After missing three games with a groin strain, Austin Reaves is expected to return to the lineup Monday night when the Los Angeles Lakers face the Charlotte Hornets on the road. The 27-year-old guard is officially listed as “probable” on the NBA injury report, signaling a likely end to his brief absence.
Head coach JJ Redick first provided the positive update over the weekend, revealing that Reaves’ MRI showed no major damage.
“Yeah, he did have imaging,” Redick said Saturday. “He’s got a mild strain. His pain is really low right now. This is precautionary, given the nature of the potential for a more serious injury in that area. Don’t know when he’ll be back, but given that his pain is pretty low, I’d expect him to be back at some point on this trip.”
That point has come — and while it remains unclear whether Reaves will be on a minutes restriction, his return couldn’t come at a better time for a Lakers team that just saw its five-game winning streak snapped in a 122-102 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.
Reaves’ Career-Best Start Before the Injury
Before going down with the groin issue, Reaves was enjoying a career-best start to his fifth NBA season. The Arkansas native has blossomed into one of the league’s most efficient and versatile guards, averaging 31.1 points, 9.3 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.4 steals through his first seven games.
Despite missing three contests, Reaves still leads the Lakers in total points (218), assists (65), and three-pointers made (21), and leads the team in plus/minus (+46), tied with Marcus Smart. His 48.9% field goal percentage is also a career high.
A stunning three-game stretch punctuated Reaves’ breakout without LeBron James and Luka Dončić, during which he averaged 40 points per game, including a buzzer-beating floater to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 29.
His combination of efficiency, court vision, and confidence under pressure has vaulted him into early All-Star consideration.
Rising Market Value and Free Agency Buzz
Reaves’ rapid rise has not only bolstered the Lakers’ playoff hopes but also made him one of the most talked-about names heading into next summer’s NBA free agency.
According to Dan Woike of The Athletic and Zach Lowe of The Ringer, the versatile guard could command offers north of $40 million annually in the open market.
“If he has a good year, he could be a fringe All-Star candidate for sure,” Lowe said, noting that a max contract is within reach.
With the NBA’s projected salary cap increase, rival teams could offer as much as $42 million per season, placing Reaves financially alongside All-Star guards like Trae Young.
“His market is going to be huge,” Woike added. “If he plays well, there will be offers north of $40 million for him. With the cap jump, his max from another team starts around $42 million. It’s him and Trae — those are the free agents everyone’s watching.”
Despite the growing buzz, Reaves has repeatedly said he wants to remain in Los Angeles long term — a sentiment the Lakers front office shares.
LeBron James Progressing Toward Mid-November Return
While Reaves rejoins the lineup, James remains sidelined with right sciatica, but progress is encouraging.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the 40-year-old superstar has been cleared for contact basketball activities and will be re-evaluated in one to two weeks. The next step is ramping up to full 5-on-5 participation as he continues to recover from an injury that has kept him out since training camp.
“LeBron James has been working out individually,” Charania reported Wednesday on NBA Countdown. “I’m told that the next step for him is 5-on-5 live play. He will not be traveling on the upcoming five-game week-long road trip that starts in Atlanta this weekend.”
In addition to James, the Lakers remain without Gabe Vincent (ankle) and rookie Adou Thiero (knee surgery recovery).
Lakers Look to Regain Momentum
As Reaves returns and Kleber continues to build conditioning after his debut, the Lakers hope to regain rhythm and defensive focus on this crucial East Coast stretch.
Redick, who has emphasized ball movement and effort on both ends, will look to Reaves’ playmaking and scoring to stabilize an offense that has struggled without him in Atlanta.
If the Lakers can get both Reaves and James back to full strength soon, Los Angeles could re-emerge as a legitimate Western Conference contender — and Reaves’ continued rise may be the biggest reason why.
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