The Los Angeles Lakers are 2-1 in the preseason, but they've been doing it all without their biggest addition from the offseason: Walker Kessler.

Kessler has been kept put of the preseason so far, reportedly due to a finger issue and considering that it is only preseason, injury concern from a player wouldn't usually be a concern, but Kessler is a special case. 

The Lakers paid a heavy price for Kessler this offseason, trading two first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps to the Utah Jazz to bring Kessler over and subsequently signed him to a four-year, $130 million contract. 

Kessler represents a great way to address the Lakers' longstanding need for a true center, but availability was always going to be a concern around Kessler and the fact that he's missed the preseason at all is enough to validate that concern. Kessler played just five games last season after suffering a torn labrum that required surgery.

So as productive as Kessler has the potential to be, he needs to be on the court for that to happen and so far hasn't played a single minute in any extent in a Lakers' uniform.

That may be coming an end soon based on a recent update from head coach JJ Redick, though the actual wording of Redick's update doesn't inspire confidence. 

Per a report from Jovan Buha, Redick said that "We'll see" if Kessler will make his Lakers preseason debut against the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 13 (via HoopsHype).

Kessler himself has said that his pinky, the affected finger, "feels good," but he too couldn't give a concrete answer on his status for the game against the Warriors beyond that he's "TBD"

Kessler is going to be a massive part of the Lakers' offense and ideally, defense, going into next season and without him the Lakers' front court will be just as in doubt this season as it has been in the past two seasons, which stands out as the Lakers' biggest Achilles heel by far.

On one hand, resting Kessler altogether to avoid aggravating an injury in preseason of all things could explain the Lakers' hesitancy to rush him onto the floor, but the Lakers also need a clear look on how the roster actually operates with Kessler active, something that is less-than-ideal to have to figure once the games start mattering. 

While it's an unclear update, it's at least not an outright negative one, so Laker fans may be able to find some solace in that as they wait for their center of the future to actually arrive.