Collin Sexton struggles in Lakers debut but still solves an issue (for now)

Collin Sexton made his Los Angeles Lakers debut in a 125-117 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night. Despite missing the entire preseason, the 27-year-old guard recorded five points, two assists, three steals, and one turnover across 16 minutes of action. Tyler Watts of Lake Show Life writes that while Sexton showed rust and struggled with his shooting, he immediately helped resolve the Lakers' second-unit ball-handling challenges behind starters Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

Watts argues that head coach JJ Redick and general manager Rob Pelinka still need to acquire a fourth trusted shot creator before the trade deadline. With options like Bronny James, Jaden Hardy, and Chris Manon failing to impress in the role, the writer believes relying solely on Doncic, Reaves, and Sexton over an 82-game regular season remains a significant risk for the roster.