It’s Christmas Day. And the hoop community is eagerly waiting for the highly-anticipated Lakers vs Warriors encounter. After all, everyone wants to see LeBron James and Stephen Curry go head-to-head. However, LBJ’s squad will be at a tremendous disadvantage for the road encounter because they will have to play without their star guard D’Angelo Russell.

Yes, D’Lo will not suit up tonight. The reason? A sprained left thumb. Well, it was during Monday’s game against the Pistons that he abruptly left the floor midway through the fourth quarter because of undisclosed reasons. And JJ Redick gave a vague post-game update, revealing that D’Lo either hurt his thumb or entire hand. Moreover, he finished the night with only 5 points after spending merely sixteen minutes on the court.

As it turns out, D’Lo’s injury might have been serious as it has caused him to miss tonight’s game. Obviously, that’s a massive blow for the team because he has been their most effective player and has the highest plus-minus for the Lakers this season, at +43. Sure, D’Lo is having arguably the worst individual season of his career as he is averaging a career-low 12.5 points. Additionally, his scoring efficiency has also dropped to 33.5% from deep range. But he is still a valuable asset for the team because of his versatility and ability to run the offense. And the Lakers could have benefited from it tonight.

Moreover, D’Lo’s injury does not help his case amid the ongoing trade buzz.

Lakers could use D’Angelo Russell as a trade asset in Zach LaVine pursuit

Well, ever since D’Lo moved to LA, his name has been in constant trade rumors, especially after his disappointing performance in last year’s West Finals. Sure, he has shown potential to be a star occasionally, but consistency has been a major issue with him. However, Pelinka has failed to find a suitable replacement for him, which is one of the reasons D’Lo is still part of the roster. But things could change now that he is in the final year of his contract.

With Zach LaVine available on the trade block, there are speculations that the Lakers are interested in acquiring the high flyer. As per veteran analyst Jovan Buha, their LaVine pursuit is “Certainly possible. I will say they did have some interest in him last year, and ultimately, I think that the contract was a little too rich for them.” Yes, LaVine’s $43 million salary for this season has become a major hindrance for the Bulls to find potential suitors for him. Well, that’s where D’Lo becomes an asset.

Sure enough, Pelinka could offer a combination of D’Angelo, Rui Hachimura, and Gabe Vincent, to match LaVine’s salary and acquire him in a trade. This move would give the Lakers a consistent 20+ point scorer, who can create his own shots. More importantly, it will take some load off AD and LBJ’s shoulders. Do you think Pelinka should pursue this trade amid D’Lo’s injury?