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. The King also had a go-ahead dunk in the final 30 seconds, although Bradley Beal answered on the other end with two free throws.
Los Angeles is still an ugly 13-16 on the season, but it has played much better of late following a 2-10 start.
Maintaining this momentum will be a tall order, though, considering Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported Davis is expected to be sidelined for "at least one month" with the foot injury.
Bryant is expected to be the primary fill-in, and he certainly proved he could come through in the big moments in such a role on Sunday.
