The Los Angeles Lakers' championship dreams came to a screeching halt earlier this week when they were eliminated from the NBA playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves. An early postseason elimination always raises several questions, and the Lakers — who were series favorites entering the opening round — aren't an exception to the rule.
As usual, LeBron James' future is one of Lakers fans' top concerns. The four-time NBA MVP has a $52.6 million player option waiting for him this offseason, however, it remains to be seen if James will pounce on the opportunity.
The 40-year-old superstar has already stirred the pot following the Lakers' elimination by revealing that he's uncertain about what the future holds for him. As surprising as the soundbite was to some, another surprise James-related story dropped less than 48 hours later.
LeBron James Suffered MCL Sprain in Lakers' Game 5 Loss
On Friday afternoon, ESPN NBA insider Dave McMenamin reported that James sprained his MCL during Game 5, only adding to the upcoming offseason drama.
"LeBron James suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee from his collision with Donte DiVincenzo in Wednesday's Game 5," McMenamin wrote. "The injury entails a 3-5 week recovery timeline."
James' injury allegedly occurred during Game 5's fourth quarter. The 21-time All-Star limped to the locker room after colliding with Milwaukee Bucks guard Donte DiVincenzo, however, James managed to power through his ailment and return to finish the game.
With that in mind, the Lakers' early elimination may have been a blessing in disguise. Even if Los Angeles managed to survive Game 5, James wouldn't have been at 100% for the rest of the series, nor would he be fully healed until the Western Conference Finals at best.
In other words, the Lakers' postseason could've gotten uglier than it already was.
With a month-long recovery time in his future, James should be healed before he decides if he'll continue playing basketball — either in L.A. or elsewhere — or decide to hang up his shoes for good. The Akron, OH native continued being one of the NBA's best players in Year 70, averaging 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.8 rebounds before putting up another 25.4 PPG, 5.6 APG, and 9.0 RPG in the postseason.
If James does return, the Lakers must do a more effective job at building the roster. They can't go far with their current lineup, highlighting the importance of signing/drafting/trading for legitimate contributors this offseason if they want to convince James it's worth staying in Los Angeles for another season.
For now, James and the rest of the Lakers will continue watching the NBA playoffs, wondering what could've been.