Lakers Roster Shakeup: Carr Gets Minutes as Grimes, Reaves Sit
Rookie Cameron Carr earns his first true rotational start against Atlanta as Austin Reaves and Quentin Grimes miss action due to illness and injury.
By Sanjay Caldwell ·
Lakers rookie Cameron Carr will play meaningful minutes for the first time this season on Monday night against the Atlanta Hawks. This marks a shift from his previous appearances, where he limited his impact to the final stretch of games. Carr enters this matchup after a strong performance in the G League opener last week. He scored 13 points in 20 minutes for the Coachella Valley Lakers in a 104-98 win over the Salt Lake City Stars.
The increased role is necessary because two key guards are unavailable. Austin Reaves is out with an illness, and Quentin Grimes is sidelined with a right finger sprain. Coach JJ Redick says Carr’s development is currently focused on defense. Redick noted that Carr is incredibly skilled and will build rhythm through consistent offensive minutes. "There’s always room to grow as a player," Redick said. "For Cam, that growth is going to come on the defensive end."
Carr was selected by the Lakers as the No. 24 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. The team acquired the selection through a draft night trade with the New York Knicks. Last season at Baylor, the 21-year-old wing averaged 18.9 points per game. He shot 49.4% from the field and 37.4% from three-point range. In seven summer games, Carr averaged 17.4 points on 42.3% shooting.
Redick explained that the G League provides essential practice reps that the old NBA schedule no longer allows. He described the upcoming game as a chance for Carr to learn and grow. Redick added that the team will assess Carr's performance and show him film afterward to guide further development. This approach mirrors the path taken by second-year wing Adou Thiero, who has also moved between the NBA and G League squads.
Thiero emphasized the importance of staying ready without taking limited minutes personally. "Just when my time came, I’m gonna make the most of it," Thiero said. "But until then, I’m gonna sit on the side and cheer on my teammates." He stated that effort and hustle are the primary metrics for young players in their initial rotational stints.
Meanwhile, Luka Doncic was named the Western Conference Player of the Week on Friday. The honor recognized his performance across three victories. During that span, the 27-year-old averaged 45 points on 52.5% shooting. He also recorded 7.0 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game in 36.3 minutes. Doncic has now won weekly honors 20 times in his career, with five of those awards coming as a Laker.
Doncic’s recent surge included a 53-point performance against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday. The Lakers won that NBA Cup Group C game 124-118. He scored at least 40 points in each of the three games that earned him the recognition. His shooting efficiency included 39.5% from beyond the arc during the week.
Grimes is expected to return within a game or two. Redick said the injury involves swelling in a shooting hand, which requires caution. X-rays taken after Grimes banged his finger in Sunday’s win over the Detroit Pistons came back negative. The 26-year-old guard has played in all 11 games this season. He is averaging 8 points per game on 43.1% shooting in the first year of a four-year, $60 million contract.
