Through four games, Austin Reaves is the best player on the Los Angeles Lakers. Not only has he been their only reliable star, but he has been downright elite.
Through four games, the Lakers are 2-2. Luka Doncic has missed the last two contests, and LeBron James is yet to make his debut. Reaves has kept them afloat, averaging 35.8 points, 8.5 assists, and 1.8 steals.
Of course, those MVP numbers are unsustainable, although it’s clear that Reaves has taken a leap. He will be an unrestricted free agent next summer and will likely be able to command significant value.
The Lakers, luckily, can offer more money than most teams, although there is one snag that could hold him up.
GettySACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 26: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after the Lakers made a basket against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on October 26, 2025 in Sacramento, California. Reaves finished with a career high 51 points. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Lakers Need to Commit to Austin Reaves
The Lakers are Doncic’s team. Even with Reaves playing out of his mind, Doncic remains the centerpiece for all of the team’s plans moving forward.
However, Doncic needs a supporting cast. It’s clear that Reaves is the best option, despite a limited sample size of the pair playing together.
What could hold Reaves up is the possibility of the Lakers refusing to commit to him. If they bring back James next summer, is Reaves content to remain the third option? A similar situation has happened before, and Doncic was involved.
“The Reaves dynamic has potential shades of what transpired with Doncic in Dallas, when Jalen Brunson opted to leave the Mavericks for the New York Knicks and the chance to have his own team in 2022,” pointed out The Athletic’s Sam Amick. “Add in the fact that James could decide to retire at any given moment, and the prospect of Doncic being left without an elite core around him is real.”
Would Reaves want to be “the guy” on a rebuilding team or make the same amount of money to be the second option on a team with title hopes? That remains to be seen, and his breakout should be a welcome surprise for the Lakers.
Los Angeles Lakers Built Austin Reaves Into a Star
Reaves went undrafted in 2021 despite the Detroit Pistons being interested. Instead, he forced his way to Los Angeles, quickly blossoming into one of the best undrafted free agents of all time.
The Lakers, to their credit, have supported him every step of the way.
“Reaves’ desire to truly contend, as well as his affinity for the Lakers experience, is well known around the team,” Amick added. “If they find a way to be elite, then perhaps that becomes an incentive to stay. What’s more, it should count for something that Lakers owner Jeanie Buss and president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka have consistently resisted pressure to trade Reaves for a star player because of their belief in him.”
Would Reaves want to leave the team that built him into a star? Luckily for him, a quality supporting cast for Doncic would only benefit him, too. For the sake of his career and winning reputation, staying in Hollywood is best for all parties.
Pelinka, clearly, knows how to handle talent and personalities better than Nico Harrison. The Lakers shouldn’t have to worry about a Brunson/Dallas Mavericks situation.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Los Angeles Lakers Could Suffer Same Fate as 2022 Dallas Mavericks appeared first on Heavy Sports.