NBA training camps quickly lead to preseason games. Really, all of preseason can and should be thought of as one collective training camp. Still, teams have a lot to accomplish in the brief time they have between formally beginning camp and playing preseason games. As for the Lakers, here’s the Daily Breeze with some notes:
The Lakers have only five days of camp this year before playing Sunday, which doesn’t leave much time for the team bonding activities of years past. But Walton said the Lakers are looking for opportunities: Last year, they did an Escape Room on the road. They’ll likely do something comparable as they go to San Diego, Las Vegas and San Jose for this year’s preseason.
“There is a break in between right before the regular season starts,” he said, “where if we are up to speed to where we want to be and able to, we will find something fun to do as a group.”
Walton said he’s treating the preseason games as part of training camp, so it’s probable that James and other players with big roles will have truncated minutes in the contests. James said he didn’t expect to play “a bunch” of minutes but that he would defer to Walton for his preseason workload.
Point guard Lonzo Ball participated in practice but did not play in the scrimmage. Walton said center Ivica Zubac (illness) wasn’t available, and sideline reporter Mike Trudell reported that rookie big man Moritz Wagner sat out as well.
