The Los Angeles Lakers are the hottest trade-referenced NBA team at the moment. As it should be, their roster is under the microscope. Stories, rumors, and narratives are a plenty as the team sits at a disappointing 14-12 record under first-year head coach JJ Redick. LeBron James and Anthony Davis remain the Lakers’ number one and two options. Where does Austin Reaves fit in?
Lakers Need a Better Third Option Not Named Austin Reaves
Lakers Guard Austin Reaves is Good, but How Good Is He Really?
Reaves is two games in from his return to play after sitting out for five games due to injury. Since returning, he’s recorded 18 and 19 points in consecutive games and played exceptionally well. It may be the headband; who’s to say? While teammates like Rui Hachimura, D’Angelo Russell, and Gabe Vincent have been tossed around in trade talks, Reaves’s name has only just recently entered the rumors. Apart from James and AD, Reaves has always seemed like one of the Lakers players off the table. Additionally, the sense is that the same applies to Hachimura.
However, Reaves as a trade piece is intriguing for a couple of reasons. For starters, he’s a good player, no question. He’s improved offensively in great proportions over the last two seasons. He can shoot the three, has a knack for getting to the basket and drawing fouls, and makes smart basketball plays. What team wouldn’t want these attributes? And what could the Lakers get in return for Reaves? All of that being said, is he really as good as he appears to be? Or is the LeBron and AD factor being his teammate’s prop Reaves up a little more than he should be?
Reaves is one of those players in the league where you watch him play and think, ‘Yeah, he’s a pretty good player.’ Then, in the back, far back of your mind, you’re wondering, ‘But is he that good’? Is it just me with these thoughts?
Anonymous NBA Scout Shows Little Faith
ESPN and Lakers reporter Dave McMenamin recently spoke with an anonymous NBA scout, and he had this to say about Reaves on the Lakers.
“If he’s [Reaves] your third-best player, you’re not a championship contender, you’re just not,” said the scout. “If you put Austin Reaves on the Oklahoma City Thunder or the Boston Celtics, he’s probably the fifth, maybe even sixth-best player, on those rosters.”
Considering those rosters, even just the starting lineups, yes, Reaves might be an afterthought. He’s certainly playing less than 34 minutes a night like he is now, at the very least. He is the Lakers third best option right now because that’s the position he is forced to be in. But he’s not the best third-best option out there right now, either. In saying that, the Lakers may very well be a much better team and much better off down the road if they trade Reaves. He is a good player but not the best one the Lakers need.
Right now, the Lakers need a better third option behind LeBron and AD. Russell isn’t it, Hachimura isn’t it, and Reaves isn’t it. So, that means that the mystery player is playing for another logo. The Lakers need to identify who that mystery player is and prepare for the sacrifice.
