The Los Angeles Lakers begin preseason action against the crosstown rival Clippers on Friday, but their top two stars almost certainly won't be suiting up.

Lakers head coach Frank Vogel said Tuesday it is “probably unlikely” LeBron James and Anthony Davis play against the Clippers, per Bill Oram of The Athletic.

Nobody should be surprised by this development, for a few reasons.

For starters, the Lakers (and Miami Heat) were in the NBA bubble longer than any other team in the league, and thus had the shortest offseason.

LeBron James has been very vocal about his mixed feelings on the quick turnaround. Although the 35-year-old (who will be 36 later this month) always keeps himself in immaculate condition, he also has a lot of mileage on his body.

Davis has dealt with some injuries in the last few years, so it also makes sense for L.A. to give him extra time to recuperate and get his body right for another long year.

The final reason might be more business-related. Chris Haynes of Yahoo reported Monday the NBA could fine teams upwards of $100,000 if healthy stars are scratched for national TV games.

Load management will still be prevalent this season, but the new policy on rest could alter how teams schedule off games for top stars. The Lakers certainly figure to monitor the condition of their two stars during the regular season, installing off days when needed.

Plus, the preseason is meaningless for L.A. anyway, despite some roster turnover. James is a consummate veteran leader who knows how to make things work and help the pieces fit together.

The real title defense begins when the regular season begins on Dec. 22. That night will also feature a showdown between the Lakers and Clippers, so it should bring plenty of fireworks.