Los Angeles Lakers: Xavier Henry Could Miss Training Camp

By Marcus Bass | Sep 11, 2014

Mar 27, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Xavier Henry (7) during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Milwaukee won 108-105. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

When will any positive new start coming from the Los Angeles Lakers camp?

While what can be considered a highly melodramatic summer comes to a close, the Lakers find themselves hobbling back into another season. Head coach Byron Scott recently told Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News that Xavier Henry “might be limited in training camp”. Henry is coming into this season with a surgically repaired left wrist and right knee that have not fully healed.

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Unfortunate news for the Lakers and Henry who in his fourth season averaged 10 points and 2.7 rebounds with L.A in 21 minutes per game. Although his training camp delay is considered a minor setback, Henry’s on the verge of his career either being catapulted or crushed. He signed a one-year deal with the Lakers, with most expecting him to start at small forward.

With a new coach and team philosophy, missing training camp and possibly pre-season could derail what could be a career making year for Henry.

Henry forecasted that he would be fully healed in five to six weeks way back in June. It’s either irony or coincidence that his one-year deal with the Lakers was signed and announced subsequently after on June 25th. Either way Byron Scott didn’t seem too up-to-date on the status of Henry’s injuries or if he’s in basketball shape.

Scott added, “I haven’t seen him do much on the court. It’s going to be close on if he’s ready for camp.”

Henry could be the young type of player the Lakers could use at small forward. He’s quick, a good defender and shot 41.7 percent from the field last season. His three point range could improve from the 34.6 percent he posted last season, however his 81 attempts were almost four times more than his career average.

He’s the perfect fit for what’s starting to be described as a run-and-gun system under coach Scott. A poor man’s Lamar Odom (pre Lakers trade) on his best day, at 6’6 with great vertical leap Henry is the type of player who can rebound and take it coast to coast for the dunk.

The string of injuries he’s sustained throughout his career could be cause for concern and the reason why the Lakers haven’t secured him for the long haul. Drafted 12th overall in 2010 to the Memphis Grizzlies, Henry failed to get on the floor to put on display the playmaking and hustle that won scouts over so well his last season at Kansas University.

He appeared in only 38 games with the Grizz due to a right knee injury and was later traded to New Orleans where he would miss 69 games in two season.

Henry played small forward in a lineup that scored the most points for the Lakers last year. Henry, Robert Sacre, Ryan Kelly, Nick Young and Kent Bazemore put up 38 points for the Lakers when on the court in tandem. Although Bazemore has moved on to the Atlanta Hawks, he’s easily substituted by Kobe Bryant, while a few members of that unit would be replaced by some of the Lakers more talented or veteran off-season acquisitions.

Training camp is still a few weeks away for the Lakers, and Byron Scott will be ready to acclimate players to his style of basketball while trying to establish a new team identity. It would be in Henry’s best interest to get on the court sooner than later, however with his talents and potential, even coach Scott can wait a few weeks to see what he’ll receive from Xavier.

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