After overcoming the injury and then suspension of LeBron James, it looked like the Los Angeles Lakers might finally have all their star players together to face the rest of the NBA season, but that time will have to wait and this time due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The spectacularly armed point guard who arrived this season to the Lakers, Russell Westbrook, as well as defensive specialist Avery Bradley have been added to the NBA’s health and safety protocol related to COVID-19.
Just this past Tuesday, Los Angeles suspended practice prior to its trip to Dallas due to Talen Horton-Tucker’s positive test.
Five Lakers players will not be able to play against the Minnesota Timberwolves or travel to Minneapolis next Friday, since Dwight Howard and Malik Monk are in the same situation.
Austin Reaves, with too many texts on his phone to count after a hero moment in Purple and Gold he dreamed about as a kid, is holding his first NBA game ball on the bus ride out of the arena. https://t.co/0CTzxEOYzd
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) December 16, 2021
Isaiah Tomas 10-day contract
In an emerging move due to notable absences, the Californians have signed point guard Isaiah Thomas, who has extensive NBA experience but has not played in the league since last season when he played three games for the New Orleans Pelicans, to a 10-day contract.
Thomas’ best NBA stint was with the Boston Celtics where he was elected to two All-Star Games in 2016 and 2017, a span in which he averaged 28.9 points per game.
