What happened: The Los Angeles Lakers return to the court this week to begin their exhibition slate. The scheduled matchups mark the first live game action since training camp opened.

Why it matters: The coaching staff is using the preseason to evaluate several unsettled starting jobs. The front office is also assessing the back end of the rotation ahead of the regular season.

What to watch: Evaluations will continue throughout the exhibition schedule. The franchise must finalize its roster decisions before opening night.