Following the Lakers’ season-busting losses to the Pelicans and Nuggets, formally eliminating them from play-in contention, the team decided to sit their ill and injured veteran stars, LeBron James (ankle), Anthony Davis (foot), Russell Westbrook (shoulder), and Carmelo Anthony (non-COVID illness).
The club’s decision to officially wave the white flag finally created the proper set of circumstances to properly develop their newly minted young core, one that grew from Talen Horton-Tucker alone to include undrafted rookie Austin Reaves, as well as waiver wire adds Stanley Johnson and Wenyen Gabriel — the latter two of whom could return on cheap team options for next season.