Lakers insider estimates Luka Doncic's return timeline

Jovan Buha, a journalist who covers the Lakers, gave a more specific estimate of what could be Doncic's return timeline during his "Buha's Block" podcast (h/t Heavy Sports).

“JJ Redick said today that Luka has started to increase his on-court workload, and that started today specifically,” Buha said following the Lakers’ Game 4 loss. “Before this, Luka had been doing standstill stuff — we’ve seen him shooting stationary shots or little shots in the paint, but nothing at game speed.”

Buha feels that Doncic could perhaps return somewhere in the middle of the second round of the postseason.

“A couple of the doctors I follow have thrown out that based on this update and Luka’s original timetable, it could indicate about 10 to 14 days from now as a realistic return,” Buha said.

If the Lakers finish off the Rockets, they would then face the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder, who swept the Phoenix Suns on Monday, in the next round. They would almost certainly lose against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and crew, but if they have both Reaves and Doncic back, even for part of the series, perhaps they would have at least an outside chance.

That could especially be true when one considers that forward Jalen Williams, who is arguably the Thunder's second-best player, is out with a hamstring strain of his own and is considered week to week.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers insider estimates Luka Doncic's return timeline