3 Reasons Los Angeles Lakers fans should be invested in every preseason game

It's only the preseason. It's the necessary caveat included in every discussion about NBA teams during the early weeks of October. For the Los Angeles Lakers, however, it's a statement that rings rather hollow.

Los Angeles is in the unique position of having its starting lineup set in stone and its second unit in a perpetual state of flux, making the preseason an essential viewing experience.

Lakers head coach JJ Redick has named Anthony Davis, Rui Hachimura, LeBron James, Austin Reaves, and D'Angelo Russell as the starting lineup for the 2024-25 season. The logic is simple, as that five-man unit produced a 22-10 record from February 3 to the end of the 2023-24 regular season.

February 3, of course, is when former head coach Darvin Ham finally made the decision to start his five best players.

The second unit is ruled by uncertainty, however, as few have solidified their place as nightly inclusions. Even those who seem to have a guaranteed role are fielding questions of some nature, including current injuries and those that they're actively recovering from.

With this in mind, the preseason is not just a preparation period for the 2024-25 Lakers—it's a stretch during which three major developments will need to be monitored as closely as possible.

1. The Lakers desperately need Gabe Vincent back in form

The Lakers' 2023 offseason was highlighted by the signing of Gabe Vincent to a three-year, $33 million contract. Vincent was fresh off helping the Miami Heat reach the 2023 NBA Finals, while Los Angeles was mere months removed from playing in the Western Conference Finals.

Unfortunately, the vision of Vincent acting as the Lakers' missing piece was quickly disrupted by a slew of injuries that forced him to miss 71 regular season games in 2023-24.

The impact of Vincent's absence was undeniable, as Los Angeles' second unit struggled to generate any semblance of offensive consistency. It ranked No. 27 in the NBA in offensive rating and inevitably finished in the bottom half of the Association in net rating.

As Redick crafts his rotations for the 2024-25 season, Vincent will be asked to provide the value that the Lakers had anticipated all along.

In terms of what he brings to the table, Vincent has proven more than capable of attacking set defenses off the bounce and finishing either at the rim or from midrange. He's also a capable three-point shooter in catch-and-shoot situations, which should result in playing time alongside the starters.

Compounded by the fact that Vincent is a proven postseason performer who scored 20-plus points in six different games during the Heat's run to the NBA Finals, as well as a strong on-ball defender, his presence could prove to be the difference between a repeat of 2023-24 and a significant improvement.

The preseason will act as a crucial opportunity for Vincent to rediscover the form that will play a massive role in determining the Lakers' trajectory in 2024-25.

2. The final spot in the rotation will be decided

Redick made waves ahead of the preseason opener when he revealed that his vision is for the Lakers to utilize a nine-man rotation. Five of those nine spots are already occupied, while Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Max Christie are expected to fill three of the remaining four—due in no small part to their contracts adding up to $113 million.

With just one space remaining, there's a legitimate possibility that the preseason will be the platform for the final player in Redick's rotation to be named.

Christian Wood is the favorite based on past performances, but he's currently recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery. As such, there are an abundance of intriguing names for Redick to consider as the final piece of the puzzle.

That includes 2023 first-round draft pick Jalen Hood-Schifino, 2024 first-rounder Dalton Knecht, and defensive-minded up-and-comers such as Jaxson Hayes and Bronny James.

The choices are not only ample for Redick to consider, but flush with players who haven't yet established themselves in the NBA. That could potentially create a revolving door of options during the regular season, but it could also result in one individual rising above the rest.

Whether it's Knecht's sharpshooting, Hood-Schifino's playmaking, Hayes' rim protection, or James' perimeter defense, a potential franchise cornerstone could emerge as soon as this preseason.

3. The up-and-coming players are finally on the court

Regardless of who secures the final spot in the rotation, it's thrilling to see who the options are. The Lakers have cast their younger players aside in recent years, thus creating an environment in which player development was difficult to classify as a strength.

The 2024 preseason has already established the Lakers as a different team than they were a season ago, however, with the up-and-comers taking center stage.

Hood-Schifino and Knecht are being valued as the former first-round selections that they are. Both played at least 25 minutes in the preseason opener, and each provided reason for optimism with their performances—including six assists from Hood-Schifino and 16 points from Knecht.

Christie also began to justify the offseason hype with 11 points, seven rebounds, an offensive board, two assists, two blocks, and a steal.

Beyond the numbers, Redick has given his younger players an opportunity to make mistakes and learn from them as they go. It's a drastic shift in priorities that speaks to how promising the player development program is at this stage.

If there's no other reason to tune in for preseason action, the Lakers are giving fans a glimpse into the future—and there's plenty to be excited about.