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The Marquee · Morning

Lakers Walk Into Opening Night With a Fifth Starter Still Unnamed

Two more camp players are gone, four others hope to be back Wednesday, and the Warriors are first on the schedule.

Luka DoncicLast season: 33.5 pts, 7.7 reb, 8.3 ast in 35.8 min over 64 games
By the Lakers Nightly Desk · Monday, October 19

The Lakers finished a cold preseason at 2-3 and trimmed the camp roster again on Sunday. Wednesday, Oct. 21, brings the Warriors on ESPN and the first real test for JJ Redick's lineup.

Luka Doncic of the Lakers
Luka Doncic. Photo: Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Wednesday Is Coming

The preseason ended with a 89-101 loss to Golden State and a 106-121 loss to Denver, after a 2-1 start. Austin Reaves scored 28 against the Warriors and 19 against the Nuggets. Doncic managed 15 in the finale. The regular season opens Oct. 21 against the Warriors, then the Clippers on Oct. 23, at Utah on Oct. 25 and the Trail Blazers on Oct. 27 on NBC and Peacock.

The Fifth Spot

Redick has not settled the starting five. Hoops Rumors reported that Ziaire Williams is making a strong case for the job, and Silver Screen and Roll reported that the Lakers appear high on Adou Thiero. Thiero, Jarred Vanderbilt, Cameron Carr and Collin Sexton are all listed with an estimated return of Oct. 21. Sexton's problem is the right lower leg, and no clearance has been reported.

Living Over the Line

The number to watch is $201.3 million. That is the payroll, above the $200.4 million tax line, with the first apron at $209.0 million. Doncic earns $49.8 million, Reaves $41.2 million and Kessler $30.2 million. The Lakers won 53 games last season, and Jake Fischer reported this month that they are exploring trades, with no players or terms named. Any fix has to fit inside that tight space.

When do the Lakers open the 2026-27 season?

The Lakers open Wednesday, Oct. 21, against the Warriors on ESPN. They follow with the Clippers on Oct. 23.

Is Collin Sexton ready for the Lakers' opener?

Sexton is listed with a right lower-leg issue and an estimated return of Oct. 21. No clearance has been reported yet.

By the Lakers Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.

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