Los Angeles Lakers always had the power of the big three ever since the days of Russell Westbrook. Initially, the General Manager Rob Pelinka planned to build the team around – LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Westbrook. But the plan of winning a title with this big three did not work out. Mostly because Russell Westbrook was a huge disappointment. After his days with Oklahoma City Thunder, the LA fans wanted more from him.
But gradually, Westbrook became a liability. Hence, it became necessary to trade him and find quality replacements to bring balance to the roster. And in February, the Lakers were able to do exactly that. Although, after Westbrook was gone, the LA side needed someone to play a supporting role to LeBron James and Anthony Davis. However, with Austin Reaves, they got a lot more than what they bargained for. With AR, the Lakers have got a great trio.
Nick Wright Feels The Lakers Trio Is Better Than The Suns Big 3
Nick Wright of Fox Sports apparently considers Austin Reaves to be among the big three of the Los Angeles Lakers. Wright mentioned on the television show First Things First that the big three of the Lakers are among the top five of the league. According to him, Denver Nuggets have got the best big three – Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon. But the Lakers have a better trio than what the Phoneix Suns have right now.
The Suns got Bradley Beal from Washington Wizards. Hence, they have Beal, Kevin Durant, and Devin Booker. Moreover, it is an exciting prospect for the Sun’s fans. On top of that, experts and fans like Nick Wright will be eagerly waiting for the clashes between Phoneix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers in the next season. But the way Wright puts it, here are the following top five Big 3’s of the league.
.@getnickwright's Top 5 Trios (if Dame is traded to Miami):
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) June 26, 2023
1. Nuggets: Jokić, Murray, Gordon
2. Heat: Jimmy, Dame, Bam
3. Bucks: Giannis, Jrue, Middleton
4. Lakers: LeBron, AD, Reaves
5. Suns: Booker, KD, Beal
Agree? pic.twitter.com/1WxkkFIWeR
What If Austin Reaves Move To Another Team?
For the Lakers, the concern is around the free agency of Austin Reaves as he will be a restricted free agent in the offseason. But the question remains if the Lakers will be able to offer him a desired contract. Moreover, with his incredible performance, Reaves raised his stakes quite high. Comparatively, there are a few teams with bigger cap space than the Lakers who can offer a better deal to him. Hence, the Lakers trio is not ready until the final confirmation, like Miami Heat’s Big 3 as they traded Russell Westbrook to Utah Jazz and signed quality players in exchange for a three-team deal.
Minnesota Timberwolves was another team part of this deal. In fact, this trade helped the LA side gain balance, and later the team was able to turn things around miraculously. They reached the Western Conference Finals. However, they could not win the title. But in the process, the Lakers found another promising talent in their roster. Austin Reaves became a fan favorite, and if he stays with the team in the offseason, he can be an asset in the future.