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Lakers announce lineup vs. Warriors: Williams and Thybulle join Dončić, Reaves, Kessler
A veteran-minimum free agent beat out a $60-million signing for a starting spot, and the Lakers' defensive plan for the Wednesday opener starts there.
The starting five
A 6-foot-9 forward who signed for the veteran minimum will start the Lakers' Wednesday season opener against the Golden State Warriors. [1][2] If you follow the Lakers, Williams is the name to know in the lineup the team announced. [3]
Dončić, Reaves, Thybulle, Williams and Kessler will start the game. [1] The opener is at Crypto.com Arena. [2]
What was settled and what was open
Three of the names were expected. Dončić, Reaves and Kessler starting was expected since the summer, and the open question was who would complete the starting five. [1]
Lakers coach JJ Redick said he already knew three starting spots, the star backcourt and the center. [2] He left the other spots open for training camp competition. [2]
The Lakers traded four first-round picks to acquire Walker Kessler. [2]
How Williams won a spot
Williams emerged as a winner of the competitive preseason and started both preseason games he played in. [2] He made all five of his preseason three-point attempts. [2]
He was a free-agent acquisition. [2] He was chosen to give the Lakers the versatile defender they wanted to cover for defensive deficiencies of Dončić and Reaves. [2]
Thybulle's role
Matisse Thybulle is a 6-foot-5 wing and a defensive specialist who averaged 1.3 steals per game in the preseason. [2] He flummoxed teammates in training camp by jumping into passing lanes. [2]
Thybulle and Williams are strong defenders who can knock down threes, making them ideal fits next to Dončić and Reaves. [3] The Lakers onboarded nine new pieces this summer, and ESPN's Zach Kram considers Thybulle the most valuable of them. [3]
Who did not make the five
Quentin Grimes signed a four-year, $60-million contract this offseason and was considered a strong option to start. [2] He is not among the five starters the Lakers named. [1]
The Lakers also waived former first-round pick Dalton Knecht before the season opener. [2]
Redick said the Sexton decision was collaborative and based on performance, and that soft-tissue injuries require full athlete confidence. [2]
What it means for you
If you are setting your expectations for Wednesday, the Lakers announced a starting five of Dončić, Reaves, Thybulle, Williams and Kessler. [3][1] Watch Thybulle and Williams on defense, since both are strong defenders who can knock down threes. [3]
Williams was chosen to cover for defensive deficiencies of Dončić and Reaves, so his minutes next to them are the ones to check. [2] Thybulle averaged 1.3 steals per game in the preseason, which gives you a number to compare against once the games count. [2]
If you expected Grimes in the lineup, he was considered a strong option to start but is not among the five named. [1][2]
Sources
- Dončić, Reaves, Thybulle, Williams, Kessler start — nbcsports.com
- Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle are final two Lakers starters — latimes.com
- Lakers announce starting lineup for first game in post-LeBron era — usatoday.com
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