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Los Angeles Lakers: The reason for sitting LeBron isn’t what you think

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 26: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots the ball against Bobby Portis #5 of the Washington Wizards during the second half at Staples Center on March 26, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 26: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots the ball against Bobby Portis #5 of the Washington Wizards during the second half at Staples Center on March 26, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Lakers announced that LeBron James’ season is over as the star forward is set to sit the last six games of the year to avoid reaggravating his groin.

LeBron James‘ first season with the Los Angeles Lakers is officially over, meaning that James will finish with a career-low 55 games played.

The Los Angeles Lakers announced on Saturday that James would be sitting in the final six games of the Lakers’ season (h/t ESPN) to avoid reaggravating the groin injury that he suffered on Christmas Day.

While there were no signs of the injury in the last few games, the Lakers have already been resting LeBron more than usual and there really is no point in risking it in the last six games with no playoff implications. The risk highly outweighs the reward and this is the smart thing to do.

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There is a common belief throughout the NBA community that there is also another motive that drove the Los Angeles Lakers to sit LeBron. It is the 2019 NBA Draft and the Lakers’ position in the draft.

Once the playoffs became out of reach for the Lakers the focus instantly shifted to the offseason and losing as many games as possible to increase the team’s draft stock. Having a record in the bottom six or seven would not only be better for potential trades but would also increase the team’s chance of landing a top-four pick.

The Lakers were doing exactly what the team needed to do, even going on a 1-9 run throughout a 10-game span at one point. However, LeBron continued to insist that the competitor inside of him would not allow the Lakers to tank and then the Lakers drastically hurt their chances by winning three of four.

It was the day after that third win after all that the team announced that the Lakers would be sitting LeBron. Instead of it being for injury reasons, it makes perfect sense for draft reasons.

However, that is a stretch. While it makes sense on paper and wouldn’t be all that surprising, the Lakers are resting LeBron for the legitimate reason, not to help the team’s draft stock.

The Lakers are obviously better off without LeBron but there are not enough games left in the season to really make a difference. The Lakers have six games left in the reason and are two and a half games better than the New Orleans Pelicans for the ninth-worst record.

While the Lakers are playing the Pelicans on Sunday, the chances of the team making up two and a half games in six games probably won’t happen. The Lakers would have to lose out and the Pelicans would have to go 3-4 for the Lakers to have the worst record.

And even if that happens the Lakers are only increasing their spot in the order by one (assuming they have a worse record than the Timberwolves as well, who they are tied with) and their chances of a top-four pick from 11.3 to 20.7 percent.

That seems like a big jump but the chances are still very slim and the true difference between the 10th and ninth overall pick is not much.

Next. Lakers are playing how they should have all year. dark

If the Los Angeles Lakers were really sitting LeBron James for the NBA Draft then it would have happened a few weeks ago.