RADIO
Ziaire Williams Sidelined Again on Friday
Los Angeles Lakers guard/forward Ziaire Williams (foot) has been ruled out for Friday's NBA Cup matchup against the Golden State Warriors. Williams will miss his second consecutive contest due to left foot injury management after sitting out Wednesday's win over the Clippers with soreness. He also dealt with a similar issue during the preseason. The 25-year-old is averaging 11.3 points while shooting 46.7 percent from three through four games and has taken on a key defensive role for the Lakers. Jake LaRavia started in his place Wednesday, while Matisse Thybulle scored 15 points in 28 minutes. Both could see increased playing time again with Williams still sidelined.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Ziaire Williams Could Miss Second Straight Game
Los Angeles Lakers guard/forward Ziaire Williams (foot) remains questionable for Friday's NBA Cup matchup against the Golden State Warriors, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. Williams missed Wednesday's win over the Clippers with foot soreness after dealing with a similar issue during the preseason. The 25-year-old is averaging 11.3 points while shooting 46.7 percent from three through four games and has taken on a key defensive role for Los Angeles. Jake LaRavia started in his place Wednesday, while Matisse Thybulle scored 15 points in 28 minutes. Both could see another bump in playing time if Williams sits again.
Source: Dave McMenamin
Source: Dave McMenamin
Quentin Grimes With Big Game In Win Over Clippers
The Los Angeles Lakers were playing without starting guard Luka Doncic, but shooting guard Quentin Grimes picked up some of the slack with a 23-point, five-assist, four-steal performance in the win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night. Grimes shot 7-for-15 from the field and 0-for-3 from the three-point line in the victory and provided some nice secondary stats with the assists and steals. Grimes wasn't off to the hottest start to begin the season, but he came through with Doncic sidelined. The guard shot the ball well from the field and had a huge defensive game to lead the Lakers.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Jake LaRavia Joins Lakers' Starting Lineup Wednesday
Los Angeles Lakers forward Jake LaRavia will start Wednesday against the Clippers, with Ziaire Williams (foot) and Luka Doncic (back) both unavailable. LaRavia came off the bench in each of his first three appearances this season, averaging 5.0 points and 2.0 steals in 17.3 minutes. He has plenty of starting experience after making 43 starts last season, when he averaged 8.2 points and 1.3 steals across 82 games. The move should give LaRavia a bump in minutes Wednesday, though his fantasy appeal is likely tied to how long the Lakers remain shorthanded.
Source: Law Murray
Source: Law Murray
Quentin Grimes Starting Against Clippers Wednesday
Los Angeles Lakers guard/forward Quentin Grimes will start Wednesday against the Clippers with Luka Doncic (back) and Ziaire Williams (foot) unavailable. Grimes made 19 starts for Philadelphia last season and has already shown he can produce with a larger workload, posting 13 points, eight rebounds and four assists against the Clippers on Friday. Austin Reaves should take on more of the offense without Doncic, but Grimes will also have a chance to handle the ball more and hunt his own shot. The starting nod gives him a better path to points and threes for as long as the Lakers remain shorthanded.
Source: Law Murray
Source: Law Murray
Austin Reaves Pours in 28 Points Against Warriors
Los Angeles Lakers guard/forward Austin Reaves scored a game-high 28 points in Tuesday's 101-89 preseason loss to the Golden State Warriors, adding four rebounds and seven assists in 25 minutes. With Luka Doncic resting, Reaves took on more of the ball-handling work and shot 10-for-18 from the field, 4-for-7 from three and 4-for-4 at the line. Seven turnovers were the lone blemish on an otherwise strong night. Reaves averaged 23.3 points and 5.5 assists last season, and nights like this show how much more he can take on when Doncic is out.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Ziaire Williams Ruled Out Again on Tuesday
Los Angeles Lakers forward Ziaire Williams (foot) will miss Tuesday's preseason game against the Golden State Warriors in Las Vegas, per Jovan Buha. Head coach JJ Redick said Williams remains day-to-day with a foot contusion. The 25-year-old hasn't played since starting the preseason opener, when he scored 13 points on 4-for-6 shooting and hit all three of his attempts from deep in 21 minutes. Williams is competing for one of Los Angeles' open starting spots, so Friday's finale against Denver could be important if he's cleared. Matisse Thybulle and Jake LaRavia remain in the mix for those wing minutes.
Source: Jovan Buha
Source: Jovan Buha
Austin Reaves Dishes Eight Assists in Preseason Debut
Los Angeles Lakers guard/forward Austin Reaves posted a team-high eight assists in Thursday's 114-110 preseason win over the Sacramento Kings, adding eight points, five rebounds, and one steal in 25 minutes. Reaves made his preseason debut after missing two games with an ankle issue, shooting 2-for-7 from the field and 0-for-3 from three, but going 4-for-4 at the line. Luka Doncic handled the scoring with 23 points, while Reaves leaned into a playmaking role. After averaging 23.3 points and 5.5 assists last season, he should remain heavily involved as a scorer and facilitator now that LeBron James is no longer in Los Angeles.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Anton Watson Returns to Lakers on Exhibit 10 Deal
The Los Angeles Lakers have signed forward Anton Watson to an Exhibit 10 contract, according to Jovan Buha of The Athletic. The 25-year-old also went through camp with Los Angeles last year before being waived ahead of the regular season. Watson spent 2025-26 with the South Bay Lakers, averaging 11.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.4 steals in 27.2 minutes across 50 games. Los Angeles already has 16 guaranteed contracts and all three two-way spots filled, leaving Watson with a difficult path to the NBA roster. Another stint with the Lakers' G League affiliate, now the Coachella Valley Lakers, looks more realistic and keeps him off the fantasy radar.
