Recently, HoopsHype polled 25 executives from across the NBA to ask them which players they believe are most likely to have a breakout campaign this season.
Some of the names that came up were Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner, who was the top vote-getter; Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons; Mikal Bridges of the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Austin Reaves.
Reaves finished tied for ninth in this poll along with Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane. Last year, Reaves averaged 13 points and 3.4 assists in the regular season and 16.9 points and 4.6 assists a game in the playoffs.
Plenty of people certainly feel the undrafted guard is poised for another big leap forward this season. In fact, one of the executives polled put Reaves on top of his list (h/t Lakers Daily).
Via HoopsHype:
“One NBA executive believes Reaves has more development ahead of him and voted for the 25-year-old guard as his top breakout candidate this season,” wrote Michael Scotto.
In his 2023-24 preseason debut on Monday, Reaves was red-hot, scoring 18 points on 5-of-7 field-goal shooting and 4-of-6 from 3-point range in just 20 minutes against the Brooklyn Nets. He did not play in either Wednesday’s win over the Sacramento Kings or the Lakers’ first exhibition game on Saturday. The team is looking to pace him after he played with Team USA in the FIBA World Cup this summer.