'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
LeBron James and the LA Lakers are clawing to keep themselves from slipping further down the standings during Anthony Davis' absence. The franchise got off to a historically bad start this season. They lost their first five games and looked out of sorts on offense.
With Anthony Davis putting up MVP-caliber numbers and Russell Westbrook thriving in his sixth-man role off the bench, things were beginning to click in LA. The team closed out the month of November with an impressive winning streak that saw them go 8-2 during a 10-game stretch.
However, things then took a turn for the worse when Anthony Davis was sidelined due to a stress fracture in his right foot.
With Davis out, the burden then fell to LeBron James and Russell Westbrook to keep the team afloat. If they want to have any chance of making the playoffs, they need to start stringing together some wins. LeBron James has done his part. He's continued to prove himself as a leader. Despite being in his 20th season, James has turned back the clock.
NBA analyst Skip Bayless believes that James' influence on the construction of the team's roster has put Lakers owner Jeanie Buss in the hot seat. As a result of James' poor decision-making, GM Rob Pelinka has also fielded plenty of criticism. Bayless spoke about it during a recent episode of 'Undisputed':
"He wants to win, he's ashamed of being in the middle of this. But the point is that he had a lot to do with getting in the middle of this. ...The quote-unquote GOAT needs a scapegoat. Now it feels like he's deflecting blame onto Rob Pelinka."
You can see the footage of Bayless beginning at the 3:30 mark.
LeBron James and the state of the LA Lakers
As Bayless pointed out, you can't have your cake and eat it too when it comes to the salary cap. Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook are both making over $40 million this season. LeBron James recently signed a massive contract extension. Given that, the front office's hands are somewhat tied.
(Suggested Reading: The time Shaquille O'Neal nearly spent his entire first-year salary)
With much of the team's salary cap tied up in three players, there are few moves the front office can make to round out the roster. Prior to the start of the season, the Lakers were eager to trade Russell Westbrook. However, his massive contract made it difficult.
Reports have indicated that the Lakers will be actively seeking out trades at the start of the new year. They'll have an uphill battle if they hope to work some magic.
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the team has been closely monitoring the situation in Chicago. If the Chicago Bulls decide to blow up their roster, the Lakers could be interested in picking up the scraps. They reportedly have interest in Bulls stars Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic.
(Suggested Reading: When LeBron fired back at Charles Barkley for calling him whiny)
The Lakers sit 13th in the Western Conference with a 14-21 record. They are 3.5 games back of the final play-in spot.
