Tag: Austin Reaves

Austin Reaves feels Lakers should upgrade at the 5 to help Anthony Davis

Lakers guard Austin Reaves feels Anthony Davis could be an even greater defensive player if he played alongside a physical center.

The Los Angeles Lakers can go down one of a few avenues when it comes to upgrading their roster this offseason. One of those pathways involves upgrading at the center position and allowing Anthony Davis to play a significant amount of time at power forward.

After all, he did just that during their championship season four years ago, which allowed him to roam around as something of a free safety and disrupt opposing offenses. After they got swept by the Denver Nuggets in last year’s Western Conference finals and lost to Denver again in the first round of this year’s playoffs, many felt they needed a strong-bodied 5.

In an interview with Lakers Nation, guard Austin Reaves, like new head coach JJ Redick, said the Lakers aren’t far off from being a championship contender. He then said a serviceable, physical center would make a significant difference.

Via Lakers Nation:

“There’s obviously room for improvement,” he said. “I think that one thing I personally thought we could’ve had was a more physical 5, especially when you run into someone like [Nikola] Jokic. You ask AD to do so much on the offensive and defensive end and he’s capable, but if you’re able to give him a little bit of a break guarding like a Jokic so he can be more focused in helpside defense and making it tougher when Jokic makes his first move, just seeing AD on the back line. That’s tough to score over because he’s such a good defender and then he can worry more about the offensive end.

“Regardless, he had a hell of a series either way. But that’s just the first thing that comes to my mind, obviously there’s pieces here and there. But like I said, I don’t think we’re too far off.”

Davis had arguably the best year of his basketball life this season. But the NBA now possesses several good and great centers, including Jokic, Joel Embiid, Domantas Sabonis, Kristaps Porziņģis and Victor Wembanyama.

Winning in the playoffs often comes down to matchups, and adding a defensive-minded 5 who is also mobile and can run the floor would help. However, the Lakers have limited assets to use when it comes to upgrading their roster, and it looks like they would also love to secure a difference-making upgrade in the backcourt.

Austin Reaves calls new Lakers head coach JJ Redick a basketball genius

Austin Reaves seems to be excited to play for new Lakers head coach JJ Redick.

Many people are wondering what type of dynamic new Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick will have with his players.

Given his friendship with LeBron James (the two co-host the “Mind the Game” podcast), some are skeptical that the other Lakers players will trust, respect and follow him. There is always the possibility that his relationship with the team will go bad at some point, especially if the team falls short of expectations.

But starting guard Austin Reaves seems to be optimistic about the whole situation. He didn’t hold back his praise for Redick, as he called him “a basketball genius.”

Reaves’ agent, Aaron Reilly, posted on X the other day that Redick will “show a different part of” the Arkansas native’s game.

If the Lakers’ roster looks largely the same next season, Reaves will likely have to be unleashed and step things up in that manner for things to go well for the team.

Agent says JJ Redick will show a different part of Austin Reaves’ game

Austin Reaves’ agent feels JJ Redick, the Lakers’ new head coach, will do wonders for Reaves’ game.

The mere thought of JJ Redick, a former NBA sharpshooter and podcaster who has virtually no coaching experience, being the Los Angeles Lakers’ head coach has been a polarizing one.

Some love the potential he seems to have, as he has displayed a bright mind as a tactician while co-hosting the “Mind the Game” podcast with LeBron James and as a member of ESPN’s NBA broadcast crew. But others are very skeptical because he’s never been a coach before and because of his friendship with L.A.’s most valuable player.

Aaron Reilly, the agent for starting guard Austin Reaves, seems to be sporting a positive attitude about Redick’s hiring. He posted on X that Redick will unleash his client’s game like never before.

“This coach is about to show a different part of Austin’s game none have you seen. Kept receipts on all that third superstar [expletive].

“Great hire for LA – going to be a big year next season”

Reaves’ shooting efficiency dipped a bit this season, but he did increase his scoring and assists averages to 15.9 and 5.5 a game, respectively, compared to 13.0 points and 3.4 assists a game last year.

He may never become an All-Star, but if Redick does become the innovative, Pat Riley-like coach the Lakers see him as capable of being, perhaps Reaves will see another bump in his numbers next season.

Austin Reaves says he will play in American Century Championship

Lakers guard Austin Reaves will be putting his golf skills to the test this July.

Even though the Los Angeles Lakers have struggled to put themselves in the conversation for the NBA championship, these are pretty rosy days for guard Austin Reaves.

