Bronny James is the most important player to watch on the Los Angeles Lakers this training camp and preseason, as he needs to develop into a staunch defender if he wants to earn legitimate playing time this year. As JJ Redick looks to complete his rotation throughout the course of training camp, James will need to show out. The Lakers couldn’t have picked a better defensive mentor for James than Smart, who won the Defensive Player of the Year award as a guard in 2022. Add in Vincent, whom James has already formed a relationship with, and James should gain some very valuable insight this year. But this training camp and preseason will be crucial for his development.