Training camp is coming to a close for the Los Angeles Lakers as they are set to begin their preseason on Tuesday night against the Sacramento Kings. This will mark the first chance fans everywhere get to see this new era of Lakers basketball under head coach Luke Walton.
There has been an assumption as to who the Lakers’ starters will be once things get going, but things aren’t set in stone just yet.
According to Mark Medina of the LA Daily News, Walton hasn’t decided on the Lakers’ starting lineup ahead of the preseason opener:
Luke Walton said he has not determined his starting lineup for tomorrow's preseason opener
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) October 3, 2016
It has been the belief of most that D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, Luol Deng, Julius Randle, and Timofey Mozgov will be the starting lineup for the Lakers. By all accounts that could very well still be the case, but it is not a guarantee, at least not yet.
Russell, Clarkson, and Mozgov seem to be the most likely to have their starting spots locked down. The two forward spots could be up for grabs, however. Walton has said that if rookie Brandon Ingram proved himself worthy, he could be in the starting lineup, though it still seems more likely that Deng will still begin the season as a starter.
Additionally, the power forward spot has a very intriguing battle brewing with Julius Randle and Larry Nance Jr. Randle has gotten plenty of compliments from the coaching staff and teammates throughout training camp, but Nance has shown an improved skill-set all summer and some argue is a better fit with the starters because of his defensive ability and more consistent jumper.
Regardless of who starts in this preseason opener, fans will be extremely excited to see all of these young players take the court together for the first time.
