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Dave McMenamin, ESPN Staff Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In the NBA equivalent of a teacher telling the class to “put down your pencils” because test time is over, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Charlotte Hornets 124-118 on Monday to fall 27-25. and move up the standings, now all we have to do is wait and see what happens to the team before Thursday's trade deadline.
With this win, LA secured a successful road trip with a 4-2 record and extended their winning streak to three. This is the Lakers' longest in-season tournament win in Las Vegas since they won four straight in early December.
Victories against quality opponents like the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks were encouraging, but even the Hornets' victory took some courage to stop a young ballclub that was playing without pressure. However, Robb, the Lakers' vice president of basketball operations and general manager, said: Pelinka “wasn't on the phone” all day, team officials told ESPN to discuss a potential contract.
If something comes to fruition, L.A.'s roster could look much different next time they face the defending champion Denver Nuggets on Thursday night.
Los Angeles, which reached the Western Conference finals last spring, is ninth in the West and needs to catch up with the sixth-place Phoenix Suns, who have a three-game lead, with 30 games remaining to avoid the play-in tournament.
The Lakers' best point-of-attack defender, Jared Vanderbilt, was diagnosed with a right midfoot sprain on Monday and will be sidelined for at least the next three to four weeks pending re-evaluation, while backup point guard Gabe Vincent continues to play, having played in only five games so far this season, he was sidelined with a knee injury.
With the Lakers facing an undisputed challenge while ranking 20th in offense and 14th in overall defense, LeBron James believes the team will win a championship as it is currently constructed. I was asked if I thought that was enough or if I thought a change would be wise.
“That doesn't matter to me,” James said after finishing the road trip with 26 points on 12-of-22 shooting (including several rim-shaking dunks) in 40 minutes to seal the victory. . “I love the guys in the locker room. That's all I'm worried about.”
James added, “We're going to go out and be prepared every night, no matter what the situation is. No matter who's on this team, no matter what happens.”
The only Laker to outdo James on Monday was D'Angelo Russell, who led the team with 28 points and six assists.
Russell's name has been mentioned in trade talks with the Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors and Atlanta Hawks in recent weeks, sources told ESPN, and the point guard is playing some of the best basketball of his career. I was able to do that.
In the past 16 games since returning from a bruised tailbone, Russell has averaged 22.2 points, 46.3% shooting from the field (44.9% from 3), 2.3 rebounds and 6.4 assists as LA goes 10-6. Ta.
Asked how he would deal with speculation leading up to the deadline, Russell said: “I don't care. Not at all.” “Please report to work. That's all.”
When asked for details, the 27-year-old alluded to the terms of his $17.3 million deal, which includes an $18.7 million player option for next season, as the simple fact that he could fit into a number of potential contracts. .
“So I don't have any control over whether my contract makes sense for me to be traded,” Russell said. “I mean, just play around. You can't control it. Again, I don't care. At all.”
Russell could have avoided this situation when he rejoined the Lakers in the summer. The nature of his contract would have included an implied no-trade clause. But he and his representatives waived that provision.
Russell was asked to explain why he decided to give up his authority to block any trades this season.
“I just thought it made sense,” Russell said. “Obviously, I've been here before, I played for the Lakers before, so I know what the requirements are to be successful here. So I'm a part of the future here. If you are, you'll be successful. If you're like, “No, I'm going to get traded. I've been traded here before, too. So my approach is just a little different. is.”
“I really genuinely, humbly don't care, because one, I know it's out of my control. And two, I don't allow my mind to go there. “I like to focus on this and you guys know what's going to happen?'' I'm focused on basketball and I'm not interested in the comments or what's trending on social. ”
Their plays haven't always meshed perfectly this season, but Russell and James' answers certainly matched in Charlotte.
Until something happens, the player's responsibility is to go about their business as usual.
“This is who we are,” James said. “So, there's nothing else to talk about.”
