Ziaire Williams may have arrived in Los Angeles on a minimum contract, but he has already put himself in the conversation for a starting job.
The Lakers could open the season with Williams in the first unit after a preseason that gave them plenty to like. He hit all five of his 3-point tries, and the defense that caught JJ Redick’s attention in the first place showed up right away. Redick also made it clear he’s been impressed with more than Williams’ play on the floor.
“Everybody in our building that has been around him for the last, you know, six to eight weeks just recognizes what a special human being he is,” Redick said. “I really believe in him as a player, and I think he’s got a lot of room to grow still, which is exciting for all of us.”
Five preseason shots from deep won’t answer every question about Williams as a shooter. But the Lakers didn’t bring him in to be a volume scorer. They signed him for his defense, and if he keeps knocking down open looks, Redick will have another reason to keep him out there.
Across the league, Draymond Green is making a notable adjustment in Golden State’s offense, and he’s leaning on Steve Kerr’s trust to do it.
The Warriors want Green spending more time on the wings and in the corners, with fewer possessions starting from the top of the key. That shift is part of an effort to cut down on turnovers after Green’s assist-to-turnover ratio slipped to 2.1-to-1 last season, his lowest mark since 2013-14.
For Green, it means getting comfortable letting someone else initiate while also recognizing when a cut can be more valuable than a pass.
“For me, it’s different because - you’ve always been in position to make the play,” Green said. “And now you’re in the position to at times to make the play, or for somebody to make the play for you, or for you to make the cut to allow someone to make the next play. For the most part, I think what it boils down to is, ultimately, trust.”
Kerr said Green has been “all in,” and the preseason results backed that up. Green averaged 6.3 assists and 1.5 turnovers, including 10 assists in 24 minutes Friday. Kerr also said he’s “very comfortable” starting the season with Green at center, especially with Kristaps Porzingis dealing with health issues and the team managing 40-year-old Al Horford’s availability.
In Orlando, the Magic may have a bigger health concern on their hands. Noah Penda suffered a partial tear of his right hamstring in Friday’s preseason finale against the Heat and is expected to miss “significant time,” according to Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel.
There is no timetable for his return, and it will depend on how he responds to treatment. The injury is to a different area of the same hamstring he hurt in training camp, though that earlier issue had fully healed, Beede reported.
Penda, 21, played in 59 games as a rookie and averaged 3.8 points and 3.2 rebounds in 12.8 minutes. He had been pushing for a rotation spot with his preseason performance.
The Magic are also waiting on Franz Wagner, who left Friday’s game with right shoulder soreness, and Jase Richardson, who is day-to-day with low back soreness. Neither player’s status for Wednesday’s opener against the Hawks has been decided. Wagner appeared in just 34 games last season, so Orlando had every reason to hope he could get through the preseason without any more setbacks.
In Other News...
Magic Face Two Big Questions After Preseason Finale
A preseason win over the Miami Heat gave Orlando one last chance to sort through its roster before opening night, and the evaluation period quickly turned into a decision-making stretch. With the regular season set to begin against the Atlanta Hawks on Oct. 21, the Magic have already moved to trim the group, waiving Malaki Branham, JD Davison and Kevin Knox II as part of the final roster cuts.
The bigger concern now is health, after Franz Wagner, Jase Richardson and Noah Penda all left the game with different injury issues. Orlando still has time to settle things before the games start to count, but the final tune-up also underscored how much of the early-season picture depends on getting the rotation intact in the next few days. [Read more 🡒]
Magic's New Offense Is Clicking Just In Time For Real Test
The Magics preseason ended on a much cleaner offensive note, the kind of sign that can matter when a team is trying to define itself under a new coach. Orlando moved the ball better, spaced the floor more naturally and got a big night from Desmond Bane, who looked comfortable as one of the main engines of the attack in the finale.
Sean Sweeneys group now heads into the regular season with cautious optimism and a clearer sense of identity than it had a week or two ago. The larger question is whether the improved shooting and spacing from October can carry over when the games count and opponents start taking away the easy looks that were available in preseason. [Read more 🡒]
Magics New-Look Core Already Faces Pressure In Sean Sweeneys First Year
Sean Sweeney is stepping into a situation that already comes with some heat on it. After back-to-back play-in appearances and first-round playoff exits, the Magic are expected to keep moving forward with the new head coach in place for the 2026-27 season, and the bar is no longer just about getting back to the postseason. Orlando has tried to build a sturdier foundation, but in a crowded Eastern Conference, the margin for error is still thin.
The good news for the Magic is that there are reasons for optimism if the group can finally settle in together. Franz Wagners return is one of the factors that could lift the ceiling, but the bigger question is whether a reshaped core can click quickly enough to avoid another season spent fighting uphill. Even the floor of the projection leaves Orlando stuck near the play-in picture, which tells you how much pressure Sweeney and the roster are already carrying before the year really gets going. [Read more 🡒]