Lakers have re-signed Kostas to another two-way contract

Good fiver, Jamie. But there are silver linings. Could have been closer to playoffs. Could have been after trade deadline.

1. High ankle sprains. I lost half of two seasons in high school with same injury. They just linger and linger and get easily retweaked. Hope LeBron is really bionic because this was on same ankle as his previous 8 injuries this season.

2. Playoffs. Fans will be returning so seeding may be more important. After tonight, we’ll only be 2 games behind the Spurs for 7th seed and just 5 games behind the Grizzlies for 10th seed. Good chance were going to have to win the Play-In Tournament to make the playoffs unless we get best case scenario for LeBron and AD returning.

3. Who’s going to step up? This is Dennis’ chance to show his worth but he’s not going to do it by turning the ball over 6 times like last night. The issue is the starters have a dud in KCP who’s down to 8,5 points per game for the position that leads most teams in scoring.

Kuz, Trezz, and THT need to do what they did the first four games of the second half. My vote for a guy who could really help would be Gasol with outside shooting and playmaking, both of which the starters desperately need.

4. We’re not as limited as you think, Jamie. Just need to send out more salary in trade than we take in. Problem we have is without LeBron and AD, three of our key trade chips are also three players we desperately need to play well, namely Trezz, Kuz, and THT.

The guy who has to go is KCP, Klutch client or not. His value is filler, which means we likely have to include THT and our 2027 pick to get a 3-point shooting playmaker who could help. Then we have to pray for Drummond.

5. What do we do. Rob has to earn his big bucks by making the right moves to get the playmaking volume 3-point shooter and rim protector we need without stripping our depleted depth in the short term. Frank and the coaches have to show they can get the offense moving.

Schroder has to prove he’s worth over $20 million, Kuz that he’s worth the $39 million we gave him over the next three years, Trezz that he can give us 20 ppg while Bron and AD are out, Caruso that he’s not become the overrated injury prone can’t shoot straight guard he’s looked like for the last month, and Gasol, Matthews, and Morris that they still have something in the tank.

I consider my beloved THT and sadly disappointing KCP and our 2027 first round pick long gone at this point.