Lonzo Ball Injury Update: How Much Longer Will The Lakers Guard Be Out With A Sprained Ankle?

The Los Angeles Lakers (30-33), who appear headed for the NBA Draft Lottery instead of the playoffs, will continue to be without their starting point guard for the near future.

Lonzo Ball has been out since Jan. 19 after spraining his ankle and suffering a bone bruise. Reports surfaced Thursday from the Lakers' medical staff that Ball was making progress, though they stated he would be reevaluated in a week.

Ball has missed 16 games this season due to the injury. The Lakers have just a 5-11 record in his absence, which includes Saturday's loss to the lowly Phoenix Suns, 118-109.

The 21-year-old has posted respectable numbers in 47 games. Ball has averaged 9.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists, while raising his field-goal percentage from 36 percent last season to 40.6 percent his season.

Many have questioned the Lakers' defense without Ball, as the Lakers have failed to hold all but two opponents below 110 points over the past 16 games. LeBron James, who is in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time in his career, has stated that Lakers have been "missing a big part of our team."

However, there have been questions about Ball's future with the Lakers. Weeks before the Feb. 7 trade deadline, longtime NBA writer Mark Heisler noted in the Orange County Register that Ball could be included in an offseason trade for New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis or could be dealt to open up salary-cap space.

"Aside from James’ $37.4 million, only two Lakers are under contract to make more than $2.1 million next season: Ball at $8.7 million, and Brandon Ingram at $7.3 million … making the young players likely, or all but certain, to be in any deal for A.D.," Heisler wrote on Jan. 25.

The Lakers have three home games on their schedule. They host the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday, followed by the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday and then the Boston Celtics on Saturday.