Circumstances have opened up a lot of playing time for the Los Angeles Lakers. These five players should be given an opportunity to take advantage of the newly found minutes.
The Los Angeles Lakers plans for the 2018-19 season have changed in recent weeks. A team that had playoff aspirations with the addition of LeBron James is now waiving the white flag, beginning preparations for the offseason and the 2019-20 season.
The Lakers playoff hopes are all but dashed. They are 30-36, the Lakers have less than a one percent chance of qualifying for the postseason. It would take a miracle for Los Angeles to make the postseason at this point, prompting the change in direction.
Things have been rough for the Lakers recently. Injuries have continued piling up, ruining any real chance the team had to play in the postseason.
This week, Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram were both announced out for the remainder of the season. Ball has been sidelined since Jan. 19 with an ankle injury suffered against the Houston Rockets. He suffered a Grade 3 sprain, which was later revealed to have also been a bone bruise.
Ball should have a normal offseason for the first time. As a rookie, things are hectic doing appearances. Last year he dealt with a knee injury and was unable to get much work done during the offseason. Unfortunately, for Ingram, his offseason will be a difficult one.
Ingram was diagnosed with Deep Venous Thrombosis in his right arm. It is the same ailment that caused Chris Bosh to end his career prematurely, so it is something that will be taken very seriously.
With Ball and Ingram now out and James on a minutes restriction, there is a lot of playing time available. There are a number of players that the Lakers should be giving those minutes to for evaluation and development.
These five players should benefit the most from the minutes that have been made available recently and with the team seemingly no longer looking to win games.