The Los Angeles Lakers have been playing more promising basketball over the last week and a half. The team escaped with two wins on a road trip against two quality teams and went toe-to-toe with the Philadelphia 76ers without LeBron James.
With less than 10 games remaining, the team is finally showing something that Laker fans have wanted to see all year: urgency. Even Russell Westbrook is showing urgency, calling the team’s upcoming game against the Pelicans a must-win.
Actually putting in effort has made this team play better but that is not the only reason. Frank Vogel has finally shrunk the rotation to one that mimics a playoff rotation, trimming off the fat of the rotation. This has allowed certain role players to get a bigger role and blossom.
However, one of the team’s hottest role players that have had a big impact on the rotation is currently unavailable to play in the playoffs for the Lakers.
Wenyen Gabriel is currently ineligible for a Lakers playoff run.
The Los Angeles Lakers signed Wenyen Gabriel to a two-way deal at the beginning of the month and he has been great for the team. It took him some time to get familiar with the rotation but he has been given a bigger role in recent games and has been fantastic.
Gabriel is averaging 22.5 minutes per game over the last five games and is averaging 9.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. He is also playing solid defense for the Lakers, showing that the baseline for all defensive success in the league is effort.
The problem is that two-way players are ineligible for playoff rosters, which includes the play-in game. As it stands right now, Gabriel cannot play for the after April 10.
How can Wenyen become eligible for the Lakers in the playoffs?
The Los Angeles Lakers would have to convert Wenyen Gabriel’s contract to a regular contract. LA can do this before the playoffs start to make him eligible, but they would have to free up space as the roster is currently full.
If the Lakers are intent on keeping Gabriel for a playoff run then they would likely release Kent Bazemore. Bazemore was a key candidate to be released alongside DeAndre Jordan, who was released at the beginning of March to make room for D.J. Augustin.
Bazemore is no longer part of the rotation and makes the most sense to release. In theory, the Lakers could release any of the role players who are not currently making an impact.