It hasn't been the happiest of holiday nor basketball seasons for the Los Angeles Lakers.

After a promising stretch in which the team won five of seven games — including a few rare blowouts — the Lakers (16-17) have been depleted by the Omicron variant and Anthony Davis' sprained MCL (he'll be “re-evaluated” in a month).

Now, on Dec. 24, on the eve of the Lakers' Christmas Day matchup with what's left of the Brooklyn Nets, the Lakers are mired in a four-game losing skid with five players and their head coach in protocols.

33 games into the 2021-22 season, LeBron James still doesn't know if the team he helped assemble can contend.

In the spirit of the season, here are five things that LeBron, the Lakers, and their fans should ask for from St. Nick.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6MnJXNoLPxevYvf5sx6Jv4?si=1bdef6976f694893

1) A speedy recovery for Anthony Davis

The Lakers are built around the idea that LeBron James and Anthony Davis are top-1o players. Without both stars on the court and playing as such, they have no chance at approaching their ceiling, full stop. Their defense is unavoidably putrid without AD (see: 138-110 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.)

At a minimum, Davis will miss 13-to-15 games. However, “re-evaluated” doesn't mean “returning”. The initial recovery timelines for Trevor Ariza, Talen Horton-Tucker, and, especially, Kendrick Nunn, have turned out to be overly optimistic.

On the flip side: AD's diagnosis could have been a lot worse.

2) Booster shots / general safety

In the past week, the Lakers have seen nine players — Nunn, Horton-Tucker, Ariza, Russell Westbrook, Malik Monk, Austin Reaves, Dwight Howard, Kent Bazemore, Avery Bradley — along with Frank Vogel, assistant coach Phil Handy, and other members of their traveling party, enter health and safety protocols. Fortunately, a few have re-joined the group, but the majority of those names remain in isolation. Omicron is just beginning to ravage Los Angeles.

Vogel said the Lakers, who are 100% vaccinated, are encouraging booster shots. Carmelo Anthony said the organization has fed the players a steady stream of information about boosters, though the decision lies with the individual. The league can't mandate boosters, though, it will force each team to hold “events” promoting boosters.

After Thursday's lousy effort against the Spurs, Dwight Howard — who missed four games while in isolation/recovery — admitted to being deeply fatigued during his first game back, and initially rejected the notion that he had COVID-19 symptoms. Minutes later, he acknowledged having a “little cough”, feeling “a little tired”, and having to take the “proper things … to flush the virus out.”

Beyond safety, the Lakers simply need their supporting cast to win games as they try to keep apace in the standings. After the loss to San Antonio, a frustrated LeBron noted that all of the Lakers defensive specialists are in protocols. James and Westbrook combined for 66 points, but the Lakers' bench was outscored 69-20 by the Spurs reserves.

3) The coldest ice baths and firmest foam rollers for LeBron

Meanwhile, 19-year veteran LeBron James — on the verge of his 37th birthday — has been playing MVP-caliber ball in December. He's reached the 30-point threshold in seven of the past nine games. He's thrived at center in small lineups, which is going to be a key tactic with AD out.

In the first eight games of this month, LeBron averaged 27.0 points (54.4% shooting), 8.3 rebounds (a massive uptick from his early-season figures), 6.2 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game. That was before his 36 points, 15-of-26 effort on San Antonio.

His paint production has increased, and his presence inside has been more impactful on both ends. He's been flying around on defense (see: numerous highlight-reel blocks and transition plays). He earned his first Player of the Week honors since March 2020.

Whatever chunk of that $2 million per year he spends on his body is devoted to recovery, the Lakers better wish those products continue to work wonders.

4) A generous rival GM

AD's injury — and the team's underperformance through one-third of the season — may force Rob Pelinka's hand before the Feb. 10 trade deadline. The Lakers are reportedly “interested” in Ben Simmons and Jerami Grant, and they've been linked to Myles Turner.

As we've discussed, the Lakers are severely limited in their trade flexibility. A Simmons acquisition is unfathomable unless Daryl Morey or the Houston Rockets want to reunite with Westbrook (not happening).

Grant, or Turner, however, are logical targets – near-All-Star-caliber players whom the Lakers can feasibly acquire. Considering the state of the team, it's worth wondering if Pelinka will be more open to dealing THT (plus Nunn, a 2027 first-rounder, second-rounders, and minimum contracts) this season than he was in 2020-21, when Kyle Lowry was on the table.

Or…maybe it's Buddy Hield time, after all.

5) Less DeAndre Jordan

If Santa scrolls Lakers Twitter, he'll surely know what's at the top of every fan's immediate wish list.

DeAndre Jordan is a beloved locker room veteran and a wholesome human being. But, the Lakers' net rating is 13.5 points per 100 possessions worse when he's on the court (pre-Spurs game). He's a -95 in 27 games. The eye test paints an even darker picture.

Jordan is no longer a rotation-caliber NBA player, yet he's started 18 games for the Lakers. Los Angeles will need to waive at least one person at some point — either to keep Isaiah Thomas when others return from protocols, and/or to eventually make a buyout addition. When the time comes, the Lakers should wish DJ good health, good luck, and good riddance.

Other than that: Merry Christmas, Lakers Nation!