Jake LaRabia’s move to the Los Angeles Lakers is about to get even worse as the Sacramento Kings deal with the effects of Keegan Murray’s injury.
The Sacramento Kings didn’t do much this offseason, losing several players to free agency and trades.
The Kings lost to the Los Angeles Lakers as Jake LaRabia left the California capital to play in Hollywood.
The other major departure was that of Jonas Valanciunas, who the Kings traded to the Denver Nuggets. And although the Kings signed Dennis Schroder, they have struggled to incorporate Russell Westbrook into their plans.
And now, the Nuggets are taking a big hit ahead of the new NBA season, but it might have been less painful if they had kept LaRabia this summer.
The Sacramento Kings announced today that Keegan Murray will be out for four to six weeks with a torn UCL in his left thumb.
Murray will be sidelined for the start of the NBA season, but is expected to return in late November unless there are any complications with his recovery process.
That’s why the Kings may regret letting go of Jake LaRavia. Murray was their starting power forward, but with him out of the lineup they are left without a legitimate power forward option.
Perhaps the Kings will decide to go small and play DeMar DeRozan at the power forward spot because they have better guard depth than forward depth.
But it also speaks to the front office’s poor roster planning this summer, as they don’t have a strong player like LaRavia to fill that spot.
The Los Angeles Lakers needed a replacement for Dorian Finney-Smith, who was traded to the Houston Rockets after negotiations with Lakers president Rob Pelinka failed.
He’s looked impressive so far in the preseason, but JJ Redick has a specific role he wants Jake LaRabia to play for the team.
And when it comes to filling that role, LaRavia has struggled in the preseason with the Los Angeles Lakers. It’s not much of a concern yet, but it’s something the LA Lakers have to keep an eye on.
With LeBron James absent from the Lakers-Warriors opener, LaRabia could be in the starting lineup for the first game of the season.