Carr returns to Lakers after affiliate work

Cameron Carr was recalled to the Los Angeles Lakers roster on Tuesday following a full practice with their G League affiliate.

The rookie has missed the first four regular season games and three preseason exhibitions due to a strained right oblique. He last played on Oct. 6 in a loss to the Golden State Warriors, a game where he recorded 15 minutes of action. His preseason debut on Oct. 5 featured 19 points in a win over the Sacramento Kings.

Coach JJ Redick stated that the team needed Carr to complete a full practice to ensure he could handle physical contact. Redick noted that Carr had maintained conditioning despite the upper body nature of the injury. The coaching staff monitored his ramp up during a week with five scheduled games over seven nights.

The Lakers played the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, the first night of a back-to-back set. They face the Los Angeles Clippers at the Intuit Dome on Wednesday. The schedule continues with a trip to San Francisco to play the Golden State Warriors on Friday. The team returns to Los Angeles for games against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday and the Miami Heat on Monday.

Redick indicated the team is still working through the timeline for Carr's regular season debut. Limited practice opportunities through early November drove the decision to use the G League affiliate for on-court work. Carr was selected with the No. 24 pick in June's NBA draft.