JJ Redick hints at All-Star status for preseason opening game

How soon will Los Angeles Lakers fans get a chance to see the team's two best players?

Apparently this weekend, although new head coach JJ Redick has decided to be strangely cautious about who will compete in which of the two scheduled preseason contests in Palm Springs this weekend.

Redick claimed that 20-time All-Star combo forward LeBron James and nine-time All-Star center/power forward Anthony Davis “would be playing this weekend,” according to NBA insider Dan Starkand, but he wouldn't divulge , whether that meant both future Hall of Famers would suit up for Friday's game against the new-look Minnesota Timberwolves, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT at Acrisure Arena, or Sunday's game against the Phoenix Suns, which is at 6:30pm PT begins, apply.

Perhaps Redick's motivation is self-serving: Even though it's a preseason game, he wants to keep opponents guessing for as long as possible while ensuring that Los Angeles fans attend both games as if James and Davis were playing both games.

The Lakers will play a total of six preseason games this season. LA will also face the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday, October 10th, the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, October 15th, the Suns again on Thursday, October 17th, and the next night, Friday, October 18th , again against the Warriors.

Redick's addition is probably the biggest change to this roster yet, and he's not even on the hardwood yet. The 6-foot-3 former combo guard is making his NBA head coaching debut with the Purple and Gold. Thirteen of the players who finished the season on Los Angeles' standard 15-man squad return this year, with rookie guards Dalton Knecht and Bronny James the only new additions. They replace veterinarians Spencer Dinwiddie and Taurean Prince, who now have doctorates. Both players signed low-cost contracts in hopes of competing for a championship this year. Dinwiddie is plying his trade with the Dallas Mavericks on a minimum contract, while Prince is looking to win his first title with the Milwaukee Bucks.

The entire NBA world could be watching the Lakers-Timberwolves game on Friday, and not necessarily to see Bronny James make league history with his father.

Minnesota just completed a blockbuster deal to acquire three-time All-Star power forward Julius Randle, switch winger Donte DiVincenzo, deep bench forward Keita Bates-Diop and a protected first-round pick from the New York Knicks acquire while also losing the $49.2 million salary of All-Star center/power forward Karl-Anthony Towns. It remains to be seen which of these players will be willing to appear for a contending team in a meaningless game.

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