The Los Angeles Lakers are gearing up for their first season in ages without LeBron James, and they dropped a huge trade to snag center Walker Kessler. But now, his finger injury has everyone on edge, wondering if he’ll even step onto the court for their preseason clash against the Golden State Warriors this Tuesday.
Blockbuster Trade, Early Headache
The Lakers are all-in on remaking their roster and trying to establish themselves as serious NBA Finals contenders. Snagging Walker Kessler was one of their first “major moves” this offseason. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported the full details: a “blockbuster trade” where Kessler came over from the Utah Jazz in exchange for unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, plus first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030. That’s a massive investment, right? Problem is, Kessler injured his finger before the Lakers even played their first preseason game. Talk about an immediate punch to the gut after such a big move.
Kessler Wants In, Coach Redick Holds Back
Lakers head coach JJ Redick gave an update on Kessler’s status this past Saturday, and it sounds like they are playing it super cautious. Redick said they are “not committed” to Kessler playing in the upcoming game. He did make it to about half of practice, doing everything except live play. The plan is to see if he can do live drills on Sunday and Monday. Monday’s mostly a “teaching day and a film day” anyway, so they are really taking it day by day.
Kessler himself is absolutely chomping at the bit to play. He said, “Because I didn’t play last season, I’m like, ‘Ah, I want to play really bad.’ I’m ready to play but I trust the staff.” You can feel that frustration, can’t you? This guy is itching to get back out there, especially after missing time. But the coaching staff has a tough call to make. They have to balance Kessler’s fierce desire to play with the very real risk of making his finger injury worse, which could sideline him for a much longer stretch. Plus, the Lakers have already seen some rebounding issues pop up in preseason without their new big man on the floor. It’s still up in the air whether Kessler will suit up on Tuesday, but he is staying patient, trusting the process, and leaving the final call with his coaches.
The Lakers face the Golden State Warriors in that preseason game on Tuesday. Everyone will be watching to see if Kessler gets the green light or if the staff keeps him sidelined to protect that valuable investment. It’s a huge early test for the new-look Lakers and their coaching staff to navigate an injury with a player they just gave up a haul for.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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