3 Lakers training camp battles that fans should keep an eye on

Lakers backup wing: Max Christie vs Cam Reddish

This one is a bit more subliminal than the other two battles, but these two guys could be competing for a future starting guard spot (maybe even as soon as next season). Max Christie showed flashes of dependability on defense and stability on offense in Year 1 and then proceeded to display glimpses of creativity and enhanced maturity on both ends in Summer League.

Of all the young Lakers, fans should probably be the most excited about what is to come from the 20-year-old in Year 2. The organization has made their belief in his abilities abundantly clear.

Yet even with all of the buzz surrounding Christie’s upcoming sophomore season, it is also hard not to get excited about Cam Reddish. Still just 23 years old, Reddish has the physical tools and slithery skillset to develop into a star in this league. He may not have displayed superstar material through his four years in the NBA, but has he realistically ever been given a consistent opportunity to?

If Darvin Ham is wise, which he would seem to be, he would sit down with these two prior to training camp and tell them flat out they are competing for minutes against each other. The team will need an athletic wing to provide perimeter energy on defense and consistent shot-making on offense.

Christie would seem to have the edge after hitting his outside shots at a high clip as a rookie, but one season of garbage minutes is far too small a sample size to land on a verdict. These guys are competing for rotation minutes, but they might also be the top two candidates in a poll of potential 23-24′ Lakers breakout candidates.