Four of the Los Angeles Lakers starters next season are known.
LeBron James, will start at one of the forward spots. Anthony Davis will join him in the frontcourt. Though he’s likely to man the pivot, a return to power forward could be in the cards as well. In the backcourt, D’Angelo Russell is set to start beside fan favorite Austin Reaves.
Whether Cam Reddish and Rui Hachimura will join them in the first unit is up in the air. The Lakers have three starters who are at their best with the ball in their hands in James, Russell, and Reaves. As a result, L.A. needs a player who thrives off-ball, at least in theory.
Reddish played more of a 3-and-D role last season and was particularly effective defensively. Yet, Hachimura is the more efficient three-point threat and still makes a positive impact at the other end. Max Christie, who the Lakers drafted 35th overall in 2022, is a dark horse candidate for the starting lineup.
Will Lakers’ Austin Reaves Reach Potential With Projected Starters?
The question of who can play off their main shot-creators best is worth exploring, not in the least to figure out who the fifth starter might be. However, when assessing the Lakers’ perimeter group, the backcourt pairing of Russell and Reaves may be another problem.
Russell and Reaves are both above-average ball-handlers. They also have a great feel of how to manipulate the defense, which speaks to their basketball IQ. These traits lends themselves to their ability to facilitate and score, which is obviously good. Nonetheless, rather being additive, the overlap in their skillsets has the potential to limit both players.
This is problematic in and of itself. Russell and Reaves are fond of one another off the court. They can even complement one another on it. Yet, the concept of chemistry is more complex than that.
Winning Is The Bottom Line
Whether a player was drafted, signed, or traded for, a team’s hope is that they’ll all be maximized individually. This isn’t always practical though. Because teams usually prioritizing winning, the players who give them a best chance at victory are given more reps.
As it relates to Russell and Reaves, when comparing their respective playoff histories, it’s the latter who seems to be a bigger factor in their success.
Russell has averaged 14.2 points per game in the postseason, shooting 38.8 percent from the field and 32.7 percent from three. Meanwhile, Reaves has averaged 16.9 points per game, making 46.7 percent of his field goals and 40.4 percent of his three-pointers. Numbers aside, Reaves is also more confident and in command during the playoffs.
With that being said, for Los Angeles to maximize their chance of winning an NBA championship, Reaves may need to shoulder a bigger load offensively. This is trickier than just calling more plays for Hillbilly Kobe though. Russell is on a mission to prove himself to everyone. So, even if he begrudgingly accepts Reaves being the focal point of the backcourt, there could be repercussions.
Russell’s attitude might sour, affecting the locker room, perhaps even his friendship with Reaves. A clash of egos would make Lakers head coach JJ Redick’s first year on the job even harder. The drama and storylines could weigh on everyone, distracting them from their ultimate goal. Moving one of them into a sixth man role so that they can be an offensive focal point may not help either.
All of which leads to the question of if Reaves really can reach his potential while Russell is on the roster. Indeed, Reaves wants to show that he can be a starting point guard, but how can he with Russell around?
What Should Lakers Do About D’Angelo Russell?
As Russell will make $18.7 million next season, the Lakers won’t just release him. Yet, no team seems to want to trade for the former No. 2 pick at that price. As a result, Los Angeles may be stuck with him throughout the season. Their best hope would be for Russell to have a strong first half of the season so that they could move him at the trade deadline.
That would also give Reaves some runway to show that he can truly handle being the full-time starting point guard. If so, the Lakers’ eventual starting lineup could feature him, James, Davis, Hachimura, and one of Reddish or Christie. That’ll improve their chemistry, balance, size, and defense.
