Los Angeles

Lakers

Thiero has started the Lakers’ last two preseason games, and his combination of athleticism and defensive versatility could keep him in that role once the regular season begins. He didn’t offer much as a scorer against the Kings, but the second-year forward recorded four “stocks” in his 21 minutes. Thiero isn’t a must-draft player, but his role is worth watching.

After scoring 15 points as a spot starter in Tuesday’s loss to the Warriors, Mamukelashvili returned to a reserve role on Thursday. He was excellent, shooting 70 percent from the field and putting up a complete stat line. While coming off the bench limits Mamukelashvili’s fantasy ceiling, his floor should be relatively safe because the Lakers need bench scoring. He’s worth considering in the late rounds of 12-team drafts.

Reaves was in the Lakers’ lineup on Thursday after missing the first two preseason games with a minor ankle injury. While he didn’t shoot well, the Lakers’ guard led the team with eight assists. LeBron James’ departure puts more responsibility on Reaves’ shoulders, raising his fantasy ceiling. At this point in the preseason, Reaves has a second-round ADP, and that’s unlikely to change before the regular season begins.

Dončić picked up a technical foul during the third quarter of Thursday’s exhibition, but this is a good time for that to happen since they don’t carry over into the regular season. Dončić led the Lakers in points and shot attempts, and that will once again be the norm when the regular season begins. Currently boasting a top-5 ADP, Luka’s fantasy ceiling rises slightly in turnover-punt builds.

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.

With LeBron James and Rui Hachimura out of the picture, LaRavia’s opportunities should increase, whether he starts or comes off the bench. He was the Lakers’ sixth man on Monday and provided solid production outside of his poor foul shooting. While he may not be someone who fantasy managers look to invest a top-100 pick in, LaRavia is well worth the risk as a late-round option.

Going into training camp, many saw Grimes as a frontrunner for one of the two undecided spots in the Lakers’ starting lineup. He started Monday’s preseason opener, logging 19 minutes and shooting reliably alongside playmaker Luka Dončić. The concern is that Grimes offered little production beyond points, three-pointers and percentages. Hopefully, that won’t be the case for him once the games count.

Dončić got his work done early on Monday, playing 16 minutes in the first half and not seeing any action in the second. He delivered his usual performance, doing most of what he wanted as a scorer while also recording five turnovers. The Lakers didn’t have Austin Reaves on Monday, but that won’t change anything regarding Dončić’s fantasy outlook. He will be one of the top options to have rostered, regardless of league format, but the Lakers point guard will be most valuable in turnover-punt builds.

Because of a hamstring strain suffered in early April, Dončić did not play at all during the postseason. He’s good to go now, with the Lakers’ cornerstone saying during Media Day that he will not be restricted when the team opens training camp. That’s great news for the Lakers and fantasy managers, as Dončić should be an early first-round pick in all drafts. However, given his importance to a team moving on without LeBron James, Dončić may be given a light workload during the preseason.

During Lakers media day, president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka said Kessler is “fully healthy and cleared” to resume all basketball activities. After undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery last year, Kessler should enter training camp without restrictions and appears on track to be available for the start of the season. The 24-year-old center spent the first four years of his career with the Utah Jazz, and is expected to have a large role in Los Angeles.