The Los Angeles Lakers won eight of their last 11 games before the All-Star break to climb to four games over .500 and ninth in the Western Conference. They are four up on the Jazz, who are the first team out of the Play-In Tournament. The Lakers are also just 3.5 games behind the Pelicans for sixth and a guaranteed playoff spot. They must play better down the stretch, but cannot count on reinforcements after a quiet trade deadline.
The purple and gold did sign Spencer Dinwiddie via the buyout market, but the front office believes in their group. They were in the conference finals last season and made some upgrades over the summer. The Lakers can make another deep run, but everything must fall into place.
It was a disappointing first half that will likely have Los Angeles going through the Play-In Tournament again. A few players surprised, but several underperformed in the team’s first 56 games. Here is a look at who stood out.
Underperforming: Christian Wood
There was excitement when Wood signed a two-year deal with the Lakers this summer. The 6’8 big man has produced some monster stats in recent years, but it rarely resulted in wins. Wood played zero playoff minutes in his first seven NBA seasons and was coming off a disappointing tenure with the Mavericks.
The 28-year-old has not lived up to expectations in Los Angeles. He is averaging just 6.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks in 17.4 minutes per game. Wood has done little to earn more run and has a negative value over replacement player (VORP) so far this season.
Christian Wood should not be part of the Los Angeles Lakers postseason rotation. He struggles mightily on the defensive end of the floor and is not producing enough on offense to counter it. It has been a disappointing season and do not be surprised to see him looking for a new team this summer.
Exceeding expectations: D’Angelo Russell
Everyone expected Russell to be traded before the deadline when he signed his two-year $36 million contract last summer. It looked like the perfect deal to use as a salary matcher, and Russell quickly waived his no-trade clause.
He remains on the Lakers. The 27-year-old averaged 21.9 points, 6.7 assists, and 2.6 rebounds in 34.8 minutes per game over the final 19 contests before the All-Star break. He shot 46.4 percent from the field and 44.7 percent on his 3-point attempts during that stretch. D-Lo was playing like a star, and it was just too good for the Lakers to part with.
For the season, Russell is the Lakers' third-leading scorer and second in assists per game. He is a key floor spacer on a roster that lacks shooting and a needed offensive weapon. D-Lo struggles on the defensive end, but Los Angeles could not afford to trade him without getting a key offensive option in return.
D’Angelo Russell has plenty to prove after the All-Star break. He took a significant pay cut to sign with the Lakers last summer. Russell wants to prove he deserves $30-plus million per season. If he keeps making shots and scoring over 20 points per game, teams will have interest if he declines his player option and becomes a free agent.
Underperforming: Gabe Vincent
Vincent was the Lakers' marquee offseason addition. He got the majority of their mid-level exception in a three-year contract worth $33 million. The 6’3 guard helped the Heat reach the NBA Finals in 2023 and was a needed ball-handler and playmaker in Los Angeles. Vincent appeared to be a strong fit, but things have not gone as planned.
He played in the Lakers' first four games before suffering an injury that kept him out for two months. In his first contest back, Vincent played just under 14 minutes before being sidelined again. He had knee surgery, but his return timetable is unclear heading into the break.
The Lakers certainly regret signing him at this point. Vincent has played just 127 total minutes this season and will likely remain out after the All-Star break. Rob Pelinka and the front office explored trading him, but there was no market.
The 27-year-old needs to get healthy and back in the lineup. Until then, it is strictly a waiting game. Gabe Vincent was a starter in the NBA Finals just eight months ago. The potential still exists for him to live up to his contract, but it has not happened yet. He has left the Lakers a ball-handler and playmaker short for most of the season.
Exceeding expectations: Anthony Davis
AD has been outstanding this season and much of it can be attributed to health. He has played in 52 of the Lakers' first 56 games. His highest season total since 2018 is 62. Davis has already taken the floor more than he did in two of the previous three seasons.
