The Los Angeles Lakers are in the midst of what some could call a free fall. After hovering around the two seed for most of the season, they find themselves at the four seed with no hope for improving anytime soon.
JJ Redick recently had quite the words for the effort his team has been displaying, and he's not wrong. If the team continues playing at the level they have been, a trade will have to be made.
More: NBA insider reveals that trades are incoming in LA. Who could be on their way out?
In the meantime, most of the Lakers on the chopping block will have their chance to prove themselves.
The diagnosis from Austin Reaves' MRI came back today, and the Lakers will certainly have to do everything in their power to keep their heads above water while he's out.
Austin Reaves' injury news is about as bad as it gets
Austin Reaves went into the locker room at halftime and proceeded not to play the rest of the second half against the Houston Rockets on Christmas.
After not returning, the Lakers were then blown out for the third game in a row. The team announced that Reaves would be getting an MRI today, and the results are in.
ESPN's Shams Charania announced that Austin Reaves has suffered from a grade 2 left gastrocnemius strain.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves has been diagnosed with a grade 2 left gastrocnemius strain and will be reevaluated in four weeks.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 27, 2025
After looking that up, I came to find that the gastrocnemius is the chief muscle of the calf and also runs to the Achilles tendon.
Given how often calf and leg injuries in sports have resulted in torn Achilles recently, I'm sure all Lakers fans would rather the team take a cautious approach.
The Lakers certainly avoided the worst for Reaves, but what's next without the NBA will be no walk in the park for this Los Angeles roster. This team needs to shape up and fast.
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