What will we Learn from the Lakers’ Final Preseason Game? Plus, Is Marcus Smart a Big Risk?

The Lakers are down to one more preseason game, tonight at the Crypt vs. the Sacramento Kings. 

It will be the "dress rehearsal" JJ Redick has referenced for a few days. The hope, it had seemed, was to have two of these, but for whatever reason this will be the only game the Lakers will run with their opening night rotation. The starting lineup for Tuesday's season opener is still somewhat in question, but the tea leaves would indicate that Jarred Vanderbilt will slide into the spot created by LeBron James's injury. 

Tonight will certainly give some clues on Redick's approach. And it'll be a chance to see how the Lakers lean on guys like Deandre Ayton and Rui Hachimura to fill in some of the offensive space left vacant by LeBron, and what it looks like for Luka Dončić to truly be the sun around which the rest of the Lakers orbit. 

The Luka/Reaves combo, always under the microscope, will get plenty of burn to start the year, and perhaps send some signals as to where the Lakers go in the future once LeBron either retires or moves on to another team. 

The center rotation more broadly will be under a microscope, and Lakers fans should be feeling pretty good, given how Ayton has looked in the preseason, and the steady play from a bulked up Jaxson Hayes, now back to his more appropriate role as a backup. 

One of the only remaining mysteries is Marcus Smart, who came into camp nursing an injury, and has been treated with kid gloves throughout camp. He got 20 minutes of burn on Tuesday, but didn't make much of an impact. Will that change tonight? How much can the Lakers lean on him early? And if he's not healthy - or can't be kept healthy - what kind of value will he provide during the season? 

 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

 

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers get their dress rehearsal. 

 

SEGMENT 2: The center rotation looks much improved. 

 

SEGMENT 3: Is Marcus Smart a major risk? 

 

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