Jake LaRavia flashed in his Lakers debut, posting 10 points on 5-of-10 shooting with 3 assists and a steal in 20 minutes as he integrates into a star-filled rotation. He frames his role as a spacer who can also move off the ball, a fit alongside LeBron, Reaves, and a looming Luka-Doncic lineup dynamic. His 42.3% 3-point mark last season shows he can add reliable shooting to L.A.'s offense while offering defensive punch and energy.

With room to grow defensively and a high-motor approach, LaRavia could carve steady minutes behind the core and become a versatile piece in small-ball lineups. If his shooting translates and he stays disruptive on defense, he may elevate his role beyond a complementary piece, providing both spacing and hard-nosed defense for a Lakers squad eager to maximize perimeter versatility.

Los Angeles prep remains a work in progress as the Lakers navigate star-rest patterns with Doncic, James, and Reaves yet to share the court this camp. Sunday’s 111-103 loss to Golden State featured all three on the sideline, while Gabe Vincent stepped up with 16 points and Deandre Ayton contributed early. Coach JJ Redick preaches championship habits, pace, and physicality, chasing Kaizen—1% daily gains—across a shortened preseason slate. A week of practice remains before the Oct. 12 home tilt and the Oct. 21 opener.

With Curry and the Warriors resting veterans, the night underscored depth testing and the need for reliable fill-ins. The storylines center on workload management, ramp-ups for aging stars, and which role players will seize minutes in the early going. Fantasy managers should watch Vincent’s impact, Ayton’s early involvement, and how the Lakers balance star load with rapid, disciplined possession.

Austin Reaves steps into a lead role for the Lakers with LeBron James and Luka Dončić unlikely to play, as LA visits the Golden State Warriors in a Sunday preseason clash at Chase Center. Reaves followed a 20-point effort against Phoenix and could see heavy usage with James out, while Dalton Knecht also contributed 6 points and 6 rebounds, hinting at a potential early-season role for LA’s guard depth.

The Warriors open their own preseason slate and will use the game to test rotations. Tip is 8:30 p.m. ET (5:30 p.m. PT) on ESPN, with Fubo and WatchESPN streaming options. For fantasy, monitor minutes and shot volume to gauge Reaves’ value and Knecht’s room to grow as LA experiments with its lineup.

In short, Reaves is the focal point for the Lakers’ early-offense, Knecht is a sneaky upside piece if his opportunities rise, and Golden State’s rotation tinkering could create live-value moments for DFS late in the game depending on how the minutes shake out.

Lakers stumble in their first 2025-26 exhibition, shooting 31.1% and 6-of-35 from deep with 22 turnovers, and five more tuneups loom before the regular season. With LeBron, Luka, Marcus Smart, Maxi Kleber and Adou Thiero sidelined, the result isn’t surprising but highlights major areas to fix.

Austin Reaves shone with 20 points, signaling he may be the early engine for LA, while Deandre Ayton offered an inside presence on defense and rebounding. Offense and transition defense need work, and halfcourt chemistry must improve fast.

Five preseason games remain to tighten ball security, refine reads for Ayton, and build a reliable offensive flow around Reaves. If those pieces click, LA could still position itself for a competitive start to the season.

Lakers threaten a high-powered offense with five top options — LeBron James, Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, Deandre Ayton and Rui Hachimura — while relying on credible outside shooting from role players to keep lanes open.

Vanderbilt’s 3-point future is a focal point; a healthy summer has him dialing in the stroke, and LaRavia says he’s looked sharper in camp. If Vanderbilt shoots league-average, his floor-spacer potential compounds the Lakers’ defense and rebounding strength, while LaRavia’s own shooting touch adds more spacing around the core stars.