Lakers Injury Updates: Collin Sexton, Cameron Carr & Adou Thiero

The top priority for the Los Angeles Lakers, and every other NBA team, is to get through training camp and preseason without suffering any major injuries. While the Lakers did accomplish that goal with no one suffering any major issues, they didn’t come out completely unscathed as a few players are dealing with issues that kept them out of the season opener against the Golden State Warriors.

Collin Sexton (right soleus strain), Adou Thiero (left knee effusion) and Cameron Carr (right oblique strain) all sat out Wednesday night’s contest. Sexton missed the entire preseason with his calf injury, so his absence wasn’t too much of a surprise, while Carr missed the last three and Thiero sat out the last two games.

Sexton was one of the Lakers’ top acquisitions this summer and is expected to be an important piece for this team once healthy as the first guard off the bench who can operate on and off the ball. Carr and Thiero are the Lakers’ two most promising young pieces who each have a ton of potential and could grow into big roles in head coach JJ Redick’s rotation if they continue to develop.

Collin Sexton update

Sexton just had his first full practice with the Lakers on Monday as he recovered from his calf issue and there was hope he could suit up on Opening Night as he was originally listed as questionable for the game. But ultimately, the coaching and training staff decided it was best to hold him out.

“No setback,” Redick said before the game against the Warriors. “Collaborative decision with performance. Everyone involved. I always say this with soft tissue injuries, the athlete has to have confidence. And full confidence.”

It is one thing to be medically cleared, but being comfortable on the court to make the proper movements, especially for someone as explosive as Sexton, is just as important.

Cameron Carr update

When it comes to Carr, Redick was far more blunt about his timeline.

“Yea, he’s ramping up. Day-to-day,” Redick said.

The oblique is a tricky injury to deal with and is one in which Austin Reaves suffered at the end of last season, though that was a Grade 2 strain and Carr being considered day-to-day would seem to suggest that this issue isn’t as serious.

Carr showed a ton of potential in both Summer League and the preseason, so hopefully he is able to return soon and build on those promising performances. But the Lakers are always going to play it safe, especially early in the season.

Adou Thiero update

As was the case with Carr and Sexton, Thiero is also considered day-to-day, though his knee issue is something worth keeping an eye on.

“He’s got some swelling,” Redick said. “Definitely something we’ll have to continue to monitor. He’ll be shut down for a couple days and then he’ll ramp back up. So he’s day-to-day too. I guess day-to-day in two days.”

This left knee is the same one Thiero had surgery on prior to last season and has given him issues since college, so it will be closely monitored. Knee problems for an athlete like Thiero are a bit more concerning, but hopefully this is something that can be squared away and won’t bother him throughout the season.