Lonzo Ball shouldn’t return before All-Star Break

The Los Angeles Lakers should consider holding Lonzo Ball out until the All-Star break and allow his left knee to fully recover.

Lonzo Ball has been absent from 13 of the last 18 games for the Los Angeles Lakers while dealing with a pair of injuries. A left shoulder sprain cost Lonzo six games in December, and after he returned for five games, he suffered a left MCL sprain that has kept him out of the rotation for seven games and counting.

The Lakers struggled at first to adjust to playing without their starting point guard, losing their first seven games with Lonzo. They’ve righted the ship this time around, winning four of five games with Lonzo sidelined, including two victories over Eastern Conference playoff teams.

The timetable for the sprain Lonzo has is typically 1-3 weeks, and he’s currently at the two-week mark after suffering the injury on Jan. 13. He’s been working out on and off the court for a couple days, but still has failed to register a full practice with the team.

With the Lakers roughly six games out of the playoff race, resting Lonzo until the Feb. 15 All-Star break makes sense. He doesn’t have a long injury history, but knee issues should be monitored cautiously, especially considering the Lakers aren’t expected to make the postseason.

Lonzo’s impact on the court is immense for the Lakers, but the team is preparing for the future, and playing the safe strategy with knees is one I always applaud.

I know an MCL sprain isn’t too bad in terms of knee injuries, but easing him back into action at practice and making sure he can make all lateral cuts with no pain at full speed is the route I’d take.

The Lakers have eight games between Jan. 31 and the All-Star break, so allowing him to continue his rehab process and strengthen his knee instead of rushing him back is the smart approach. Lonzo would miss four weeks of game time, and receive an extra fifth via the All-Star break (he would obviously sit out the Rising Stars game).

The Lakers haven’t put a timetable on his return, and the team is figuring out how to play with Tyler Ennis and Alex Caruso sharing point guard duties when Jordan Clarkson is off the court. It’s also another chance for the team to expand ball-handling/ decision-making abilities for Brandon Ingram, who’s showing strides as a lead guard when called upon.

Combine the on-court success in recent weeks the Los Angeles Lakers have had with the caution I’d proceed with Lonzo’s knee injury, I would take a serious look at holding Lonzo out until the All-Star Weekend concludes on Feb. 23.

I know that Lonzo, like all young players, needs as much game time as possible. But his absence gives the Lakers a unique opportunity to see what their other young guards can do in the NBA. Josh Hart comes to mind, who could use some time running the offense and see how far he can expand his game.

Next: 2017-18 Week 16 NBA Power Rankings

The Lakers have been rumored to be a busy team around the deadline, but handling Lonzo’s knee injury with caution should be their top priority. This MCL sprain isn’t much, but could linger throughout a career if not taken seriously. The Lakers should be cautious with Lonzo, and hopefully hold him out an extra week until the All-Star break.