The Los Angeles Lakers had been nice on Friday night time. They dominated probably the greatest groups within the Western Convention — the Denver Nuggets.

LeBron James scored 30 factors, and the Lakers acquired optimistic contributions from a number of gamers. Nevertheless, their greatest participant — Anthony Davis — scored solely 10 of the Lakers’ 126 factors. The explanation for the low scoring output, he left the sport within the second quarter with a foot damage. The Athletic’s Shams Charania is reporting that Davis will likely be out for no less than a month, however there’s a important probability that it is going to be longer.

Davis was lastly turning into the participant that the Lakers felt was value buying and selling a heaping pile of beginning caliber gamers and future draft picks to accumulate. He’s averaging 27.3 factors per sport on practically 60 % from the sector. Mix that together with his ordinary stellar protection, and Davis was taking part in like a respectable MVP candidate.

The Lakers acquired off to a ghastly begin to the 2022-23 season, going 2-8. Largely because of Davis’ excellent play, they’ve significantly improved and at present sit at 12-16. The playoffs are very a lot in attain, however with Davis out till presumably after Valentine’s Day it is vitally unlikely that the Lakers will be capable to proceed their profitable methods.

Except they make a commerce.

They haven’t unloaded Westbrook’s expiring contract and their 2027 and 2029 first spherical draft picks with good cause. At first of the yr, they had been shedding an excessive amount of to mortgage any extra of their future, and as they began to win it made sense to hold on and look ahead to the most effective supply doable. The Lakers gave up an excessive amount of for each Davis and Westbrook, and didn’t must go all in on one other deal.

There is no such thing as a time left for a wait and see strategy. James turns 38 years outdated on the finish of this month. He can’t carry the Lakers for possibly 20 video games, possibly extra, whereas ready for Davis to return.

Westbrook has performed extraordinarily nicely in his restricted position with the Lakers. He has been coming off of the bench, taking part in lower than half-hour per sport, and taking part in with extra restraint and effectivity when on the ground. He’s going to must shoulder extra of an offensive burden if he stays on the roster, and that hasn’t labored out nicely since he has been in a Lakers uniform.

The Lakers have been linked in rumors to accumulate Bojan Bogdonović, Myles Turner, Buddy Hield, DeMar DeRozan, Nikola ​​Vučević, and even Evan Fournier and Cam Reddish. After all that isn’t probably the most spectacular group of names, but when the Lakers care about saving this season there isn’t any time to be choosy.

The clock is winding down shortly on their 2022-23 season. Their fortunes had been wanting up, however now they’ve to select. Both act swiftly and make a commerce to try to regular the ship till Davis can return, or punt on this season, and attempt to do one thing with all of their cap house this offseason, with James inching nearer to 40 years outdated.