One of the Los Angeles Lakers’ prized players, Austin Reaves, has drawn plenty of interest from around the league. As his free agent profile noted, the second-year Arkansas guard turned heads with his breakout sophomore year that included a stellar postseason debut.
Thanks in large part to his standout season, Reaves has the potential to command a major payday come June 30, and rightfully so. The Lakers are in an intriguing situation with regard to the 25-year-old’s future, and certain rumors have emerged that fans do not want to hear.
Lakers to Match Offers for Austin Reaves, but Drafted Potential Replacement
Austin Reaves and the Lakers Now
The Lakers front office is all too familiar with losing out on fan-favorite players. Former guard Alex Caruso, who earned the love of Lakers Nation for his effort on both ends of the floor, ultimately chose the Chicago Bulls in free agency. He was reportedly willing to come back to LA, but since they only offered him a two-year, $15 million contract, AC bounced. He signed a four-year, $37 million deal with the Bulls and went on to be their do-it-all backup point guard. His role has become essential given the current injury woes of starting guard Lonzo Ball.
Now, the Lakers find themselves in a similar situation, and they want redemption this time around. NBA insider Marc Stein reported that the team is “a lock” to match offers of up to the $100 million maximum contract. It would be the best of both worlds for Reaves, who reportedly wants to remain a Laker and also get paid.
It appears the Lakers have learned from their mistake and are looking to do right by their exceptional young guard. As it stands now, their main competition would be the Houston Rockets, who are looking to add to their young core, spearheaded by Jalen Green. Other reports note that the San Antonio Spurs are also in the bidding, eager to add Reaves to their future, headlined by rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama. The Lakers’ willingness to go over the cap for Reaves is a good sign for his future in Los Angeles.
However, despite the optimism, the latest rumor paints a different picture. It relates to the team’s selections in the 2023 NBA Draft.
Reaves’s Potential Replacement: A Rookie?
Fans believed that the Lakers selected Indiana guard Jalen Hood-Schifino to add to the team’s backcourt depth. However, according to information obtained by Lakers Nation, that may not be the case after all:
“According to league sources, the Lakers’ two top targets in the 2023 NBA Draft were Hood-Schifino and Kobe Bufkin, another guard who was selected 15th overall by the Atlanta Hawks just two picks before L.A.
The reason the Lakers were so high on both guards is they saw them as potential replacements for Reaves should an offer sheet price them out of bringing the restricted free agent back, league sources tell Lakers Nation.”
As previously noted in my Lakers draft outlook, Hood-Schifino helps LA plenty with his skill in the pick-and-roll and ability to finish at the rim and knock down the midrange jumper. He has also shown positive attributes on defense, ones that can improve over time. GM Rob Pelinka even went as far as to compare JHS to Reaves, adding that he looks forward to seeing that duo in the backcourt:
“We saw, again, just as a point of comparison, with a player like Austin Reaves, when we drafted him, he wasn’t a knockdown shooter. But he is now. It’s because he put in work—and work with our staff. And I know that’s something Jalen is committed to too.”
Well, you can’t have that tandem if you don’t re-sign Reaves, Rob.
The Real Reaves Replacement
As far as whether or not Hood-Schifino would be a viable replacement for Reaves, I have to push back on that idea. Every team in the league would love to be in the situation the NBA champion Denver Nuggets were in with Christian Braun, their 21st overall pick last year. Braun went from contributing in spot minutes early on to earning a larger opportunity after Bones Hyland was traded. He then proceeded to step up in the playoffs and played an integral role during the Nuggets’ Finals run.
Right now, the Lakers don’t have that guy in Hood-Schifino, as solid as he is. If, and only if, LA lost Reaves to a higher bidder, the team would be better off promoting and developing rising sophomore Max Christie.
The 35th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Christie spent limited time with the Lakers, averaging 3.1 points per game but shooting 41.5% from the field and nearly 42% from deep. Christie received better opportunities with LA’s G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, putting up 14 points and five rebounds per game while shooting 41% from the field. Through it all, he showed potential as a 3-and-D player who could crack the rotation in due time. Having a full offseason of development will be vital for the 20-year-old, regardless of whether or not Reaves stays. However, Christie should be ready for an increased role if the opportunity presents itself.
The Last Word on Reaves and the Lakers
Obviously, the Lakers should be doing everything in their power to not turn this into Alex Caruso 2.0, and as of now, reports from insiders appear encouraging. Though their contingency plan seems adequate, it wouldn’t compare to re-signing the guy who played his heart out all season and showed the commitment to excellence the Lakers expect.
The solution to the Reaves situation is simple: run it back.