He went from an undrafted player who was initially signed to a two-way contract in 2021 to an impact player last season. This season, he increased his points and assists production and reinforced what he did last season in his breakout campaign.

It earned him a four-year, $54 million contract last summer. Like many other wealthy and well-off people across America, Reaves has taken up the pastime of golf.

While he didn’t make the cut at the recent Korn Ferry Tour qualifier, he told Michael Corvo of ClutchPoints that he will be taking part in the upcoming American Century Championship.

Via ClutchPoints:

“I don’t think I’m playing in any more Korn Ferry qualifiers,” Reaves said. “I’m playing (the Good Good Midwest Open) in Indiana with Garrett Clark. It’s going to be a lot of fun.

“And then I’m playing in the American Century.”

The American Century Championship is a celebrity golf tournament that will take place in mid-July near Lake Tahoe in Nevada. Last year, Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors made headlines by making a hole-in-one, then converting a clutch putt to win the competition.

This year’s edition will feature current and former athletes such as the Miami Heat’ Kyle Lowry, New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Pro Football Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Steve Young. In addition, actors Don Cheadle, Ray Romano and Larry the Cable Guy will participate.

Lakers would prefer to keep Austin Reaves this offseason

The Lakers seem to value guard Austin Reaves very highly.

Ever since LeBron James came to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018, they haven’t really looked to develop any young talent. It is a common criticism of James-led teams, as the narrative is that such squads trade away draft picks and young prospects for older veterans.

But Austin Reaves has been an exception. Last season, the undrafted guard emerged in his second year as a starting-level player, and he maintained that level of play this season.

He struggled with his 3-point shooting at times, but he raised his scoring average and put up 2.1 more assists this season compared to last season.

The Lakers have reportedly been steadfast in their refusal to include Reaves in any trade talks, including those involving the Atlanta Hawks’ Dejounte Murray at midseason. According to Jovan Buha, that is still their attitude as free agent and trade season nears.

Via The Athletic:

“The Lakers would also prefer to keep Austin Reaves, according to team and league sources,” wrote Buha. “They previously refrained from including him in trade talks for Murray at the 2024 trade deadline and Kyrie Irving at the 2023 trade deadline. Reaves’ playoff performances in 2023 and 2024 have affirmed his fit around [LeBron] James and [Anthony] Davis.”

The problem is that Reaves is one of their most prized trade assets, other than perhaps their future first-round draft picks. If they want to land a third star, such as Donovan Mitchell, or even if they want to settle for Murray, they may have to part with Reaves in a potential trade.

Reaves is a good player, but it seems very unlikely he will ever be an All-Star, and thus Los Angeles shouldn’t value him as a future All-Star when having trade talks with other teams.

Bobby Marks suggests a Darius Garland trade package for the Lakers

Would Bobby Marks’ suggested trade be a good one for the Lakers?

The Los Angeles Lakers’ biggest personnel need is an upgrade over either D’Angelo Russell or Austin Reaves in their backcourt. They need a legitimate scoring threat and facilitator, as well as someone who will consistently create pace.

In addition to the impact that type of player would have on his own, he would take pressure off an aging LeBron James while reducing James’ workload.

To that end, Trae Young, Dejounte Murray and Donovan Mitchell have been mentioned as potential targets for Los Angeles. But according to at least one report, if Mitchell doesn’t force his way off of the Cleveland Cavaliers, his backcourt mate Darius Garland could instead ask for a trade.

Bobby Marks, an analyst for ESPN, suggested the Lakers could trade Reaves and forward Rui Hachimura for Garland (h/t The Cold Wire).

Garland will make $36.7 million next season, which could make him a bit too expensive for L.A. given his level of production. While he averaged a solid 18 points a game in the regular season, that was down from 21.6 a game last season. In addition, his efficiency fell from 46.2% overall and 41% from 3-point range last season to 44.6% and 37.1%, respectively, this year.

In this season’s playoffs, Garland’s numbers dipped further. He put up 15.7 points on 42.7% overall and 35.2% from downtown.

However, he is a crafty guard with good handles and smooth offensive skills overall, and he’s just 24 years of age, which means he’ll be around for a long time after James leaves.

It should be noted Garland is represented by Klutch Sports, the same agency that represents James and Anthony Davis.

Austin Reaves fails to qualify for Knoxville Open

Austin Reaves talks about his disappointing performance during a recent golf competition in Tennessee.

