Los Angeles Lakers: LeBron James’ injury shows the need for a second star

The Los Angeles Lakers have struggled without LeBron James on the court. To truly contend, they’ll need to find him some help in free agency or via trade

This might come as a shock to you, but it turns out LeBron James is really good at basketball.

I know how crazy that sounds, but I really think it might be true. In his first half-season with the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron has taken them from lottery regulars to playoff contenders with only minor tweaks to the roster. Surrounded by still-developing youngsters and oft-maligned role players, he has once again shown the ability to get the best out of his supporting cast.

That is only the case, however, when he is on the court. After missing the last 10 games with a groin injury, his importance to the team has become clearer than ever. It seems obvious to say that the Lakers are worse without LeBron, but his absence has shown that they are essentially still a lottery team when he’s missing.

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That reality was rammed home in an embarrassing loss to the league-worst Cleveland Cavaliers. Almost three years on from equalling a franchise-record ten game losing streak, the Lakers are now helping the NBA’s cellar dwellers snap their own skids. Cleveland came into Staples Center as the losers of 12 games in a row, and left thanking their lucky stars that LeBron was stuck sitting on the sideline.

The loss saw LA drop to 3-7 since LeBron’s injury and 23-21 for the season, tied for 8th in the Western Conference. By the time he returns to the lineup, which could reportedly be as soon as Wednesday, the Lakers may find themselves outside of the playoff picture.

In the 34 games LeBron has played, LA’s net rating of plus-2.3 is good enough for tenth in the league, ranked among the bonafide playoff teams. During his 10-game absence, that number has dropped to -3.6, which would rank 24th and ahead of just one team that is trying to win (Orlando) and five that are well-established tankers (Atlanta, Phoenix, New York, Chicago and Cleveland).

So the obvious has been established – LeBron James is really good, and the Lakers are a lot less good without him. What’s the solution? For this season at least, there might not be one.

Without a second star, the Lakers will run into the same problems any time LeBron doesn’t play. And even though he’s been virtually indestructible for his whole career, this groin injury might be a sign of things to come. At 34 years old, he’s still averaging 34.6 minutes per game and had played every game until getting hurt. That kind of workload would feel a lot less sustainable over the long-term for any other player, but it might prove to be so even for The King.

That all comes back to the need for more starpower to lighten the load. Kyle Kuzma‘s superb start to the year hid the vulnerability for a while, but even he has struggled without LeBron. Shooting 39.8 per cent from the field and 25 per cent from 3 over the stretch confirms what we probably already knew – that Kuzma is a great prospect and a fine complimentary piece, but he’s no All-Star just yet.

In the short term, LA probably isn’t going to find their next All-Star internally. Kuzma has shown flashes this year while averaging 18 points per game, while Lonzo Ball has continued to develop at a steady pace, but neither is ready to be second fiddle on a true contender. Brandon Ingram has struggled to adjust to his new spot in the team’s pecking order, and Josh Hart has likely almost hit his ceiling as a high-level role player.

If they want to compete right away, then, they’ll have to look outwards. After striking out with Paul George last summer, they’ll need to try and try again in free agency or the trade market.

Anthony Davis has been the hottest name in the NBA as trade rumours continue to fly. He would be the best player traded since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and that would surely make the asking price high. The Lakers would surely covet Davis, but will they stay patient and wait until his 2021 free agency rather than lose a plethora of assets?

That tactic didn’t work with George, and it remains to be seen if it will succeed with Kawhi Leonard. The Lakers passed on the opportunity to trade for him last summer, and Toronto’s success this season will surely have Rob Pelinka and Magic Johnson sweating ahead of this summer’s bidding war.

Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Jimmy Butler and Kemba Walker head the remaining list of potential free agents this summer (some with player options). But realistically, not all of them will be looking to leave their current teams, and those that do may not like the prospect of playing second fiddle to LeBron.

The Los Angeles Lakers struck gold when James agreed to wear the purple and gold, and he’s showed that he alone is capable of making them a playoff team. But when injury strikes, or when they look to take the next step, he’s going to need some more help. That’s why this trade season and this summer will decide whether these Lakers go down in history as just a team with LeBron James, or as a championship team.