Why Lakers’ Surprise New Addition Signals Bigger Problems for LeBron James and Co

The Los Angeles Lakers have endured plenty of pain this season. Sitting 9th in the Western Conference, LeBron and Co. suffered their latest loss of the season at the hands of the New Orleans Pelicans. And what a blowout it was! The Lakers fell short of the Pelicans by 28 points in front of their home fans.

Although the losses are preventing the Lakers from a top 8 finish, one of the reason behind the losses is the absence of key players. This list includes Kendrick Nunn, and now more recently, Anthony Davis and Avery Bradley. Speaking of Nunn, the guard was added to the roster during free agency with the hopes of providing the team with a scoring boost. However, that has not been the case. Moreover, his absence has really affected the franchise.

Kendrick Nunn’s Absence From the Los Angeles Lakers

Kendrick Nunn‘s signing with the Lakers was one of the biggest additions to the team at the start of the season. The point guard, who had a very successful stint in Miami, was expected to play as the backup point guard to Russell Westbrook.

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On paper, this addition looked fruitful. Moreover, he was a scoring point guard with decent three-point shooting and good defensive potential. So it seemed like a perfect fit. Additionally, his age was a factor that made his signing all the more lucrative, especially in comparison to older guards like Kent Bazemore and Avery Bradley.

However, a bone bruise injury has prevented the Lakers’ guard from suiting up for the team. To make matters worse, it doesn’t seem like he is returning anytime soon. This is due to the setback that he has undergone while rehabbing. This fact was mentioned by head coach Frank Vogel too. Nunn’s knee appears to still be a problem, thereby extending his return timeline.

This is a major problem for the Lakers. On the offensive end, they are missing a scorer who averaged nearly 15 points a game while playing nearly 30 minutes a game. Moreover, the age factor plays an impact here. Nunn, only 26, still has the young legs to move quickly up and down the floor. Additionally, being a decent three-point shooter allows spacing on the floor that LeBron can make use of.

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On the defensive end, Nunn could have been used to intercept the ball in passing lanes. During his Miami stint, the guard averaged nearly 1 steal a game. This could have potentially led to some extra points and lowered the defensive rating of the Lakers. As the regular season winds down, the Lakers will be hopeful of Nunn’s return given their current situation. However, only time will tell the tale for the Lakers this season.