UPDATE: According to the LA Daily News’ Mark Medina, Xavier Henry could return next week:
Mike D’Antoni estimates Xavier Henry could be a week away from returning
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) February 22, 2014
The Los Angeles Lakers are finally receiving some good news on the injury front now that the All-Star break is over.
Nick Young is already looking to return on Sunday against the Brooklyn Nets. Now, Lakers reporter Mike Trudell reports Xavier Henry has been cleared to resume practice:
Nick Young has been cleared to play on Sunday, and Xavier Henry has been cleared to practice, just not 5-on-5 full contact.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) February 22, 2014
The news comes as new additions Kent Bazemore and Marshon Brooks helped lead the team to a huge victory over the Boston Celtics.
Though Henry can’t quite practice 100 percent yet, the fact that he is getting back on the floor is great news for the Lakers. He was enjoying an excellent season before suffering a bone bruise.
With Meeks and Farmar back, Young returning soon, and Bazemore and Brooks now in the fold, the Lakers could soon have too many wing players.
Add Wesley Johnson to that group, and even Ryan Kelly can get minutes at the small forward position sometimes and you’re suddenly looking at seven other wing players without counting Henry.
It is always good to have too many options rather than not enough, and the Lakers have had the latter on far too many occasions this season.
We have heard that Henry is close to coming back on a number of occasions before, only to have him sidelined for longer after a re-evaluation. Hopefully that won’t be the case this time.
Henry has averaged 10 points and three rebounds this season.
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