Austin Reaves Discussion: Overachiever Who Underachieved

What bonehead move? You mean when the refs missed a blatant foul call and then the ref let his ego get in the way and ejected Reaves?

I’m not blaming Austin for that. Draymond has done way worse and doesn’t get tossed.

 

Luka is slowing him down and I am not kidding.

Whether it's better for the team or not, at Fatcic current "condition", is not yet clear.

 

you are joking, but I am pretty sure that this team with

Bron + AR + best player(s) we can get for Luka (or AD + Max back)

(Bron + AR + Giannis)

would be better than

Bron + Luka + best player(s) we can get for AR

(Bron + Luka + Myles Turner)

by miles.

And I am pretty sure it's going to remain that way once Bron retires.

AR and Luka are the same player prototype.

The only thing that Luka may have to skew that is his "alleged" ability to be more exciting for FAs to join.

 

I'm not sure that the first trio would be better.
I might actually prefer the second trio for the playoffs where Luka becomes GOD.

While AR and Luka are similar players, the latter is better "by miles."
The ceiling of having AR or Luka on this team can not be compared.
Anything Lebron + AR can do, Lebron + Luka can do better.
We just need to give it more time.

 

You really think Bron + Luka + Turner is better than Bron + AR + Giannis?

The difference in defense would be jarring, IMO.

---

The amount of standing around watching the other guy do his thing is already somewhat meh with AR + Bron.

Replace AR with Luka, who needs the ball in his hands even more and instead of Luka + Bron = 2, we maaaaay get Luka + Bron = 1.5.

We are wasting abilities of two of our most valuable players. This is why Kobe + Shaq worked. Kobe with Pau worked. Magic with Kareem worked.

They complemented each other. Luka and Bron do not. AR and Bron, to be fair, do not either, really, even though AR is a much better off-the-ball player than either Bron or Luka.

It's just Luka can fetch a much better return on the market...

We will never do this, because "We are the Lakers. We have the stars". But assets optimization-wise, we should.

 

Lebron and AR chemistry is so good. Both probe the defense when they have the ball and they're willing to let other initiate and also play off each other. Lebron cutting off the AR drives is great

The Luka question will be not will he be good when he is back in ball but will he be able to use Lebron and AR when they have the ball to advantage of the defense. Cut, make catch and shoot 3s et

 

Question is age. Your analysis is correct but Luka at 25 vs Lebron at 40 and AD at 50 eerr 32 you have to take the chance around Luka. That's maybe a decade of dominance you have vs just a few years

 

We have never seen 2 playmakers of this magnitude play together. Not even close. This is like Magic and Bird teaming up. No one really knows if there are going to be diminishing returns. How could you be so sure that they won't compliment each other? We need to see more evidence.

And Lebron is a much better off-ball player than Reaves. He's a better cutter, screener, and finisher. Probably a better spot-up shooter too. Not sure about Luka as we haven't seen that side of his game yet.

 

Nah mate. He may have used to be one, but not anymore. He's certainly not a catch an shoot guy, even though that's improved somewhat and he doesn't need to rythm himself into 3s some of the times.

"And Lebron is a much better off-ball player than Reaves. He's a better cutter, screener, and finisher."

 

I think you may have misread. I am not comparing Bron and Luka. I am comparing Bron + Luka + someone mediocre vs Bron + AR + someone really good.

The age is irrelevant as Luka and AR are the same age.

 

I get where you're going - it's just no way realistic because Luka is only 25. Basically Luka at 25 is way more future value than Bron and anyone else because Bron is so old.
Lakers are just going to have to a chance and figure this out short term in the hopes they reap both short and long term benefits

 

ok. let me rephrase, as i see we are not on the same page.

i think Luka + Turner is worse than AR + Giannis.

This has nothing to do with Bron.

I am using Turner and Giannus to illustrate mediocre and great. If we trade either Luka or AR it must be for someone younger than them. But point still stands.

 

Awww the real Batman and Robin

 

Trade Fatcic!

 

It’s been 3 games and it’s Westbrick level already for you Zen

 

Nah. I think he's a great player. I am just less giddy about him than most here. I have Shaq PTSD. And not 2000 Shaq. 2004 Shaq.