Lakers weighing resting LeBron James, Luka Dončić in upcoming games against Hornets, Blazers

With both Luka Dončić and LeBron James nursing injuries to varying degrees, the Lakers are deliberating how and whether to use the pair coming out of the All-Star break.

Despite all of the excitement surrounding the Lakers heading into the final stretch of the season, the team finds itself in a bit of a tricky predicament.

The two superstars of the franchise are both dealing with injuries at different stages that could limit them moving forward.

As fans saw this weekend, LeBron James is dealing with a lingering foot injury that dates back multiple seasons. With a back-to-back straight out of the All-Star break, the Lakers are weighing options as to whether to rest him in one of, or both, games against the Hornets and Blazers.

On Tuesday, Shams Charania of ESPN appeared on NBA Today and discussed the Lakers’ current dilemma with LeBron.

Earlier this season, the Lakers allowed LeBron an extended break during the NBA Cup knockout rounds. During that break, he went nine days between appearances and missed two games.

If he does not play against the Hornets or Blazers, LeBron would go ten days between games before returning against the Nuggets. Once he returned from that previous break, LeBron looked great, particularly in recent weeks before the All-Star game.

Another factor the Lakers will likely consider is that this will be the last time they can afford to give LeBron a break before the end of the regular season. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see LeBron sit each of the next two contests.

He isn’t the only star that could sit in the coming games. Luka Dončić returned just before the break from a calf strain, but the Lakers were clearly being cautious with him, limiting him to 24 and 23 minutes in the two contests.

According to longtime NBA reporter Marc Stein, the Lakers will likely remain cautious and rest Luka in one of the upcoming back-to-back games.

The Lakers have kept Dončić under 25 minutes in his first two games in purple and gold and are expected to persist with a measured approach as the 25-year-old progresses in his comeback after missing his final 19 games as a Maverick with a left calf strain sustained on Christmas Day.

The Lakers face an immediate back-to-back on Wednesday and Thursday against Charlotte (home) and Portland (away). It is believed that Dončić will play in only one of those games before a Saturday night trip to Denver to square off with his close friend Nikola Jokić before the Lakers play host to the Mavericks one week from Tuesday.

The Lakers will have a whole bunch of back-to-backs coming up the second half of the season. Over the final two months, they will have eight back-to-backs, tied for the most in the NBA with the Spurs.

It will be interesting to see how the Lakers handle Luka in those back-to-backs. Will they remain cautious with him until the end of the season? Is there a point when the restrictions will be lifted completely and he can play in both games?

Certainly, the playoff standings will likely factor into their decision. Fortunately, they’re in a spot where they have some wiggle room. But they could quickly use that up depending on how things go out of the gate from the All-Star break, and certainly if they’re without LeBron and Luka in coming games.

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