The Lakers open camp next week with a new-look roster, a new center and a superstar fully in charge.
For the first time since the 2017-18 season, the Los Angeles Lakers will start a new year without forward LeBron James, who signed a two-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers this summer.
That alone would make this a big camp, but the whole roster looks different.
Media day is Monday, training camp opens Tuesday and the preseason starts Oct. 5 in Sacramento, so answers are coming soon.
Luka Doncic Takes Full Control
Guard Luka Doncic is now the clear face of the team after averaging 33.5 points, 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds last season.
He won his second scoring title and made First Team All-NBA while leading the Lakers to 53 wins.
His health is the one worry, since Doncic suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring strain in early April and missed the entire playoff run, so the Lakers had to play the postseason without their best player.
He did run workouts in Slovenia for some of his new teammates in August, which shows he is already pulling this group together.
Guard Austin Reaves is right there with him after signing a four-year, $180 million deal to stay.
Reaves put up a career-high 23.3 points per game, and since the two of them were the highest-scoring duo in the league last season, there is a real case that they are the best backcourt in the league.
If both stay healthy, that pairing can carry a lot of games.
A New Roster Needs Time to Come Together
The biggest addition is center Walker Kessler, who came from Utah in a sign-and-trade that cost the Lakers two unprotected first-round picks and two pick swaps.
He played five games last season because of left shoulder surgery, but he says he is cleared.
"If I know they have that belief in me, I'm going to run through a brick wall for them. That's how I've been wired my whole life," Kessler told ESPN in July.
The Lakers also added guard Quentin Grimes, center Sandro Mamukelashvili and guard Collin Sexton, plus guard Jaden Hardy in a trade with Washington.
According to NBA.com's season preview, only eight players are back from last year, and they played just 42% of the team's minutes, the lowest return rate in the league.
Head coach JJ Redick has to start sorting that out in the preseason.
The Last Roster Spot and the Starting Five
The Lakers also carry 16 guaranteed contracts, and Hoops Rumors noted that one of them will have to be traded or waived before the regular season, with guard Dalton Knecht looking like he has fallen out of favor.
The team also added two guards and cut another player for camp, and rosters have to be set by Oct. 19.
Doncic, Reaves and Kessler are locks in the starting lineup, but the last two spots are open.
Forward Jake LaRavia and Mamukelashvili look like the best options at power forward, while Grimes and forward Jarred Vanderbilt will push for time too.
Hardy could be ready for a bigger role as well.
With a healthy Doncic, this team can win a lot of games.
The Lakers open the regular season against Golden State on Oct. 21, and it will not look smooth right away, but by midseason this group should know who it is.
