‘He certainly earned some trust’ – Orange County Register

DETROIT — With the Lakers searching for athleticism and perimeter defense, Cam Reddish made his rotation debut during Monday night’s 115-103 loss to the Detroit Pistons.

Reddish, who made his season debut in the Oct. 30 blowout loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, made his first appearance on Monday midway through the second quarter, subbing in for forward Rui Hachimura during the rotation pattern when third-year wing Max Christie typically comes in to close the first half.

The sixth-year wing primarily guarded Pistons ballhandlers Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey.

“Cam was great,” Lakers star LeBron James said. “He did exactly what was asked of him. He came in and he defended at a high level. He was great.”

Reddish didn’t take a shot on Monday but finished with five rebounds and a steal in 14 minutes.

His individual plus/minus of plus-10 was a team-high. He was the only Laker with a positive plus/minus.

In light of Christie’s struggles to start the season as a regular part of the rotation and forward Jarred Vanderbilt remaining sidelined after offseason surgery on his feet, there could be an opportunity for Reddish to become a more consistent part of the rotation.

Especially if he makes the defensive impact he did on Monday with his speed and ability to keep ball handlers in front of him – something the Lakers have been lacking to start the season.

The 6-foot-7 Reddish was a consistent part of the rotation for the first half of last season, starting 26 games.

The Lakers will close their five-game trip against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday at FedExForum.

“He certainly earned some trust [on Monday night],” Coach JJ Redick said of Reddish. “But we’ll evaluate [on Tuesday] and see what Wednesday looks like.”

HAYES COMMENTS

Jaxson Hayes spoke with reporters for the first time on Monday since the NBA reopened an investigation into a 2021 domestic incident involving the Lakers backup center after TMZ on Saturday posted a video of the altercation between Hayes and his then-girlfriend Sofia Jamora.