Lakers' Walker Kessler gives major injury update, shows trust in staff ahead of Warriors game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Lakers are preparing to begin their first season without LeBron James in a long time. The organization has made significant changes to the roster, bringing in several new faces for the upcoming season.
Los Angeles is hoping to establish itself as a serious NBA Finals contender. One of its first major moves of the offseason was acquiring center Walker Kessler.
“The Los Angeles Lakers started the process of remaking their roster in the wake of LeBron James' decision to leave with a blockbuster trade and a trio of free agency signings Wednesday. Sources told ESPN's Shams Charania that the Lakers are acquiring Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz for unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 and first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030," ESPN wrote.
However, Kessler injured his finger before the Lakers' first preseason game. On Saturday, head coach JJ Redick provided an update on the center's status.
“I would say we're not committed to that. He definitely, he was in practice today. No live today but he did everything else. 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 said.
The Lakers are scheduled to face the Golden State Warriors in a preseason game on Tuesday. Kessler believes he can play, but he will trust the coaching staff to make the final decision.
“Because I didn’t play last season, I’m like, ‘Ah, I want to play really bad.’ I’m ready to play but I trust the staff,” Kessler said.
The center wants to get back on the court, but the coaching staff must weigh that desire against the risk of aggravating the injury and potentially losing him for an extended period. The Lakers have also experienced rebounding issues during the preseason without Kessler available.
It remains unclear whether Kessler will play on Tuesday. He is eager to return, but for now, he is trusting the process and leaving the decision in the coaching staff's hands.
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