The Lakers Will Reportedly Put LeBron James On A Minutes Restriction And May Rest Him In Back-To-Backs

The Los Angeles Lakers need something miraculous to happen between now and the end of the regular season to qualify for the playoffs. With a 6.5-game uphill climb to the 8-seed in front of the team over the next 17 games, though, it’s awfully hard to imagine that happening, and as such, the Lakers appear ready to put both eyes on the 2019-20 campaign.

According to a report by Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, the Lakers and LeBron James’ trainer sat down for a conversation. In it, the two sides came to a plan that involved cutting into James’ minutes a bit during this stretch run and giving him a breather, if he wants, during back-to-backs.

“I was told now that the Lakers are almost out of playoff contention there was a conversation had between LeBron James’ trainer and the front office and there was a conclusion that LeBron James will play on a minutes restriction somewhere between 28 to 32 minutes and possibly, on back-to-backs, depending on how LeBron James feels, he might sit out one of those back-to-backs,” Haynes said.

This isn’t quite Paul Pierce’s statement that James should get completely shut down, but this is a pragmatic approach for L.A., as James hasn’t quite looked the same since he came back from the groin injury that caused him to missed an extended period of time this season. This would, theoretically, lead to the Lakers relying on the 34-year-old James less, as he currently sits seventh in the NBA at 35.6 minutes per game and boasts the 10th-highest usage rate in the league.

James going to the Lakers was always viewed as a long-term project, especially after the team’s collection of veteran signings didn’t quite pan out this season. Still, no one could have predicted that James would be put in this position. That includes James, who said earlier this week he would need “a lot of convincing” to rest down the stretch.