Source: Jovan Buha
Source: Jovan Buha
Ziaire Williams Eyes Starting Role with Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers guard/forward Ziaire Williams believes he has a real chance to win the team's open starting spot, according to Ron Gutterman of LakersNation.com, who cited Williams' comments to Ryan Ward of Lakers On SI. Asked whether Jonathan Kuminga's move to Minnesota created a real opportunity in Los Angeles, Williams said, "Yeah, I do," though he added that the failed pursuit of Kuminga did not change his mindset. Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Walker Kessler are expected to start when healthy, while Quentin Grimes appears likely to claim another spot, leaving Williams in a battle with Jake LaRavia, Jarred Vanderbilt, Matisse Thybulle, and Sandro Mamukelashvili. Williams averaged 10.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 22.9 minutes with Brooklyn last season, so the defensive role and steals upside are the clear fantasy hooks. He still needs JJ Redick to choose him before the watch-list case turns into draft-day value.
Source: Ron Gutterman
Source: Ron Gutterman
Ziaire Williams Gets Defense-First Role with Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers forward Ziaire Williams told the Southern California News Group that JJ Redick and Rob Pelinka have framed his role around being a "main defender, point-of-attack defender." The former No. 10 overall pick joined Los Angeles on a one-year, $3 million deal in July after averaging 10.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.4 steals in 22.9 minutes for Brooklyn last season. Williams expects to cut, space the floor, and run in transition around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, which points to a low-usage role. Quentin Grimes projects ahead of him, while Jake LaRavia, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Dalton Knecht crowd the wing and forward mix, leaving Williams as a steals-dependent fantasy flier unless his jumper holds.
Source: Benjamin Royer
Source: Benjamin Royer
Quentin Grimes Eyes Key Lakers Perimeter Role
Los Angeles Lakers guard/forward Quentin Grimes has a chance to fill the perimeter role Los Angeles needs after signing a four-year, $60 million deal, with Jovan Buha of Buha's Block and Tony Jones previewing his fit. The 26-year-old should be asked to defend tough perimeter matchups while spacing the floor around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, a role that leans more on defense and off-ball shooting than shot creation. That keeps his fantasy ceiling in check, especially after he shot 33.4 percent from three with Philadelphia last season. Still, his 21.9-point surge after joining the 76ers in 2024-25 showed he can pop when touches open, leaving his value tied to minutes, steals, and whether the Lakers trust him in closing groups.
Source: Jovan Buha
Source: Jovan Buha
Ziaire Williams Calls Lakers Homecoming Super Surreal
Los Angeles Lakers guard/forward Ziaire Williams is soaking in his move home after signing with the team on a one-year deal. "Seeing my name on a Lakers jersey feels super surreal," Williams said in comments shared by Marc Jacobs, adding that he is excited to play in front of local fans and family. The Lancaster native and former Sierra Canyon standout reunites with Bronny James in Los Angeles, but the fantasy angle is still modest. Williams averaged a career-best 10.2 points with Brooklyn last season while adding 1.4 steals and 1.5 threes per game. His length and defensive activity could help the Lakers, though Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves leave him with a limited offensive role.
Source: Marc Jacobs
Source: Marc Jacobs
Lakers Dangling Dalton Knecht for Possible Trade
Los Angeles Lakers guard/forward Dalton Knecht may finally get the change of scenery his fantasy value needs, with the Lakers reportedly shopping him and Jarred Vanderbilt as they explore ways to create room for a possible Jonathan Kuminga sign-and-trade. Knecht, the No. 17 pick in 2024, saw his development stall on a star-heavy roster, sliding from a promising 9.1 points and 1.6 threes per game as a rookie to just 4.2 points on 34.2 percent shooting from deep last season. The fantasy nuance is that Knecht can score, unlike a pure defensive specialist, and a move to a team needing shooting could revive deep-league value. On the Lakers, he remains buried and off the radar, but a trade would make him worth another look as a situational streamer.
Source: Evan Sidery
Source: Evan Sidery
Lakers Shopping Jarred Vanderbilt
Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt is being shopped as a salary-matching piece, with the Lakers looking for a third team to absorb his and Dalton Knecht's contracts to unlock a Jonathan Kuminga sign-and-trade, per Evan Sidery. Vanderbilt is owed $12.4 million next season and holds a $13.3 million player option for 2027-28, making him difficult to route directly to Atlanta in a Kuminga framework. For fantasy, the takeaway is bleak either way. Vanderbilt is an elite defender but an offensive non-factor, averaging 4.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 0.8 steals on 29.3 percent three-point shooting last season, and durability has long been a concern. He holds no standard-league value. A move to a rebuilder could give him minutes and deep-league steals-and-boards utility, but on the Lakers, he remains a specialist off the fantasy radar.
Source: Evan Sidery
Source: Evan Sidery
