The Lakers converted two Exhibit 10 bets into signed contracts this week, closing out a twenty-one man camp roster. The lineup debate that's left belongs to JJ Redick, who says the pieces finally fit and isn't done joking about how he'll arrange them.
Two More Locked In
Meechie Johnson and Chase Ross had their Exhibit 10 deals converted into standard contracts this week, each worth the league minimum of $1,357,763. That formalizes a training camp roster that now runs twenty-one deep, from Luka Doncic down to two-way hopefuls. Every addition since summer has been a depth move, not a needle-mover, and these two signings close out that phase of the offseason.
Redick's Puzzle
Silver Screen and Roll reported that JJ Redick called this the first time in his Lakers tenure the pieces actually fit together, and a Dave McMenamin notes column grouped his name with starters, Doncic, the team's Slovenia trip and trade targets in one roundup. Redick joked his way through questions about the starting five, per Lakers Nation, without naming one, leaving Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler and the rest of the projected group unconfirmed on paper.
The Countdown
Preseason opens October 5 on the road against the Kings, with three more tune-ups against Sacramento and Golden State before the regular-season opener October 21 against the Warriors on ESPN. Payroll sits at $204.0 million, over the $200.4 million tax line, with Doncic's $49.8 million extension the largest number on the books. The record is still 0-0, and the open question is whether Redick's starting five looks anything like the one he keeps joking about.
When do the Lakers play their first preseason game?
October 5, 2026, on the road against the Kings, with the regular-season opener set for October 21 against the Warriors on ESPN.
Has JJ Redick named his starting lineup yet?
No. Redick has joked with reporters about the starting five and said the roster fits together for the first time in his tenure, but he has not confirmed a lineup.
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