The Los Angeles Lakers welcomed Collin Sexton back to the court Friday night following a calf injury. Meanwhile,former Laker Rui Hachimura made his first apeparance against his old squad as a member of the Los Angeles Clippers.
Sexton’s return to the Lakers’ offensive rotation
Collin Sexton's debut for the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night marks a significant tactical shift for head coach JJ Redick. after missing five preseason games due to a deep calf muscle strain in his right leg, Sexton is expected to provide much-needed depth to the backcourt. According to the report, Redick views Sexton as an "extra ball handler" and a "creator" who can inject intensity into the Lakers' offense when he is on the floor.
Sexton himself noted the difficulty of the preseason absence, expressing disappointment about not being able to participate in earlier games. However, the guard emphasized his focus on maintaining a leadership role and a positive attitude while preparing for his return. While he expected to be on a minutes restriction to manage his recovery, his presence provides a boost to a roster looking for consistent playmaking.
Hachimura’s $28 million move to a penalized Clippers squad
This transition comes at a time of significant movement in the Los Angeles basketball landscape. Rui Hachimura, who spent the last 3.5 seasons with the Lakers and started half of their games during the 2025-26 season,returned to Crypto.com Arena as a member of the Los Angeles Clippers. Hachimura’s arrival follows a tumultuous summer for the Clippers organization, which faced severe NBA sanctions for circumventing the salary cap.
As the report notes, these penalties included a $30 million fine and the loss of five first-round draft picks, alongside suspensions for owner Steve Ballmer and president of baseball operations Lawrence Frank. Despite the organizational scandal, Hachimura has committed to a two-year, $28 million deal with the Clippers.. While the Lakers and Hachimura reportedly shared mutual interest in a reunion, the forward ultimately chose the crosstown rivals, citing the Clippers' treatment of players as a primary motivator for his decision.
Luka Doncic’s leadership role and Jake LaRavia’s ankle injury
For the Los Angeles Lakers, the 2026-27 campaign places immense pressure on Luka Doncic to establish himself as the franchise's definitive leader. While Doncic appeared healthy during Friday's warmups, the Lakers' depth is currently being tested by injury concerns. Jake LaRavia, who signed a two-year deal with the Lakers in the summer of 2025, was ruled out after suffering a right ankle sprain during a Wednesday game.
Coach Redick indicated that LaRavia's ankle was not ready for play following Friday's shootaround, though there is optimism regarding his recovery. The Lakers forward could potentially return as early as Sunday against the Utah Jazz or by Tuesday against the Portland Trail Blazers. This injury leaves the Lakers to rely more heavily on their existing rotation as they navigate the early stages of the season.
The impact of the Clippers' five lost first-round picks
While the immediate roster moves are clear, several questions remain regarding the long-term stability of the Los Angeles Clippers. It remains unverified how the loss of five first-round picks will affect the team's ability to build depth around their current stars in the coming years. Furthermore, the report does not clarify how the suspensions of Steve Ballmer and Lawrence Frank will influence the team's front-office decision-making during this period of transition.
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