It's looking more and more likely the Los Angeles Lakers aren't going to make the playoffs this season, and it could hurt the team's TV deal with Spectrum SportsNet.

During the first-round of the playoffs, the local television stations broadcast the games. The Lakers signed a 20-year, $4 billion deal with Spectrum SportsNet back in 2011. After signing LeBron James in free agency last summer, LA was projected to make the postseason this year.

As Sam Amick of The Athletic notes, missing the playoffs this season could cost Spectrum SportsNet a lot of money.

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The first-round, believe it or not, is a bigger money-maker than the subsequent three possible rounds – including the Finals. Why? Because it’s the only round in which teams still hold their local television and radio rights before yielding to the national networks. And when you’re a team like the Lakers, who signed a 20-year, $4 billion deal with Time Warner (now Spectrum SportsNet) in 2011 that is the league’s largest, there is no shortage of incentive on all fronts to somehow get out of this playoff race alive.

The Lakers have been a walking disaster ever since LeBron James hurt his left groin on Christmas against the Golden State Warriors. Unless the team goes on some magical run and the clubs ahead of them in the playoff race falter, it doesn't appear there's going to be playoff basketball for the Purple and Gold this season.

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