The Los Angeles Lakers are straight up punting on their preseason game against the Warriors tonight, and it’s all thanks to head coach JJ Redick not vibing with back-to-backs. After routing the Kings on Monday, the purple and gold are benching a whole squad of regular players for Tuesday’s matchup. It feels like Redick is sending a clear message about the preseason grind, and frankly, who can blame him?
The Starters’ Bench Party
If you were hoping to see the Lakers’ core tonight, you’re out of luck. The same quartet that sat out against Sacramento, Austin Reaves, Collin Sexton, Walker Kessler, and Arthur Kaluma, are still sidelined. But wait, there’s more. They’re also without Luka Dončić, Ziaire Williams, and Matisse Thybulle. That’s a serious chunk of the rotation just chilling on the bench. Coach Redick himself confirmed the list, telling everyone that Luka, Thybulle, Ziaire, Reaves, Sexton, Kessler, and Kaluma are all out. It means this “preseason” game is gonna look a lot more like a deep training camp scrimmage, right?
Roster Spots Are On The Line, Big Time
With all those guys out, a ton of players who will likely open the season in the rotation just aren’t available. So, who’s actually playing? You could very well see Quentin Grimes, Kevon Looney, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Jake LaRavia, and Bronny James starting. That’s a lineup, for sure. Off the bench, Adou Thiero and Cameron Carr are called “intriguing pieces,” which means they’re getting a real shot to show what they’ve got. Jarred Vanderbilt is also set for more minutes after only seeing the floor in the fourth quarter against the Kings. Plus, Chris Mañon and Jaden Hardy get another chance to build on their strong showings, and Dalton Knecht is trying to make one last desperate push to stay on the roster. After that, it’s pretty much AK Okereke, the remaining two-way guy, and a bunch of training camp invites like William Kyle and Cole Swider. For these guys, this is their moment, their chance to prove they belong.
Look, this whole situation is wild, but it’s also a huge opportunity for the guys on the fringe. Hopefully, everyone who’s resting or injured will be cleared to go on Thursday. That’s when we’ll finally get a better sense of what the team and the real rotation will look like. And seriously, for the benefit of everyone involved, can we just get rid of preseason back-to-backs already? It’s not doing anyone any favors.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
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