Russell Westbrook and Avery Bradley entered the NBA's health and safety protocols on Thursday, joining their Los Angeles Lakers teammates Dwight Howard, Malik Monk, and Talen Horton-Tucker.
Horton-Tucker entered protocols on Tuesday, while Howard and Monk were placed in protocols on Wednesday.
The Lakers are currently on a three-game road swing through the midwest. They defeated the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center on Wednesday, and will next travel to face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. Two days later, they're slated to visit the Chicago Bulls — a tip that has already been pushed back due to the Bulls team-wide COVID-19 outbreak.
Lakers injury report for Wolves game (Fri) lists 7 players OUT – 5 in protocols, plus Ariza & Nunn. That leaves LA w/ 8 available bodies, the minimum required for a game.
The signing of Isaiah Thomas is impending. 2-ways and Jay Huff & Chaundee Brown were active in Dallas. pic.twitter.com/f7kP3yQi0D
— Michael Corvo (@michaelcorvoNBA) December 16, 2021
Los Angeles is re-testing all of its players, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania. The Lakers are 100% vaccinated and head coach Frank Vogel said the team is encouraging booster shots.
Frank Vogel said Lakers are 100% vaxxed and doing things "the right way" in terms of adhering to COVID-19 protocols. They're encouraging boosters.
He said Lakers are "at the mercy of the virus" and this is just "the nature" of the season. Next man up, no excuse mindset, he said.
— Michael Corvo (@michaelcorvoNBA) December 15, 2021
According to ESPN's Dave McMenamin, neither Westbrook nor Bradley accompanied the team on the flight from Texas to Minnesota.
The Lakers also had multiple members of its traveling party — including assistant coach Phil Handy and Spectrum play-by-play announcer Bill Macdonald — enter protocols on the road trip.
The Lakers have applied for a hardship exemption, and, if granted, plan to sign two-time All-Star Isaiah Thomas.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/07X5e8U73vXXesGhwMlzEq?si=2828d3a06e014d11
We'll update this post as more information comes in.
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