The 30-year-old is back on the All-Star team for the first time since 2021 and averaging a career-high 3.8 assists per game. Davis is putting up 24.9 points, 12.2 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 2.5 blocks on 55.3 percent shooting from the field and 81.0 percent on his free throws to go with it.
He has produced the 11th-best value over replacement player (VORP) in the NBA this season and remains an elite two-way force. The Lakers need AD playing like a superstar if they are going to qualify for the playoffs and make a deep run. His outside shooting is not there, but Davis has otherwise been fantastic on both ends.
Anthony Davis and LeBron James cannot win a championship by themselves. The Lakers' supporting cast has let them down this season. Injuries have played a role, but the talent around them has simply not been good enough consistently. Davis has been far from the problem as he heads to his ninth All-Star appearance.
Underperforming: Jarred Vanderbilt
The Lakers traded for Vanderbilt at the 2023 deadline and signed him to a four-year $48 million extension that begins next season. He started 13 of their 16 playoff games last season. The 6’8 forward tumbled out of the rotation in the final contest against the Nuggets, but his defense can be impactful.
Injuries have limited him this season. He missed the first 20 games with a heel issue. Vanderbilt returned for 29 games before suffering a mid-foot sprain that will keep him sidelined until March at the earliest. Adrian Wojnarowski noted when the injury happened that Vanderbilt could miss the remainder of the season.
When he was on the floor, Vanderbilt struggled. He averaged just 5.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 20.0 minutes per game mostly coming off the bench. The 6’8 forward shot 51.8 percent from the field but produced a 0.0 VORP.
The Los Angeles Lakers certainly need more if Jarred Vanderbilt is going to live up to his new contract. It starts with him being healthy and on the floor. Foot injuries are always scary. Hopefully, Vando can get back before the playoffs and make an impact. If not, it will certainly go down as a lost season for the 24-year-old forward.
Exceeding expectations: LeBron James
LeBron is still elite. The 39-year-old has to slow down at some point, but it hasn’t happened yet. He is averaging 24.8 points, 7.8 assists, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 34.9 minutes per game. James is shooting 52.0 percent from the field, 39.5 percent on his 3-point tries, and 74.1 percent from the foul line. He has been outstanding and played in 49 of their first 56 games.
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer should be slowing down. Karl Malone is the only other player to average more than 20 points per game at 39 years old with a minimum of ten games. Even Michael Jordan put up just 17.9 a night at 39. Stars are usually fading, but not King James.
Can he will the Lakers on another deep playoff run? It won’t be easy. LeBron is otherworldly, but the Lakers do not want to push him too far. He has played over 67,000 minutes in his NBA career. There are a ton of miles on his tires, and the franchise needs to keep him healthy if they want to compete for a championship.
LeBron has another massive decision to make this summer. Does he accept his $51.4 million player option or test free agency? The Warriors attempted to snag him at the deadline, and there will be plenty of interest if James hits the open market.
Underperforming: Austin Reaves
Lakers fans hoped Reaves would blossom into a third star this season. He took a significant step forward in his second NBA campaign and played for Team USA in the summer. Would that be enough to vault Reaves into star status? It hasn’t happened yet.
The 6’5 guard is averaging 15.8 points, 5.4 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 0.9 steals in 31.1 minutes per game. He has played in all 56 games but made just 31 starts. Reaves is shooting 49.0 percent from the field, 36.5 percent on his 3-point attempts, and 86.3 percent from the foul line. He keeps getting better but is more key role player than an All-Star.
The 25-year-old still has room to grow and his numbers have improved as the season progressed. Can Reaves take his game to another level in the playoffs? His breakout could still be on the horizon, but fans have not seen it yet.
Can the Los Angeles Lakers get into the playoffs and make a deep run? They will need LeBron James and Anthony Davis playing like superstars. Their underperforming talent must play better for it to become a reality. The Lakers have no time to waste, so stay tuned to see how they perform after the All-Star break.