Austin Reaves Discussion: Will He Stay Or Will He Go?

I’m perfectly fine with the level that Austin is operating at. Did he have a not so great playoffs?
Sure, but this team was way out of balance after losing AD and Max, it’s two best defenders.
Austin will be great again this upcoming season.

 

Somehow some people are still underrating Stone Cold Austin HIM mother******* Reaves! He has improved every year, and isn't done yet. He is a superstar when given a 2nd option role, and he likely won't be peaking until he is a full time 2nd option - and he will be a GREAT 2nd option next to Luka.

This season alone, when he has been the 2nd option or better (LeBron, AD, or Luka out), he averaged 25.9 pts, 7.4 asts, 5.5 rebs, 3.1 3's, and 1.5 stls! On 46.7% FG overall, 54.0% 2P%, 38.1% 3P%, and 91.4 FT% in 17 games. The #'s are similar in the 5 games AR played with Luka and no LeBron, which bodes well for the future when LeBron retires.

If you want something truly eye-popping, in the games where Austin has been the 1st option, without LeBron, Luka, or AD, he went 41.0 pts, 10.0 asts, 7.5 rebs, 4.0 3's, and 3.5 stls!!! On 51.9% FG overall, 57.6% 2P%, 42.1% 3P%, and 100.0 FT%. Sure, it was only 2 games, but it was against a full strength Denver team with Jokic, Murray, Gordon, MPJ, and Braun, where Austin (37, 13 & 8) led a team that started Goodwin, Knecht, Vando, and Len, to a near victory where they led until just 48 seconds left, and were tied until 6 seconds left. The other game was against the near champion Pacers who were nearly full strength with Haliburton, Nembhard, Nesmith, Mathurin, Siakam, McConnell, and Toppin, and yet the Austin-led (45, 7 & 7) Lakers were up double digits most of the game and won by 7. Obv this is small sample size that is unlikely to repeat too often, but the point is that Austin has by no means peaked, and still has far more to offer if given a larger role. It may not happen this season, unless LeBron takes more of a back seat, but it is extremely likely to happen in the future as Luka's #2.

 

if you ask that much of Austin every game, his skinny little white a** will break down in injury. He can't do what I do.""

---Lebron (Possibly)

 

I'd be curious if he can keep up that 25/5/7 stat line as the second option on high efficiency when teams lock in on him even further. If he can, not sure we need a 2nd option.

 

yeah I said recently that I’m not sure we need another #2 post-lebron, and that reaves is basically functionally as good as kyrie, whom some wanted to trade him for (along with literally everything else).

All the more reason to stock the roster with athletic defenders aside from Luka/reaves. The way to go at them is on defense; the more cover the better. Right now we have to cover lebron, too.

but yes, to me the question is durability, not ability. he's good enough--can he do it for 35mpg, 70+ games a year, and throughout the playoffs? so far, i feel like he's best with lower minutes, but maybe he can work up to it.

 

Austin is my guy, but you gotta step up and produce consistently in the playoffs, in order to be a legit 2nd option. Austin hasn't shown that he's a Kyrie level dude yet, I'm sorry. If we had traded Russ for Kyrie, instead of Tinkerbell we'd already have 18. Luka would still be looking for his 1st Finals appearance too. Kyrie Irving is nice..no doubt.

Irving was balling out in the Finals at 23. Even as the older guy, Kyrie is still more effective with a higher workload. It can happen, but I need to actually see it first.

 

Man I didn't realize how much the advanced metrics hates ARs defense.

ESPN net points rank him dead last amongst Lakers.

RAPM and Lebron have him in the 400s in terms of defensive rank. That's bad

Hope he works on his body if he can get stronger like Herro that will help his defense. Can't teach quickness but more legs and endurance definitely helps D

 

I’m fine with Austin marginally improving on defense. There are plenty of most offensive players who contribute to winning teams.
As many have stated, it’s up to the FO to surround Luka and Austin with better defenders. This summer has been a step in the right direction.

 

That's some peak Austin fandom. Goodness.

FWIW, Pincus said the Lakers think he's a "star", too. I'm not sure on that.

High quality role player or "star", I guess we'll see this season.

 

How's Devin Booker's defense? Is Devin Booker good enough to be Luka's #2 on a contending team?

 

ROFL.

This is almost as funny as the pro-Westbrook arguments.

 

Well, what's your answer?

 

My answer: Booker > Reaves and wouldn't suck a** in the Timberwolves series are outmuscled by bigger, longer, wings.

And I'd probaby trade Reaves in the right scenario, too. Good player, but let's not overrate him.

 

That's your opinion. Here are some facts.

Player A: 25.6 pts, 7.1 asts, 4.1 rebs, 2.4 3's, 0.9 stls, 46.1% FG, 33.2% 3P, 89.4% FT

Player B: 25.9 pts, 7.4 asts, 5.5 rebs, 3.1 3's, 1.5 stls, 46.7% FG, 38.1% 3P, 91.4% FT

 

I knew you were going to do that.

Let's do this: go ask every Executive or GM, who they would start a franchise with: Booker or Reaves. You'll be wrong.

But hey, maybe you can convince them with you Player A and Player B arguments, which they'll likely find ludicrous and laugh you out of the room.

No offense. Just the way it is. Debate amongst yourself in a Reaves Jersey. Ignoring this thread like I did with AD.

 

Booker isn’t significantly better on defense than Austin- I’ve watched plenty of his games throughout his career.
I really don’t understand the slighting of what Austin has done. I’m not overrating the kid at all. His numbers speak for themselves. Also, he’s not afraid of the big moment. Many “stars” around the League can’t handle the extra bright lights of playing for the Premier Franchise of the NBA nor can play well alongside LeBron.
Austin has excelled in both of these difficult circumstances.

 

Non-sequitur strawman. The question isn't who is better, Booker or Reaves. The question is, what is Austin's value as a #2? If he is even close to the realm of a Booker, who people often regard as a top 15-20 player, that is a huge win, vs the current top 40-60 that many seem to value Austin now. You are creating your own narrative around the topic. The facts are the numbers shown above. If Austin is even close to that in the future, that's a huge upgrade to how he is currently valued, and good enough to be the #2 on a contender.

Totally agree.

 

Reaves is the fourth Laker in the last twenty years to score at least 45 points in a game, joining Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis. He's also only the sixth Laker ever to record a stat line of 45 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists

Lakers Single-Season 3-Point Record: Reaves passed Kobe Bryant for the second-most 3-point field goals in a single season in Lakers history.

Austin Reaves is the fourth undrafted player in the Common Draft Era (since 1966) to record over 1,000 points, rebounds, and assists within his first four NBA seasons, joining Connie Hawkins, Art Williams, and Slick Watts.

In the 2024-25 season, Reaves averaged over 20 points per game (20.1), a feat achieved by only two other undrafted players in the last 30 years (Fred VanVleet and Mike James).

 

Austin Reaves has averaged 28.4 PTS, 8.7 AST & 6.7 REB in games without LeBron this past season.