The Lakers are in a very different place than they were just eight short months ago.
Los Angeles remade its roster at the trade deadline and embarked on a surprise run deep into the postseason, falling to the Nuggets in the Western Conference finals. Then, the team had a productive offseason, signing forward Christian Wood and luring guard Gabe Vincent away from the Heat.
To Lakers guard Austin Reaves, these moves have given Los Angeles lofty status ahead of the 2024 season.