The Los Angeles Lakers haven't been fully healthy yet this preseason, and the one player who has been the most conspicuous due to his absence is center Walker Kessler. He jammed the pinky finger on his left hand during a training camp practice, and as a result, he missed practice for days afterward.
The hope is that he, as well as guard Collin Sexton, who has a lower-leg ailment, will be able to play when the Lakers take on the Golden State Warriors in Las Vegas on Tuesday. The good news, according to coach JJ Redick, is that Kessler participated in live drills on Sunday, per Khobi Price of the California Post.
Kessler said on Sunday that his hurt left pinky "feels good" and that he was held out of practice only as a precaution, especially since it is only the preseason. He said he's ready to play on Tuesday, although his status is still unknown.
Without him, the Lakers are 2-1 in the preseason, and while their defense has looked strong for extended stretches, they have had some trouble preventing opponents from getting easy shots near the rim and on the boards. Those were two problems that they have dealt with quite often in recent seasons, even when Anthony Davis was with them.
To that end, they shipped two future first-round draft picks and two pick swaps to the Utah Jazz in a sign-and-trade for Kessler. The 7-foot-2 center is an elite shot-blocker and rebounder, as well as the type of solid lob threat Luka Doncic has thrived alongside.
After playing the Warriors on Tuesday, the Lakers will host the Denver Nuggets this Friday before beginning their regular-season schedule on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at home versus Golden State.
This article originally appeared on Lakers Wire: Walker Kessler returned to practice for the Lakers on Sunday