JJ Redick on finding minutes for rookie forward Adou Thiero
While the Los Angeles Lakers are a good team and will likely participate in the NBA playoffs several weeks from now, they aren't quite championship contenders. The biggest reason they aren't considered an elite team is because of their lack of perimeter defense, speed and athleticism.Some fans have been hoping that rookie forward Adou Thiero would get more minutes and perhaps even crack the team's rotation. His season was interrupted by a recent knee injury, and when he has played for Los Angeles, his playing time has been very meager.But there have been times this season when Thiero has looked impressive in the G League. On Sunday, he went 10-of-12 from the field and scored 25 points, and he put his athleticism and fluidity on display in a 113-104 win over the Santa Cruz Warriors.Los Angeles coach JJ Redick was asked if he's looking to find more slivers of playing time at the NBA level for Thiero, and he said it will be difficult to do so, per Daniel Starkand of Lakers Nation."I think with him, he didn't have a summer. Had some medical issues, didn't get to play, didn't get to do preseason. So kind of was catching up. We had some injuries, got him some rotation minutes. But then he got hurt again. Adou and I talked at the beginning of the year, and really felt that this was, particularly with not knowing when he would come back and be healthy, that this was very likely gonna be a development year, particularly at the beginning, and then to have the re-injury. So he needs to play basketball. I think we had a great conversation last week just about the importance of being down there and really just being coached and working on the right habits. I think in four of the last five games (in the G League), he's been really good. He's been really good. I think he's in a good spot to sort of embrace that. As far as it relates to our rotation, I have a hard enough time when we're healthy getting everyone minutes as it is. But I think our staff, myself, I know I was pushing for it early in the year, definitely want to get him opportunities. Those opportunities are not there right now. That's just the reality."The expectation, as Redick alluded to, should be that Thiero won't contribute at any point during the rest of this season. He may end up getting a few more minutes of playing time with L.A. at the end of a blowout, but that will likely be it for the 6-foot-7 forward.He has appeared in just four regular-season games for the G League's South Bay Lakers, and the franchise is being cautious with him because of his recent MCL sprain, as well as another knee injury he suffered last year before the NBA draft.This offseason will be big for Thiero. Sticking to a robust basketball and conditioning program, as well as a strong showing in summer league play, would do him a world of good and perhaps even position him to become a contributor next season.This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: JJ Redick on finding minutes for rookie forward Adou Thiero
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