Steve Nash won’t play Friday vs. Charlotte, but hopeful for upcoming trip

After nursing most of the season without any traditional point guards, the Lakers suddenly have plenty of them.

Both Steve Nash, Steve Blake and Jordan Farmar participated in Thursday’s practice, giving the team a sudden jolt of hope in an otherwise disastrous season. Neither players will play when the Lakers (16-30) host the Charlotte Bobcats (20-27) Friday at Staples Center. But Nash sounded the most optimistic that he could play in the Lakers’ three-game trip next week with stops in Minnesota (Tuesday), Cleveland (Wednesday) and Philadelphia (Friday) after missing 40 games because of persistent nerve issues in his back and hamstrings.

“Tomorrow is definitely out. Next week I have extremely high hopes to play,” said Nash, who has averaged 6.7 points and 4.8 assists in only six games. “A couple of more days of practice, I have to take it day by day. A month or so I was here and felt really good and two days later for whatever reasons the nerve was pretty fired up again. I take it day by day. The fact I got through practice is a positive.”

Blake, who hasn’t played since Dec. 10 because of a hyperextended right elbow, no longer wears a brace. But he wore two bags of ice around his right arm and suggested he will have to rehab it.

“I still have pain in the back of my elbow when I shoot but I’m able to deal with it,” said Blake, who has averaged 9.8 points and 7.7 assists. “I hope it continues to heal. But it was fun. For me personally, it felt great.”

Farmar also sounded cautious after sitting out since Dec. 31 because of a torn left hamstring.

“I’ve been mentally frustrated and bored the last few weeks. But just to get back out thee and make some progress felt good,” said Farmar, who has averaged 8.7 points and 4.7 assists. “I’m not playing tomorrow. So our next game is on the road and we have four or five days in between that. Let’s make progress every day and see how it feels.”

Lakers forward Pau Gasol didn’t practice on Thursday because of a sore groin, but he was listed as probable against Charlotte after completing an individual workout. The Lakers are also listing shooting guard Jodie Meeks as probable because of a sore right foot.

Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com