Cameron Carr (oblique) out vs. Golden State

Dončić, Reaves and Kessler starting was expected since the summer, but there were questions as to who would complete the starting five. With Thybulle and Williams starting, defense has been prioritized, and both are worth watching in deeper fantasy leagues.

Carr, who played well during Summer League, was ruled out for Wednesday’s opener with a strained oblique. The good news is that a return to action may not be far away, with the rookie now considered day-to-day, according to Redick. Carr should slide into the back end of the Lakers’ perimeter rotation once cleared to play.

Sexton missed the preseason, and his Lakers debut will have to wait while he recovers from a right soleus strain. In Sexton’s absence, more minutes could be available for Ziaire Williams, Quentin Grimes and Bronny James.

Knee issues continue to plague Thiero despite making some starts during the preseason. He won’t be available for the season opener, which should mean more minutes for Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle on the wing.

After a positive showing at Summer League, Carr got his preseason off to an excellent start on Monday. The first-round pick shot over 50 percent from the field and was a blocked shot shy of a complete stat line in his 23 minutes. Carr may not be a must-have player in standard redraft leagues, but he should be a popular target in dynasty startups. He has the all-around skill set, size and acumen to be an impact wing at the NBA level.

Thybulle brings much-needed depth to the new-look Lakers, and the three-and-D specialist should see meaningful minutes for LA. Over the last two seasons, he’s averaged 2.1 steals and shot 41.1% from beyond the arc.

Carr and the Lakers fell short in their quest to reach Sunday’s Summer League title game, losing to the Warriors, 92-88. The rookie had a tough day from outside the arc, making just one of his eight attempts. However, Carr was still able to put up 17 points, and his overall summer performance was excellent. While the Lakers did load up on players in free agency, Carr has the tools needed to be an effective 3-and-D wing immediately. And there’s a lot to like about his long-term ceiling as well.

Chicago’s Caleb Wilson had the better individual game, but Carr was part of the team that won Thursday’s matchup by a 105-82 final score. The 24th overall pick in last month’s draft has looked ready to contribute immediately for the Lakers, and there is never not a need for capable 3-and-D wings in today’s NBA. With the Lakers now 4-0 and headed to the semifinals, it’s unlikely that Carr gets shut down for Saturday’s game. If they get to the final on Sunday, good luck getting him to sit down.

Despite a right thumb injury, Carr led the way offensively as the Lakers moved to 3-0 in Las Vegas. His eight-point flurry to end the third quarter blew open Tuesday’s “Battle of Los Angeles,” and the rookie wing has been consistent on both ends of the floor. Even with the additions the Lakers made to their roster this offseason, Carr looks like a player who can have an immediate impact under head coach JJ Redick. Fantasy managers should definitely keep an eye on him during the preseason and for the rest of summer league.

Despite averaging a career-high 10.2 points per game last season, Williams’ contract option was not picked up by the Nets. He will now join a Lakers roster that harbors ambitions of contending in the West, even with the LeBron James era ending. While he posted solid numbers over his two seasons in Brooklyn, Williams was still not reliable enough to be trusted in most fantasy leagues. That’s likely to remain the case in Los Angeles.