3 Takeaways From Lakers’ Preseason Loss to Warriors

Unfortunately, Vanderbilt being a liability offensively remains a problem, especially when compared to veteran newcomers Thybulle and Williams, who can both stretch the floor and play defense at a high level.

Even Jake LaRavia has stepped up his game during the first two preseason games.

If Vanderbilt remains on the roster, it seems unlikely he’s going to see the floor much because of his poor shooting. He finished the game with five rebounds, four assists and a block, but only added two points, going 1-for-2 from the floor. 

Redick having two other players on the roster that can do what Vanderbilt can do at a much higher level, while also being players that can knock down three-pointers, makes the veteran forward expendable, as he could be playing his last games in a Lakers uniform.

No. 2: Jaden Hardy Shows Why Lakers’ Roster Decision Isn’t So Simple

In the Deandre Ayton trade with the Washington Wizards, the Lakers were able to bring in Jaden Hardy, who has a history with Doncic, as they played with each other on the Dallas Mavericks.

Despite the history with Doncic, Hardy is on the roster bubble during the preseason, as he could ultimately be waived to get the roster down to 15 players. He also could be a player involved in a two-for-one trade that general manager Rob Pelinka has hinted at doing before the season opener against the Warriors on Oct. 21.

However, Hardy is a talented offensive player that could be a weapon for Redick off the bench during the 2026-27 campaign. The 24-year-old guard showed some of that on Tuesday, as he wasn’t shy putting up the shots when given minutes with so many of the team’s best players not playing.

Although Hardy is confident and can light it up from time to time, it can take a lot of shots to get his points, as he went 4-for-12, 1-for-6 from deep, against the Warriors, finishing with 13 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals, but also had five turnovers.

Obviously, five turnovers in 19 minutes is a nasty stat that no head coach wants to deal with, but he doesn’t lack confidence and might be a bit more dependable than Dalton Knecht and possibly even Bronny James.

Hardy has by no means secured a spot on the final roster, as he'll still have to prove his worth over the next two weeks.

No. 1: Sandro Mamukelashvili Making Strong Case for Bigger Role

Doncic, Reaves and Kessler are locks to be starters for Redick heading into the 2026-27 campaign, but the two other spots are up for grabs, as he said during his media day availability. 

Things got interesting concerning those two spots with Thybulle and Williams playing at a high level during the preseason opener. This dynamic duo also received high praise from Redick and Doncic after the win over the Kings, which means they might be in the running for starting spots.

Although those two veteran newcomers have made some noise, Sandro Mamukelashvili has shown he can hold his own with a unique mix of size, shooting and passing. 

Mamukelashvili was arguably the best player on the floor for the Lakers against the Warriors, as he put up a team-high 15 points in 18 minutes, going 6-of-10 from the field and 3-for-4 from beyond the arc while also adding two rebounds, two assists and a block.

The 27-year-old big man has already proven he’s a viable option as a stretch four for Redick and company, which is something to keep an eye on during the final three games of the preseason.

Next Lakers Preseason Game: Sacramento Kings on Thurs. Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m. PST

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