Lakers vs. Kings Preview: The new era tips off

The Los Angeles Lakers open preseason against the Sacramento Kings Tuesday night, officially unboxing a new era of basketball for the purple and gold. Fans and the organization alike are anxious to see what new head coach Luke Walton and his band of lost boys are all about. Things have gone like a fairy tale for the Lakers dating back to Kobe Bryant's magnificent final game. They retained their pick, signed the most coveted free agent coach and have chronicled a very productive summer in the gym for the "breakfast club."

Time to convert potential to kinetic.

A preseason game won't mean much in the long term, but it's the first step of a very long journey for these new Lakers. Every game -- every possession -- can serve as a learning experience for a squad comprised of barely-20-somethings. The development of Brandon Ingram, the rise of D'Angelo Russell, the evolution of Julius Randle -- these are just a few of the puzzle pieces to keep an eye on. The win-loss column matters very little when breaking down what these Lakers should be focused on. It's all about shaping the foundation for the future. .

In previous years preseason felt like an overly-long opening act. Preseason is a true extension of the regular season for these Lakers. It's fair to think about this is a 90-game season for the pups, tacking on a few additional opportunities to grow together.

The starting lineup is still in the air, per Coach Luke, and rotations are another area to keep an eye out on. The first game isn't going to cement anything, but it'll be interesting to see which groupings will hit the court together, and which of them are effective. Perhaps we'll get a glimpse of a small ball group right out of the gates.

It's an exciting time to be a fan of the Lakers. We're about to embark on the exact, fresh, journey so many pined for. The true reset begins Tuesday night against the Kings. Enjoy the game.

Time: 7 p.m. PT

TV: Spectrum SportsNet