Over the last couple of seasons, Austin Reaves has emerged as a quality player for the Los Angeles Lakers and an integral part of their hopes for success. But there is much more to his life than merely basketball.

By now, many know the undrafted guard is an avid golfer. He certainly has the funds to take up the sport; he was given a generous four-year, $54 million contract last summer after his breakout 2022-23 campaign.

Reaves has gotten good enough on the links to try his hand at the game competitively. He recently went to Knoxville, Tennessee, to take part in the Korn Ferry Tour, but he shot a 76, which meant he didn’t make the cut.

Reaves talked about his experience at the competition and how he judged his performance there.

The Lakers’ long offseason after getting eliminated in the first round of the NBA playoffs by the Denver Nuggets has given Reaves plenty of time to enjoy his second-favorite sport. Of course, it will also give him plenty of time to work on his craft on the hardwood in preparation for next season.

Did Austin Reaves throw shade at Darvin Ham on Instagram?

Former Lakers head coach Darvin Ham continues to get criticized even after he was fired.

It has been about two weeks since the Los Angeles Lakers fired Darvin Ham after he had been their head coach for two seasons. Fans seem to have already moved on after spending the better part of this season heavily criticizing him and practically begging for him to be fired.

Apparently, it wasn’t only fans who felt that way. According to multiple reports, Lakers players wanted him to be shown the door and reportedly even ignored him during huddles.

Starting guard Austin Reaves liked a post on Instagram that showed an image of Ham simply writing “contest without fouling” instead of drawing up a play on a clipboard. It seems like it may have been a gentle shot Reaves took at his old head coach (h/t The Cold Wire).

Perhaps the greatest act of coaching malpractice is losing one’s locker room. Now that Ham has been excised from the Lakers organization, the franchise needs someone who has not only the leadership skills but also the tactical skills to retain the respect of his players.

Lakers’ chances of getting Donovan Mitchell could depend on interest in one player

Austin Reaves could be the key to the Lakers’ chances of landing Donovan Mitchell via trade this summer.

The Los Angeles Lakers’ plans this offseason could be starting to take shape. JJ Redick, at least right now, seems to be the favorite to land their head coaching job, and if they elect to trade for a third star, Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers is their top option.

If the pursuit worked out, Mitchell would be an awesome addition to the Lakers, and he could turn them into the favorites to win the NBA championship overnight. Of course, their chances of winning it all with him would largely depend on how well they’re able to fill out the rest of their roster, given how suffocating the salary cap is.

But getting him would be the hard part. Many other teams will be vying for Mitchell if he becomes available, and Los Angeles may not have the best trade package available.

Its most attractive trade chip may be starting guard Austin Reaves, and one Eastern Conference general manager said its chances of landing Mitchell could hinge on how attractive a trade chip he would be to Cleveland (h/t Cavaliers Nation).

Via Heavy:

“The only way the Lakers could trade for him,” one Eastern Conference GM told Heavy Sports, “is if they did an all-or-nothing kind of trade. It’s got to be that. They’d have to put all their chips in. Then it is just a matter of, how much do the Cavaliers like Austin Reaves?”

While Mitchell, 27, can become a free agent next summer, he hasn’t given any real indication of whether he wants to stay in Cleveland or go elsewhere.

He averaged 26.6 points a game in the regular season and 29.6 points a game in the playoffs this year. The five-time All-Star’s defense has significantly improved, and he would give the Lakers a much-needed injection of speed and athleticism in their backcourt.

A new version of Austin Reaves’ signature sneaker will soon drop

China-based Rigorer is set to release a new colorway of Austin Reaves’ signature shoe that will honor his Arkansas roots and love of golf.

This season was a reality check for Austin Reaves. He was a revelation last season while emerging as a valuable player, but his production dropped and opposing teams exposed him quite often on the defensive end this season.

Still, the 2023-24 didn’t do much to put a dent in Reaves’ overall reputation. While the hype surrounding him has died, it’s clear he’s still a good player. The Los Angeles Lakers guard increased his scoring and assists averages while shooting 48.6% from the field and 36.7% from 3-point range in the regular season.

He still has his signature sneaker with China-based Rigorer, and it is about to be released in a new colorway that will honor his Arkansas upbringing, as well as his love of another sport: golf.

In December, Reaves became a stakeholder in Rigorer, which makes it seem as if he will be with the company for a while.

This new colorway will drop on Saturday.