The Los Angeles Lakers are heading out on their first long road trip of the season without a key piece of their team and a starting player for 10 games early in the season.
Avery Bradley, who was expected to miss one-to-two weeks with a hairline fracture in his leg, will miss the team’s upcoming four-game road trip, after which he will be evaluated, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
Perhaps making things easier on Bradley and giving him more time to recover has been the phenomenal play of late from shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Pope has been a monster on both ends as of later, bringing phenomenal ball pressure along with some high-level shot-making. KCP is averaging 14 points on 63% shooting from the field and 54.5% from the 3-point line.
With Bradley out, KCP will likely continue to get the start while Rajon Rondo and Alex Caruso will provide the guard depth behind him. Rondo looked excellent in Tuesday’s win and Caruso has been solid all season, coupled with Caldwell-Pope’s excellent play, Bradley and the Lakers have the luxury to take the time to heal. At this time last year, such luxuries for the Lakers were unthinkable. What a difference a year can make.