Los Angeles Lakers fall out of the playoff picture with Utah Jazz win

The Los Angeles Lakers are now out of the eighth seed with no clear path to improve as the tumultuous season toils along.

It happened Los Angeles Lakers fans. It finally happened. The one thing that Lakers fans have been weary of since the Christmas Day win against the Golden State Warriors came true. The Los Angeles Lakers, now at 23-21, are out of the playoffs were they to start today.

Head Coach Luke Walton, who I defended after LaVar Ball attacked him and stated that he should be fired, has gotten a heap of criticism since LeBron James strained his groin in the third quarter against Golden State, and rightfully so. Life hasn’t exactly treated Luke well in the past couple of weeks.

Walton has seen his team implode against a tanking phenomenon in both the New York Knicks led by a core of Tim Hardaway Jr, Kevin Knox, and Enes Kanter and the Cleveland Cavaliers headlined by two players who the Lakers traded away to get a shot at LeBron James.

The Knicks got their tenth win against Los Angeles on their home floor, and the Cavaliers snapped a 12-game losing streak. The owners of the NBA’s worst record and the largest lottery odds for selecting Duke star forward Zion Williamson beat the Los Angeles Lakers on their home turf in a very surprising beatdown.

For the Lakers, it is extremely evident that changes must be made to the rotation and this roster. With some players, like Kyle Kuzma, who have shown that they can play with and without LeBron, perhaps a stay would be fit.

Others losing in favor of Lakers fans such as Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball might potentially need their careers in Los Angeles reevaluated, most likely in a trade package this upcoming summer for someone such as Bradley Beal or a coveted generational talent such as Anthony Davis.

Coaching changes might also be imminent for Los Angeles. As aforementioned, Luke Walton is on an increasingly hot seat by the Lakers fan base. Even with Lakers legend Kobe Bryant told fans to simmer down. Well… I wonder how Kobe Bryant is feeling a week later.

The Lakers should be looking for an immediate season stretch turnaround against the Chicago Bulls.