What’s Going On With Walker Kessler And Collin Sexton?

The Los Angeles Lakers have played three of their five preseason games, but new acquisitions Walker Kessler and Collin Sexton have yet to see the floor.

Lakers head coach JJ Redick has continued to express that Kessler (finger) and Sexton (lower leg) are dealing with minor injuries, but he was noncommittal about them being in the lineup for the Lakers’ next preseason game on Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors in Las Vegas.

“I would say we’re not committed to that. He definitely, he was in practice today. No live today but he did everything else,” Redick said of Kessler after Saturday’s practice. “So he was in for about half of practice. We’ll see tomorrow if he can do live and we’ll see Monday. We’ll probably do some live Monday but more of a teaching day and a film day. So we’ll see. I can’t commit to that now.”

Redick expanded on what Kessler has not been able to do in practice.

“Just live. He was a live participant initially and then we were doing a drill and he hit his finger on the backboard,” the head coach said.

Redick also revealed that Sexton is a little behind Kessler in his recovery.

“Collin was modified again. He probably is a little bit further behind (Walker Kessler).”

One positive update that Redick did provide what that Arthur Kaluma was a full participant in Saturday’s practice, although Ziaire Williams was limited due to a minor injury of his own.

“Kaluma came back today. He was a full participant. Ziaire is still dealing with that kind of foot contusion. Again, it’s not a concernm” Redick said.

Redick continues to express his lack of concern about all of these injuries, but the hope for him is to have his full roster available in one of the final two preseason games.

JJ Redick discusses keys to non-Walker Kessler lineups

Without Kessler on the floor this preseason, the Lakers have had to make due with Kevon Looney and Sandro Mamukelashvili at center and Redick discussed the keys to those lineups.

“I think it’s important to have to of the bigger wings out there for rebounding purposes,” he said. “That was a concern just coming into the year, trying to be a good defensive rebounding team. What does that look like with Walker not on the court?

“I think in film it’s pretty apparent we need to do a better job of boxing out, just simple stuff and gang rebounding. That hurt us the other night. We’ll figure that out, but I think the biggest thing is trying to keep with same sort of limited playing time and getting guys reps and building them up. But having two bigger wings out there, Luka, Adou, Mamu, whoever that may be, as a wing with non-Walker lineups.”