One player who improved his stock in the NBA as much as anybody last season was Austin Reaves. The Los Angeles Lakers guard cemented himself as the third-best player on a team with Luka Doncic and LeBron James.
He averaged a career-high 20.2 points per game and is likely set for a major payday in the near future. He’s also the Lakers’ most valuable trade asset. While Reaves proved that he’s a high-end NBA player last season, there are still some who aren’t buying that he’s as good as everybody makes him out to be.
Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report ranked the most overrated players in the NBA and had Reaves listed at No. 4.
“Life under the Hollywood spotlight has both its perks and its problems,” Hughes wrote. “Performing inside of a fishbowl magnifies both strengths and shortcomings, leading to often confusing views of a player’s true valuation.
“In other words, it really isn’t Reaves’ fault he’s on this list, but he’s also benefitting from being perhaps the most talked-about third option in basketball. How many—if any—headlines would be dedicated to him if he was putting up the same 20.2 points and 5.8 assists on, say, the New Orleans Pelicans instead of the Lakers?”
Why is Reaves Overrated?
Reaves came into the NBA as an undrafted free agent, so it’s difficult to understand how he’d be overrated after averaging 20.2 points as a starter for a playoff team. However, the fact that he’s in Los Angeles might have elevated him to a position he wouldn’t have been in otherwise.
Hughes explained why he thinks Reaves is overrated.
“Add it all up, and you’re looking at an offense-leaning (offense-only?) solid starter or perhaps high-end sixth man. Yet, you’ll hear talk of him being a star, being untouchable and potentially soon being paid north of $30 million annually,” Hughes wrote.
“He might be a high-end role player, but that’s probably where he tops out. Because while he may seem young in terms of NBA service (four seasons under his belt), his 27th birthday is already behind him. It’s possible we’ve already seen his best, and his best isn’t nearly as good as you’ve probably heard from the loudest, most optimistic portion of his fanbase.”
Should Lakers Pay Reaves?
Reaves turned down a contract extension that would’ve paid him $89.2 million over four years this offseason. This is because he will be eligible to sign a contract that pays him $42.5 million a year next offseason.
That’s a significant price for a high-end third option. There will likely be a team out there willing to pay that price, but that might not be the Lakers. He’s been a very good player, but he’d need to take another leap this season to justify that kind of salary.
Reaves has to prove that he can be the No. 2 option on a championship-level team if he’s going to get paid over $40 million a year by the Lakers. It’s possible that he can make that leap, but as Hughes noted, Reaves is already 27 and might not have much more room to grow.
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