Adou

Thiero

This is a tough injury for Thiero, who returned from a separate knee injury earlier this season only to get injured again. While he wasn’t getting much playing time so far, there might’ve been a chance for him to play given the Lakers’ other injuries. Obviously, that’s off the table now. Thiero will be re-evaluated in four weeks, though his absence won’t impact fantasy basketball.

With Smart unavailable, Jake LaRavia and Dalton Knecht should take on extra minutes, with one of them sliding into the starting lineup. Rookie Adou Thiero could also make his NBA debut with Smart out. He won’t play enough to be worth streaming, but he’s worth keeping tabs on.

Thiero will be available to make his NBA debut, though it is unclear how large of a role he’ll have after dealing with a knee injury for nearly two months. He’s an athletic defender, but he probably won’t make much of a fantasy impact early on.

Thiero has yet to make his NBA debut, but Lakers coach JJ Redick said that he hopes that will happen during this road trip, which will end in Milwaukee on Saturday. If Thiero isn’t able to play against New Orleans, he could be available against the Bucks, though his role will likely be minimal in both.

Thiero, the 36th overall pick in June’s draft, has been dealing with a left knee issue since last season while playing at Arkansas. He’s making positive progress in his recovery and could make his NBA debut at some point during the Lakers’ ongoing five-game road trip. After Monday, the Lakers play games against Oklahoma City, New Orleans and Milwaukee before returning home.

There should be an update on the rookie towards the end of October, though it could come at the beginning of November. That doesn’t mean he’ll be ready to make his debut then, though that shouldn’t have much of an impact on the Lakers’ rotation early in the season.

Thiero, the 36th overall pick in June’s draft, is dealing with swelling in his knee. Initially injuring his knee while playing at Arkansas last season, the rookie wing did not participate in Summer League action in July. However, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, a Lakers spokesperson said on Monday that Thiero’s in line with his recovery timeline and should be cleared in one week. Thiero’s status is unlikely to impact redraft leagues due to the Lakers’ depth on the wings. However, he’ll remain a player worth considering in dynasty league drafts.

The Lakers traded pick No. 45 and cash to Minnesota to select Thiero. This comes after the Lakers traded pick no. 55 and cash to the Bulls to get the 45th pick. Money talks. Thiero spent the first two seasons of his collegiate career at Kentucky before transferring to Arkansas, where he enjoyed a breakout campaign. The 6’6, 218 pound forward averaged 15.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.7 blocks with the Razorbacks during the 2024-25 campaign. He’s a poor three-point shooter, but he’s got length, athleticism and defensive skills in spades while he develops his range from beyond the arc. He should be a solid reserve defender for the Lakers that can get some transition buckets off of Luka Doncic and LeBron James passes.