Los Angeles Lakers

Austin Reaves on the new-look Lakers: "we haven't played a lot of minutes with everybody on the court, if we've played any, with everybody healthy." He's still learning what Walker Kessler likes in their pick-and-roll — "if he wants lobs, pocket passes."

Cameron Carr and Adou Thiero are being viewed as long-term projects. At Lakers practice on Oct. 20, coach JJ Redick said: "we got to take a big picture approach with Cam and Adou's development."

Kevon Looney's role with the Lakers is partly mentoring. "A big part for him on this team is going to be his willingness to build relationships with these young guys," JJ Redick said at practice Oct. 20. The starting point in getting him, Redick said, was that he was available.

Short on reps together: JJ Redick said the Lakers' top 9-10 players could have used "a half or 2 more" of preseason as a group. Asked about a GM poll calling them hard to predict, he said his biggest unknown is "how this team deals with adversity."

Walker Kessler can be an "all-star level" defensive anchor next to Luka Doncic, Lakers coach JJ Redick said, but Kessler has played only about five games in more than a year. "He's never really been tasked with being the anchor of a defense... it's going to take time."

Matisse Thybulle gets a roaming role on defense, Lakers coach JJ Redick said, but within limits: "You got to allow him freedom to be a little bit of a roamer on defense... Not gambling." He cited one play where Thybulle gambled on DeMar DeRozan and it hurt the Lakers.

Adou Thiero and Cameron Carr missed Lakers practice again, JJ Redick said; Bronny James and Dalton Knecht had excused absences. Collin Sexton was "in practice, full participant," though Redick did not say whether he will play in the next game.

Walker Kessler expects Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves to be double-teamed a lot off screens, so the Lakers center says he must improve at making plays when he catches the ball behind it: "just playing out of that pocket, it's going to be a big, big part of my expansion."

Ziaire Williams, back from a hamstring injury, was on a planned minutes limit and has foot soreness. JJ Redick hopes for "3 really good days with him" so the Lakers forward "can play more than 10 minutes" Oct. 21. Luka Doncic sitting the second half was planned, Redick said.

Sandro Mamukelashvili, at center, is to start the fast break off defensive rebounds, Lakers coach JJ Redick said. Told by Redick in a timeout he hadn't looked at the basket, he hit three straight 3-pointers. "Hey, you're a really good basketball player, shoot the ball."

Matisse Thybulle was set to start the Lakers' Oct. 16 preseason game, with a plan to play him 25 minutes "and see how he responds." JJ Redick said his workload will need managing all season. Quentin Grimes, who started the first four, will "start a lot of games," he said.

Collin Sexton missed the Lakers' Oct. 16 preseason game but "had another great day," JJ Redick said, and was set to work on the team's off day. Cameron Carr was out, still dealing with a hit he took against Golden State. Adou Thiero sat for maintenance.

Dalton Knecht is caught in a crowded Lakers wing group. "We added a lot of wings, and he's in a tough spot right now," coach JJ Redick said on Oct. 16, adding that Knecht's rookie season was also affected by the team changing around him.

"That 4th ball handler for us... hasn't been great," JJ Redick said of the Lakers' camp, adding he has told the players directly. Asked whether the Oct. 16 starters will stay, he didn't commit, saying he doesn't know his base starting group yet.

Cameron Carr is out for the Lakers' preseason finale, JJ Redick said. Collin Sexton "did everything but live" in practice; on opening night, Redick said only he's trending in the right direction, not repeating that he wasn't worried. Adou Thiero practiced: "Just maintenance."

Luka Doncic and Ziaire Williams were both full participants in Lakers practice, JJ Redick said. Before the preseason finale against Denver, he wants better ball security and defensive rebounding, and ran three box-out drills: "It's a point of emphasis for us right now."

Austin Reaves tweaked his ankle in training camp, delaying his first game next to Kevon Looney, the Lakers' media availability heard. Looney's role: screens that give Luka Doncic "easy looks where he don't gotta create for himself as much."

"I would say we're not committed to that." JJ Redick on Walker Kessler for Oct. 12 or 13. The Lakers big did half of practice, no live work, after hitting a finger on the backboard; Oct. 11 shows if he can go live. Collin Sexton is "probably... a little bit further behind."

Ziaire Williams is "still dealing with that, like, kind of foot contusion. But again, it's not a concern," Lakers coach JJ Redick said Oct. 10. Arthur Kaluma is back: Redick said he returned to practice as a full participant.

Sandro Mamukelashvili will get "a little Mamu package" of set plays, Lakers coach JJ Redick said; the opening play against Golden State was one, run wrong. With Walker Kessler off, Redick wants two bigger wings: Mamukelashvili, Luka Doncic or Adou Thiero.

Sandro Mamukelashvili has played a lot of center for the Lakers in preseason: "Wherever you put me, I'll try to do my best." Next to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, his job is spacing the floor, hitting 3s and pushing the ball, "'cause a lot of times Luka and Austin are denied."

Dalton Knecht and Cameron Carr were ruled out of the Lakers' Oct. 8 preseason game with concussions after both "got hit," JJ Redick said. Collin Sexton was held out. Walker Kessler was too, after hitting his fingers on the backboard: "it's not concerning. He'll play preseason."

Austin Reaves was set for his first Lakers game alongside Luka Doncic this year on Oct. 8: "he's ready to go," JJ Redick said. Ziaire Williams sat again with soreness, "not anything that we're concerned about." Adou Thiero was available but knows he has to defend to play.