How Much Risk Should the Lakers Accept With Luka Dončić's Push to Return?

The Lakers are in dire straits right now, no question. 

And to his credit, Luka Dončić crossed an ocean to try and get back to help give them a chance in the postseason. But even with the cutting edge treatments available to him in Europe, there is still a recovery period required for his injured hamstring, and a risk of recurrence should he come back to fast. But how big a risk, exactly? And how big a risk is too big? 

Especially if the Lakers slide to the fourth or fifth seed in the West, setting themselves up for a second round matchup against the Thunder? 

On the one hand, a setback that puts him back at square one -- where Luka was after the game in which he suffered the injury -- likely doesn't impact his offseason all that much. Anything bigger, however? That could really mess with his ability to train this summer and maintain all the work he did last offseason. 

Anything that threatens his offseason program should make Lakers fans nervous. 

Meanwhile, Deandre Ayton caught some flak in Tuesday's aggressive press conference from JJ Redick... ironically for not catching stuff when thrown to him. 

But LA has a real problem right now -- they need Ayton to perform, but lost the two guys who execute pick and roll sets with him best, and otherwise find ways to get him the ball. So what now? 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

 

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