The Lakers are finally rolling into the new NBA season with their training camp roster set, and they’re carrying the full 21 players allowed during the preseason. The team waited until the morning of media day to make it official, but the group is now in place as the offseason gives way to camp and preseason action.
Los Angeles made two additions to the mix by bringing in forwards William Kyle III and Cole Swider. To make room, the Lakers waived guards Meechie Johnson and Chase Ross.
That roster will not stay that large for long. The Lakers have to trim down to 15 players before opening night on Oct. 21, when they host Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena.
The lineup for camp includes Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and the rest of the summer additions, giving head coach JJ Redick and general manager Rob Pelinka a first real look at the group after speaking with the media last week.
Before the regular season gets here, the Lakers will get their preseason going on the road against the Sacramento Kings on Oct. 5 at Golden 1 Center. Their exhibition schedule is short - just five games against three opponents. They’ll play the Kings twice, the Warriors twice, and wrap things up against the Denver Nuggets on Oct. 16 at Crypto.com Arena.
Opening night on Oct. 21 will also mark a notable shift for the franchise. It will be the first time since 2018 that the Lakers are not part of the league’s opening night slate, and there are three games set for Oct. 20 instead. The Boston Celtics will face the Detroit Pistons, LeBron’s Philadelphia 76ers will meet the defending NBA champion New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, and the San Antonio Spurs will host the Oklahoma City Thunder.
For the Lakers, though, the focus is on what comes next: camp, preseason, roster cuts, and then the start of the Luka Doncic-led era.
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Lakers Bring Back Familiar Faces With Two-Way Spots Suddenly In Play
The Lakers have filled a couple of training camp openings by bringing back two familiar names, signing William Kyle III and Cole Swider to Exhibit 10 contracts. Both players now get a chance to spend camp in the same building where roster spots are being sorted out, and both will have a path to stay in the mix if they can turn that opportunity into something more.
What makes the move more interesting is how quickly the two-way picture has opened up around them. Los Angeles recently waived two other players on Exhibit 10 deals to create space, and that leaves Kyle and Swider positioned to compete for one of the spots that can still change a fringe players outlook in a hurry. For a team still sorting through the edges of its roster, those kinds of camp battles can matter just as much as the names already locked in. [Read more 🡒]
Walker Kessler Trade Came After Utah Faced A Serious Threat
Walker Kesslers arrival in Los Angeles came after a tense stretch in Utah, where the Jazz were trying to keep one of their most valuable young bigs in place while weighing the cost of a major extension. The Lakers landed him through a sign-and-trade package built around two first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps, a price that underscores how aggressively they moved to bring in a center with real long-term value.
Kessler ended up on a four-year, $130 million contract with the Lakers after reportedly passing on a five-year, $140 million offer from Utah, a choice that adds another layer to how the deal unfolded. Rob Pelinka also said Kessler is fully healthy after shoulder surgery, which only heightens the interest in what Los Angeles believes it added, even as the full story behind Utahs urgency continues to linger. [Read more 🡒]
Austin Reaves Could Not Hide What LeBron's Exit Meant To Him
LeBron James departure after eight seasons with the Lakers landed hard inside the locker room, and Austin Reaves did not try to mask it. Reaves, who developed a close relationship with James, spoke openly about how much the veteran meant to him as both a teammate and a mentor, a reminder of how much of last seasons identity was built around the two of them sharing the floor and the day-to-day rhythm that came with it.
Now Reaves is staring at a bigger role in Los Angeles heading into next season, with the Lakers needing more from him on and off the ball. Meanwhile, James heads to Philadelphia on a two-year deal, where the 76ers suddenly look every bit like a superteam alongside Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown, leaving the Lakers to figure out what life looks like without one of the leagues defining figures. [Read more 🡒]