On Thursday night, the Los Angeles Lakers played their third preseason game — with Austin Reaves making his debut for the team in exhibition season. One notable absence from the Lakers lineup is Walker Kessler, their big-money signing this offseason, as he remained on the sidelines with a finger injury.
It's getting to a point where some fans are growing concerned with Kessler as to whether or not his injury is serious enough to keep him out until the start of the regular season. But for Lakers head coach JJ Redick, he eased these worries by saying that Kessler should suit up for the team soon.
“It’s not concerning. He’ll play in the preseason,” Redick said, per Lakers insider Jovan Buha.
Kessler did play in just five games last season before a shoulder injury — a torn labrum — forced him to undergo season-ending surgery. At the very least, the knock that's been keeping him out of the Lakers' lineup in preseason is not related at all to that serious injury he sustained last season.
The Lakers will have two more preseason games after their contest against the Kings on Thursday, with exhibition games against the Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets still to come before their regular-season opener against the Warriors.
Perhaps the game against the Nuggets is the perfect opportunity for Kessler to make his debut for the Lakers. A matchup against Nikola Jokic sounds like an ideal way for the Lakers to integrate Kessler and his rim protection.
Article Continues BelowThe Lakers signed Kessler to a four-year, $130 million contract in the offseason after forking over two unprotected first-round picks (2031 and 2033) and pick swaps (2028 and 2030) to the Utah Jazz in a sign-and-trade agreement.
They simply might be protecting their investment, as Kessler is expected to solve their issues on the interior. In Kessler's last full season (2024-25), he averaged 11.1 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per contest.