After the Houston Rockets were dealt a blow to their Finals hopes, it’s safe to say that the team is in scramble mode. Initially seen as the third-best team in the Western Conference, losing Fred VanVleet has caused the Los Angeles Lakers, Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and San Antonio Spurs to find some hope that they could host a playoff series.
The Lakers, with LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves leading the way, are early favorites to finish third in the West for the second year in a row.
With James and Reaves both in a contract year and Doncic already cemented as the face of the franchise, all three players are expected to be the best versions of themselves. However, things could go south in Hollywood.
Getty Luka Doncic, Lebron James and Austin Reaves of the Los Angeles are committed to work on their chemistry.
Worst-Case Scenario for Austin Reaves Revealed
Reaves, who is only a year older than Doncic, is expected to sign a lucrative contract next summer in the ballpark of $30 or $35 million per year. However, with plenty of ball-handlers in the starting lineup, Reaves might be demoted to the second unit, and with James still in town, the Lakers might not be willing to fully commit to him as a second option.
“What if things just go very badly this season for Austin Reaves with the Lakers?” asked Zach Lowe on September 23rd’s episode of the Bill Simmons podcast. “What if it’s like, ‘Oh, you asked me to come off the bench,’ extension talks, you know, they couldn’t really get started because you couldn’t offer me enough. But I’m not sure, ‘Do you really value me enough in a Luka world? LeBron is still here. Is he retiring? If he’s retiring, is that good for my future in L.A.?’ I’m just saying, like, there’s a world in which it goes.”
Now, Reaves did improve last season playing alongside both Doncic and James, so there’s no reason to think he will take a step back, unless the Lakers ask him to play a reduced role.
Reaves averaged 19.1 points and 6.1 assists per game on 36.4% shooting from deep before Doncic made his Lakers’ debut last season. After Doncic arrived, Reaves’ averages improved to 21.9 points, and his shooting went up to 39.6% from 3-point range in the final 28 games. However, if LA makes it clear that they value him as a bench player, extension talks could stall.
Austin Reaves Could Be Traded to Rockets
When Lowe expressed his concerns about Reaves, he was doing so under the subject of “Houston Rockets trade options.” With VanVleet out with a torn ACL, the Rockets either need Reed Sheppard to step up or need to pull off a trade.
As Lowe pointed out, the Lakers won’t entertain trading Reaves unless things ‘go very badly,’ although it is a possibility.
Reaves will make $13.9 million this season and will presumably decline his option next summer, and the Rockets, if they trade for him, could offer him a new contract within the expected market value, especially if the Lakers take back VanVleet to pair with Doncic moving forward.
In a desperate effort to capitalize on Doncic’s peak, the Los Angeles Lakers could pull off a blockbuster, especially if their current rotation doesn’t look sustainable long-term.
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