The Lakers had a disastrous start to the season with no balance in the roster and a lot of injury concerns. Fortunately for the team, they are way passed that stage. The team is now heading to the end of the regular season with hopes of a place in the postseason. But what made this turnaround for the Lakers can be a very good question. The team was heavily dependent on LeBron James and Anthony Davis until the latter got injured and missed several games.
Finally, it was Rob Pelinka and the front office of the Lakers who signed a two-team contract with the Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves and got to buy some good players and trade Westbrook right before the February trade deadline. Quality players like D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt, etc., came in along with Rui Hachimura a few days before signing that contract. Moreover, the Lakers have had Dennis Schroder and Austin Reaves together since 2022 to push the team past the challenge. Amid the roster crunch, Reaves is shining out like a real ray of hope and a possible future asset for the Lakers.
Austin Reaves Has Suddenly Become An Asset To The Team
Many of these new joiners are going to be free agents after the current season is over. The Lakers faithful and fans from all over the world have choices regarding who should get the first priority to be re-signed. Many voted for D’Angelo Russell, but the majority chose Austin Reaves. There were a few who also thought Hachimura and Schroder should get the first priority. It is not a surprise, though, as Reaves is the popular choice.
Reaves joined the LA side in 2021. He has really turned into a dependable player for the Lakers since James got the tendon injury last February. If it was not for Reaves, only AD and Russell would not work as well. Austin Reaves chose the right time to find this form, with the season-ending soon. If the Lakers don’t manage to qualify for the postseason, their season will be over sooner than later. The Lakers can really count on the duo of D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves to take the Lakers forward after the era of James-Davis ends.
Why Austin Is So Important To The Lakers?
Clearly, the young gun has a long way to go in the future, and a team like the Lakers would be a perfect place to evolve into a future superstar. Los Angeles Lakers, anyway, have a rich legacy of being the home for many superstars. But Austin finding the golden touch right before he becomes a restricted free agent is kind of a calling card for the Buss family to be ready to offer him big bucks for the future.
Breaking down the rise of Lakers guard Austin Reaves and what lies ahead in free agency – on Run It Back at @fandueltv: pic.twitter.com/DCUdQ8HuDK
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 20, 2023
However, Shams Charania, an NBA insider, mentioned that the Lakers could offer Reaves only $50.8 million worth for four years. That is not so great in comparison to other teams. Reaves, at present, looks like an unstoppable force. As he is averaging 22.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg, and 7.0 apg in the last five games. Austin Reaves, as of now, is not looking like an injury-prone athlete compared to his other teammates. Like D’Angelo, who again missed a game against the Bulls due to a sore ankle.
