Lakers' Unsettled Rotation Meets Golden State in Preseason Opener

The Lakers' first game together raises more questions than answers, and that could tilt a choppy preseason night toward Golden State.

LAL @ GSW Oct 7, 2026 at 2:00 AM UTC

Preseason openers rarely give clean answers, and this Lakers trip to Golden State may raise more questions than most. The revamped roster has had only about a week of camp before facing an opponent, so this is its first chance to play together against someone in a different uniform. Two starting spots next to Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler are open, and the bench roles are undecided.

That makes the rotation the story. Rookie Cameron Carr and Adou Thiero are among those trying to earn roles, and Carr's minutes are uncertain, so expect lineup experiments rather than a tightened closing group. Also watch how JJ Redick uses his two stars. A report asks why he is keeping Doncic and Reaves apart, which suggests staggered minutes, though details are thin. If that holds, many stretches will lean on one star plus teammates still finding their roles.

Defense is the clearest thing to track. It has been the main concern around Doncic and Reaves, and Kessler, Thybulle and Grimes were added to address it, while Sexton is working on his own defensive game. Those additions could help quickly, but communication among new teammates tends to lag in October. Chris Manon has impressed Redick in camp, but as a two-way player he is expected to play mostly for South Bay, so he is unlikely to shape this game.

Prediction: the Lakers have the star power, but open lineups, a group playing together for the first time and staggered stars point to a sloppy night. I lean Golden State at home in a close preseason game, 112-108.

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