The Los Angeles Lakers have once again found themselves with too many superstars to handle. After having LeBron James since 2018, trading for Luka Doncic just months ago, and now seeing the ultimate rise of Austin Reaves, the Lakers have three All-Star-caliber players teams around the league would love to have.
However, this new trio could be extremely short-lived, and as James has yet to suit up this season due to sciatica, the three haven’t even been on the court together since Los Angeles’ playoff loss in April. But while head coach JJ Redick and general manager Rob Pelinka wait for James to return, there’s a ticking clock on the time he could have left on the team.
With James set to become a free agent next summer, and the immense value he still holds around the league at age 40, the Lakers were recently urged to explore their options with the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, because right now, there is a chance he leaves in the offseason for nothing.
“The Lakers still can (and should) test the trade market for potential upgrades,” Zach Buckley wrote for Bleacher Report on what the Lakers should do with James and his expiring contract. “If the right offer comes along, the Purple and Gold should absolutely pounce. If it doesn’t, though, the Lakers shouldn’t feel the need to overpay for a subtle upgrade just to appease an aging star.”
Over the most recent offseason, James picked up his $52.6 million player option with Los Angeles for this season. Since that news, along with the comments made by his agent, Rich Paul, to NBA insider Shams Charania, have sparked mass speculation about the star’s future.
LeBron James Isn’t The Lakers’ Priority Anymore
Part of Buckley’s message to the Lakers centered around recent comments made by Charania, as in a podcast appearance, he said that James’ status is still very much ‘up in the air’, and nobody knows if he even wants to come back.
But with the uncertainty around one of the best players in the history of the sport, it also begs the question of whether the Lakers want to keep him around. They now have Doncic, and while Reaves’ future is also as uncertain as James’, having an arguably top-five player on any given night is a good starting point for the 17-time champions.
Not that they have that stability in the superstar position with Doncic taking the reins from James, the front office doesn’t need to do what they’ve done in the past and go out of their way to appease ‘The King’. Regardless of the decision he makes over the offseason, it wouldn’t topple what the franchise has been building.
“Sure, the Lakers would probably prefer he doesn’t take his talents elsewhere, but they aren’t living and dying with that decision,” Buckley wrote. “The baton has obviously been handed over to Dončić, so it falls on James to find his fit in L.A. The organization, on the other hand, no longer needs to feel obligated to fit its plans around whatever serves him best.”
Whenever he does return from sciatica and begins his record-breaking 23rd NBA season, there is still the question of ‘How much is left in the tank?’
“There’s no guarantee he’ll even play beyond this season,” Buckley added. “The Lakers have to remember that and act accordingly. James might be an important puzzle piece right now, but he’s no longer the most important player they have.”
Luka Doncic And Reaves Are Carrying The Team
Sure, saying the Lakers have been a two-man show to begin the season is a stretch, but looking at the numbers, it is hard to find a team relying on two players more than Los Angeles has with Reaves and Doncic.
Specifically for the former, as he is one of only four Lakers’ players to suit up in each of their seven games so far. In that span, he’s averaged 31.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 9.3 assists, including a near 50-point triple-double and a buzzer-beater against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
In what has been the first semi-prolonged stretch of his career as the frontman of a team, Reaves has picked up the responsibility in stride.
“That guy is going to show up in the big moments,” Redick said after Reaves’ game-winner. “I’m not surprised. He’s done that many times in his career.”
The ‘Reavesvolution‘ has hit Laker Land hard to start the year, but along with him, Doncic has also been playing some of the best basketball of his career. The Slovenian did sit out for three games with leg and finger injuries, but after missing a week, he was back to regularly scheduled programming.
In four games, Doncic is averaging what would be a league-leading 41.3 points (hasn’t played in at least 70% of games, isn’t on the official stat ladder until then), 11.5 rebounds, and 8.3 assists on 54.5% shooting. After signing his deal and losing some weight, Doncic now looks comfortable as the leader for the Lakers.
Redick has had strong contributions from players like Deandre Ayton, Rui Hachimura, Jake LaRavia, and Marcus Smart, but it’s mostly been the ‘Doncic and Reaves Show‘ through seven games, and will likely continue to be until James returns.
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