In the summer of 2021, the Los Angeles Lakers signed guard Austin Reaves as an undrafted free agent, and not many gave the move much thought.
He was originally signed to a two-way contract following summer league play, but in the ensuing weeks and months, he proved he was much more than a borderline prospect. He quickly entrenched himself in the team’s regular rotation, and this past season, he became a bona fide stud.
Buy Lakers TicketsHow did Reaves make it onto the Lakers’ roster on a standard contract in the first place? According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, it’s because LeBron James and Anthony Davis saw something in him that indicated he would become a valuable player.
Via Fadeaway World:
“He was a two-way guy, goes to Las Vegas for a players-only minicamp that LeBron James is leading,” Jovan Buha shared on the Athletic NBA Show. “And he played so well that LeBron and AD were just like this guy has to be on the team.
“The Lakers were planning on carrying 14 guys into the regular season,” Buha continued. “After LeBron and AD spoke with the management, it’s like this guy has to be like our 15th player, we cannot just have him on a two-way. So Austin made the team and from there, he has kinda taken off.”
Reaves has played reasonably well for Team USA so far during the FIBA World Cup, and some believe he is poised for another big jump this season. In fact, Buha suggested Reaves may be the third star Los Angeles has been yearning for the last couple of years.
Via The Athletic:
“Los Angeles has been searching for a third star for the entirety of the LeBron James-Davis era, now entering its fifth season. Specifically, they’ve yearned for a high-usage ballhandler who can run the offense and partly alleviate the burden on James’ shoulders in high-stakes moments. …
“Yet as Reaves continues to make these significant leaps, it increasingly looks as if the Lakers had that player right under their noses these past two seasons. …
“The version of Reaves that’s emerged since February is exactly what the Lakers have desperately been seeking elsewhere. He’s become a high-level starter with All-Star potential. He’s properly slotted as a third option behind James and Davis, but he can assume more usage when one or both are off the floor. He’s a good enough shooter and cutter to play off the ball, allowing (D’Angelo) Russell and new addition Gabe Vincent to run the offense and give opponents a different look. Reaves can also run the offense himself, attacking out of pick-and-roll actions and out of spot-up opportunities.”
The 2023-24 season will likely determine whether Reaves truly has All-Star potential or if he will simply be an excellent “connector” player for the Lakers.
