Perhaps the most disappointing NBA season ever is coming to an end for the Los Angeles Lakers, and they will not be participating in the play-in tournament, let alone the playoffs, this year.
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr took a slight jab at Lakers superstar LeBron James when he was asked about whether guard Jordan Poole will start come postseason time.
Steve Kerr got jokes 😂 (via @SteinyGuru957) pic.twitter.com/z0Of063Bag
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) April 6, 2022
“You know, it’s a possibility,” said Kerr. “We gotta see where Steph (Stephen Curry) is. … When you get into the playoffs, and you gotta guard, name it, Paul George, LeBron [James], well not this year — just a subtle jab.”
The Lakers were initially expected to be one of the league’s prime contenders for the championship when they swung a huge trade for Russell Westbrook last summer.
But from the start, there were red flags, and the team fell well short of expectations.
L.A. went winless in the preseason, and soon afterward, the injuries started to pile up. Guard Kendrick Nunn, who was expected to be a very key contributor, hasn’t played in even a single regular season game due to a bone bruise.
James has missed a handful of games due to several injuries, while co-superstar Anthony Davis sprained his MCL in December, and shortly after he returned, he sprained his foot.
Now, instead of gearing up for a title run, the Lakers will be planning for a sobering offseason in which they will have to make some tough decisions.
They need to figure out what to do with Westbrook, who has generally been viewed as a disappointment, and there are even rumors they may consider trading Davis, who has often been injured the last two seasons.
