Defense sets the early tone
Two-plus days into camp at El Segundo, the Lakers’ biggest story is still defense—the end where they ranked 20th in defensive rating last season (115.5). Austin Reaves and coach JJ Redick both came out of Wednesday’s session sounding bullish on the new wing + rim mix.
Reaves, asked if he already saw championship makings: “I do.” On why: “Let me tell you, trying to score on Matisse and Ziaire, especially with Adou out there too, and then Walker on the back line, is not easy… So, defensively, we’re going to be much better.”
Redick cut the latter third of practice: “We had to modify… because these guys were just giving great effort and physicality… But it was wonderful.” Who stood out? “I would just say all our wings… picking the ball up earlier, being disruptive earlier, eating at the shot clock earlier.”
LA Times (Turner, Sept. 30) · Yahoo / Lakers Wire (Marvi, Oct. 1)
Kessler as the back line; switch rules tweak
Walker Kessler is the rim anchor Redick wants parked near the basket—opening room for perimeter pressure from Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams, Quentin Grimes, Adou Thiero, plus returners like Vanderbilt/LaRavia. Redick has also clarified switching won’t vanish: non-fives still have non-negotiable switch situations so offenses don’t get free advantages; protocols differ with a true five on the floor.
Assistant framing (via Redick): wings as “soldiers” to deploy early; Kessler and Kevon Looney as “commanders” using their voices behind them.
Yahoo (Redick on switching) · Silver Screen & Roll · LA Times
16→15: trade talk vs confirmed cuts
Sixteen guaranteed standard contracts; league max 15 by the Oct. 21 opener. Insider reporting (ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel, relayed by Hoops Rumors / Hoops Wire) says the front office has explored consolidation trades “quite a bit,” with Dalton Knecht and Jaden Hardy most often named as package chips—and as the names most at risk if no deal lands. Jalen Smith (Bulls, expiring) is floated as a type of backup-big target; sources stress no confirmed Lakers–Bulls talks. Treat all of that as reporter speculation, not a club announcement.
Three starters remain framed as locked from Day 1: Dončić–Reaves–Kessler. Two starting spots and the last roster seats are still camp/preseason battles (“meritocracy,” per Redick).
Hoops Rumors · Hoops Wire (Amico, Sept. 30) · ClutchPoints
Schedule checkpoint
- Preseason: Mon, Oct. 5 at Sacramento (Golden 1, 7:00 PM PT); Tue, Oct. 6 at Golden State; Thu, Oct. 8 vs Kings at home.
- Opener: Wed, Oct. 21 vs Warriors at Crypto.com Arena.
Ownership: still not closed
Mark Walter → Joshua Kushner / Bob Iger at a reported ~$12.5B valuation remains unapproved—no Board of Governors vote at the latest meeting. Day-to-day ops unchanged. Jeanie Buss remains governor while the family-stake fight proceeds; hearing previously framed Dec. 8. Pending, not closed.
Lakers Nation · EssentiallySports (BOG / Dec. 8 framing)
Watch next
- First public look: Oct. 5 at Kings.
- Two open starter spots; 16→15 decision or consolidation trade before opener.
- Contact/health notes for anyone still limited in camp.
- Next BOG window; Dec. 8 Buss stake hearing.