JJ Redick Addresses Two Open Spots in Lakers’ Starting Lineup

The Los Angeles Lakers have three established starters and two decisions still to make as opening night approaches.

Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler provide the foundation. Determining who joins them has been more complicated for JJ Redick, with injuries interrupting opportunities to evaluate the group together.

Redick said the Lakers have identified encouraging stretches, but those moments have not produced a final answer.

“We’ve certainly seen glimpses of the things we like. It's hard because we've just been a little disjointed with the guys being banged up, so there's nothing definitive yet,” Redick said of determining the remaining starters.

His assessment leaves the competition open. It also explains why a strong individual preseason performance does not necessarily settle either position.

The Lakers need to know how potential starters fit around their primary creators and starting center. That requires seeing those combinations together, something an interrupted preseason makes difficult.

A player receiving extra touches while a teammate sits might have a different assignment once the expected rotation is available. Another could become more effective with Dončić drawing defensive attention or Kessler providing a target near the basket.

Those differences matter when evaluating who should start.

Quentin Grimes has made a case with his early preseason play, while Jake LaRavia has also supplied encouraging minutes. Still, Redick’s comments indicate that neither individual production nor a promising combination has ended the discussion.

The evaluation must include what happens without the ball. The Lakers need players who can maintain spacing, recognize cutting opportunities and make quick decisions when Dončić or Reaves creates an advantage.

Defensively, the remaining starters must help handle perimeter assignments while contributing to rebounding and the rotations behind the initial action.

Seeing those responsibilities carried out together would give Redick more useful information than comparing isolated scoring totals.

The decisions are connected because each selection changes what the Lakers might need from the other spot.

A smaller lineup could increase the importance of size and rebounding elsewhere. A group built around perimeter defense still needs enough shooting to give Dončić and Reaves room to operate.

Redick also has to consider what his choices leave on the bench.

Moving a productive player into the starting five could strengthen the opening group while removing a useful piece from the second unit. Keeping that player on the bench might provide better balance throughout the game.

Those are reasons to evaluate the rotation beyond the first five names announced.

Starting also does not guarantee finishing. Matchups, foul trouble and performance can change which players Redick trusts late in games.

For now, the clearest takeaway is that the Lakers have possibilities rather than a settled lineup. The remaining preseason work gives Redick a chance to examine those possibilities more closely, especially if more players become available.

Until then, his answer remains straightforward: there is nothing definitive about the final two starting spots.