The people shaping JJ Redick’s 2026 Lakers preseason rotation experiments

The five-game preseason slate opens Monday, Oct. 5 in Sacramento and wraps Friday, Oct. 16 against the Denver Nuggets, providing the first look at a roster where every player from last spring’s final playoff game has left the organization. This schedule carries extra weight because Los Angeles enters the fall with a completely different look, headlined by Luka Doncic, a re-signed Austin Reaves, and newcomer Walker Kessler acquired via sign-and-trade. The coaching staff is fully assembled to manage this turnover, featuring Nate McMillan and Scott Brooks as the front-of-bench assistants who bring 2,363 combined games of head coaching experience. General manager Rob Pelinka extended Redick’s contract before announcing these hires, signaling confidence in the new leadership structure. The team will face the Kings and Warriors twice during this short window, with the Las Vegas matchup on Oct. 13 serving as a critical test for the new chemistry.

Veteran mentors and young wings

McMillan, 59, has served as a head coach for four NBA franchises, including Seattle, Portland, Indiana, and Atlanta, while Brooks, 58, led the Thunder to the NBA Finals in 2012. Their presence addresses the need for experienced guidance around Redick, a first-time head coach who previously worked under Chauncey Billups in Portland. Lindsey Harding, the reigning G League Coach of the Year for the Stockton Kings, joins them as the first full-time female assistant coach in Lakers franchise history. Greg St. Jean returns as an assistant after winning a title with the team in 2020, bringing familiarity with the organizational culture. Bob Beyer adds depth with a career spanning nine teams from 2003 to 24, ensuring no gap in tactical knowledge. Beau Levesque arrives from the Clippers as a player development coordinator, though his specific role remains distinct from the open director position.

The player side presents a mix of proven scorers and unproven prospects. Anton Watson, drafted No. 54 by the Boston Celtics, averaged 12.0 points and 5.4 rebounds with the Westchester Knicks in the G League. He now competes for a spot with the main team or the South Bay Lakers affiliate. Nate Williams, who spent two years with the Houston Rockets, averaged 17.3 points and 4.0 assists with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, demonstrating high-volume scoring ability. Ziaire Williams took the 15th standard roster spot on a veteran minimum deal, limiting further additions without trades. Matisse Thybulle signed a one-year deal late in the process, adding defensive versatility. Arthur Kaluma pushes for a two-way contract behind the main group after the young Lakers went unbeaten in Summer League until falling to the Warriors.

Structural risks and lineup projections

Doncic anchors the projected starting five alongside Reaves, Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Kessler. Grimes signed a four-year, $60 million deal to provide perimeter defense, while Mamukelashvili fills the power forward role. Kessler, acquired for a four-year, $130 million contract, played just five games last season before undergoing surgery on a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Despite that injury history, he averaged 14.4 points and 10.8 rebounds in that short stretch and says he is fully cleared for training camp. Collin Sexton looks headed for a sixth-man role that fits his scoring punch, having praised Kessler’s competitiveness.

The back-to-back road trip opening the schedule will likely mean split squads and carefully managed minutes given how quickly it comes after training camp. Every starter from the previous playoff run is gone, making these five tune-up games a genuine first look at a fully reshaped rotation rather than a routine formality. The question of whether this rapid integration can produce consistent results before the regular season starts remains unanswered.