Austin Reaves told Lakers On SI that the Lakers’ new core of Luka Dončić, Reaves and Walker Kessler will go through an adjustment period. He spoke after the team’s preseason finale, and the regular season opens Wednesday.
Dončić, Reaves and Kessler have shared the floor for just one half of basketball, a total of 13 minutes, all in the Friday night preseason loss to the Denver Nuggets on Oct. 16.
“There’s gonna be some growing pains,” Reaves said. He pinned the issue on “a lack of reps together so far,” and added that players this talented will probably pick it up quickly.
He said the group would keep building over the next few days to get ready for opening night. Reaves also praised the people around him, calling the roster “Just a fun group to be around” and describing his new teammates as high-character people.
A Plan With Little Testing Behind It
The Lakers acquired Kessler from Utah in a sign-and-trade on a four-year, $130 million contract. The deal includes a player option in the fourth season and a full trade kicker.
In return, Utah got unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 and first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030. Rob Pelinka explained the move as a chance “to pair a rim-protecting, lob-catching big with our two premier pick-and-roll guards, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.”
The trade followed LeBron James’ exit to Philadelphia in free agency. Reaves, 28, is now the longest-tenured Laker.
The lineup questions around that core are still open. In the preseason finale, JJ Redick tried a different starting lineup, pairing Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle with Dončić, Reaves and Kessler.
Lakers broadcaster John Ireland said on ESPN LA 710 that Quentin Grimes was a lock with Dončić, Reaves and Kessler, and that he heard through “back channels” that Williams would be the fifth starter.
Kessler’s Health Is the Real Variable
The Lakers’ whole offseason plan depends on a three-man pick-and-roll combination that has played 13 minutes together, and four first-round assets went into building it. Reaves’ argument that talent will make up for missing reps holds only if all three are on the floor long enough to get those reps.
That is the weak point. Kessler was limited to only five games in the 2025-26 season before undergoing shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum.
With picks committed through 2033, the Lakers have few ways to change course if Kessler misses time again. That makes his availability a bigger question than chemistry.
The early weeks of 2026-27 will serve as the training camp this trio never had.
The Warriors Visit Crypto.com Arena on Oct. 21
The Lakers open at home against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. PT, with the game on ESPN. Redick has not committed to a starting lineup yet for opening night, so the opener will also show who he puts around the trio.
Source: Lakers On SI
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