Walker Kessler is excited about anchoring LA’s defense, and after Tuesday’s practice was explicitly optimistic about where he thinks they can progress there: “I think we’re going to be a nasty defensive team … we have a lot of defensive tools.”

He added that he doesn’t think people are taking into account how good their perimeter defense can be.

JJ Redick said he told Sandro Mamukelashvili in his free-agency call that he views him as a “basketball player” when Mamu asked him what position JJ planned on playing him at.

He said he can use Mamu at the 5 “versus certain teams” and he’ll “play some on the wing.”

Luka Doncic said the first day of camp was “great.” He said the Lakers mixed up teams to try out different starting lineups.

“We had a lot of fun, a lot of teaching points, and I think everybody felt like it was a great first day.”

Training Camp Scrimmage Highlights

Adou getting some love

you heard jj raving about his summer league and progress since?

yup

I know the game is gonna slow down for him when the season starts like it did in summer league

Just need him to be confident shooting the 3

Vando actually finishing at the rim

:18

Ben Simmons hitting 3s in practice

JJ Redick said the competition level was great in Day 2 of practice, to the point where the coaches had to modify some of the later-practice drills since the players were going so hard early.

JJ Redick said Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have yet to play on the same team in scrimmaging.

Redick said he anticipates staggering Doncic and Reaves during the regular season, and is confident in Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes, Bronny James and Jaden Hardy being able to help run the offense.

Power forward options so meh I say just throw Thierro out there and hope for the best, at least there’s upside there for him to produce something special whereas you know what you re getting from Laravia, goofy over dribbling and an inefficient 6 and 4

Redick said Matisse Thybulle is really a unique player, where it’s not easy to replicate what he does as a young guy trying to learn. Early in camp, Thybulle has lived up to his reputation in terms of getting a ton of steals while hounding passing lanes

How'd you get banned again?

Honestly the most forgettable pick up with the potential to be the most impactful

who is he?

my favorite pickup after Kessler

just praying he doesn't forget how to shoot after he showed some promise

(and stays healthy)

A few defensive notes from JJ Redick:
— The Lakers will continue to switch 1 through 4. JJ noted LA will make some changes to its switching strategy.
— Mamu will switch depending on the matchup.
— He wants Walker Kessler and Kevin Looney in a mix of drop and up to touch.

Austin Reaves said Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams have been the biggest standouts defensively through the first two days of camp.

JJ Redick said that he hopes eventually his players will learn that you can’t throw the ball if Matisse Thybulle is in the passing lane. He said Thybulle has at least 7 steals in the first two days of practice.

Sandro Mamukelashvili said he’s comfortable playing at either the 4 or the 5 on offense, utilizing his ability to stretch the floor and play in the short roll to keep things moving.

Defensively, he said it’s more about knowing the personnel of the opponent and the coverages.