Lakers Await Kessler and Sexton as Preseason Injuries Disrupt Lineups

Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick is still working to establish his rotation as injuries to center Walker Kessler and guard Collin Sexton delay their preseason appearances ahead of the team's matchup against the Golden State Warriors in Las Vegas on Tuesday. The absences have also exposed defensive rebounding problems and limited the team's ballhandling options during preparations for the 2026-27 NBA season.

Kessler, acquired from the Utah Jazz during the offseason, has been recovering from a jammed left pinky finger. The Lakers committed four first-round picks and a four-year, $130 million contract to acquire the center, whom they expect to anchor their defense and provide a lob target for Luka Doncic.

According to ESPN's Dave McMenamin, Kessler completed a full practice on Sunday and said he felt great. However, the Lakers have not confirmed his availability for Tuesday's game, with Redick emphasizing that the team would assess his condition before making a decision.

Redick explained that Kessler's injury would not necessarily prevent him from playing during the regular season, but the coaching staff wants to be cautious during the preseason.

"A lot can happen in 48 hours," Redick said. "We'll be smart with it. See how he feels [Monday].

But not willing to commit to him playing Tuesday or not. He'll get some live play at some point this week."

Kessler acknowledged his eagerness to return after missing last season, while emphasizing that he would follow the team's medical guidance.

"I think it would be a little different if I played last season, but 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 and I trust the trainers, the coaches and front office, you know? So yeah, just listening to them right now," Kessler said.

Rebounding remains a concern while Kessler is unavailable. The Lakers averaged 37.7 rebounds per game through their first three preseason contests, ranking 28th in the league, and surrendered 20 offensive rebounds to the Sacramento Kings in their third game.

Redick said the team needs better positioning and collective effort on the glass while Kessler is sidelined.

"It's important to have two of the bigger wings out there for rebounding purposes," Redick said.

He also described the defensive challenge created by Kessler's absence and the need for improved fundamentals.

"That was a concern, I think, coming into the year ... trying to be a good defensive rebounding team. What does that look like with Walker not on the court? And I think in film, it's pretty apparent that we need to do a better job of boxing out. Just like simple stuff and gang rebounding," Redick said.

Kevon Looney and Sandro Mamukelashvili have shared the center responsibilities. Looney leads the Lakers with 17 preseason rebounds, while Mamukelashvili has contributed 11 assists, demonstrating his ability to help initiate offense from the frontcourt.

Looney praised the defensive work of the team's wings, who can recover after helping on screens and contribute to shot-blocking and rebounding.

"It makes my job a lot easier," Looney said of the Lakers' wing rotation. "As long as I talk early, they're going to get over the screen. I don't have to be caught playing two.

Those guys are able to recover, they're able to block shots, they're able to pop back and get rebounds. As a big, when your guards and wings are hustling like that, it makes your job a lot easier."

Sexton is further behind in his recovery from a lower-leg injury, Redick said. The 27-year-old guard joined the Lakers to strengthen their scoring and provide another ballhandler alongside Doncic and Austin Reaves.

The absence has coincided with ball security issues. Los Angeles averaged 23.7 turnovers per game during its first three preseason contests, the fourth-highest total in the league, as coaches experimented with different combinations.

The competition for starting positions also remains unsettled. Redick said injuries have prevented the coaching staff from evaluating every potential combination alongside Doncic, Reaves and Kessler.

"We've certainly seen glimpses of the things we like," Redick said. "It's hard because we've just been a little disjointed with the guys being banged up, so there's nothing definitive yet."

Through three preseason games, the Lakers have tested Adou Thiero, Quentin Grimes, Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams, Jake LaRavia and Bronny James on the wings. Williams missed the last two games because of a foot contusion after scoring 13 points and recording one steal against the Warriors in the opener.

Thiero has collected a team-high 11 defensive rebounds across the three games. His improvement during the offseason also impressed Doncic, who hosted a five-day minicamp in Slovenia in August.

"I told him that the second pickup game in Slovenia, what I saw from him, just understanding the game better, reading the game, I think he improved a lot in the summer," Doncic said.

Mamukelashvili has also strengthened his case for a significant role. The forward-center scored 19 points and recorded four assists in 21 minutes off the bench during a preseason victory over Sacramento. Reaves said the coaching staff trusts the big man's decisions when he collects a rebound and pushes the ball up the court.

"He has such a high basketball IQ that if he gets the rebound, he should basically play the one," Reaves said. "And it doesn't matter if I'm on the floor, it doesn't matter if Luka's on the floor. If he gets it and goes … we trust whatever he has planned."

Reaves also explained that Mamukelashvili initially appeared hesitant during training camp because he wanted to make the correct decision on every possession, but became more comfortable as camp progressed.

LaRavia has provided another positive development after shooting a career-low 32.1% from three-point range last season. He has made six of his first 11 three-point attempts and 14 of 22 total field-goal attempts in the preseason, a start Redick attributed to offseason adjustments.

"He's worked on his shot. There's a lot of things that we did this summer, and it was really focusing on three very minor tweaks," Redick said. "He felt really comfortable with those tweaks, so from there it just comes down to repetition, and from repetition you get confidence."

Despite the injuries and incomplete lineups, Doncic expressed confidence in the team's potential after the offseason additions of nine new players.

"Since the first day," Doncic said. "That simple. Since the first day everybody came together in Slovenia … I believed that we can win a championship."