The Los Angeles Lakers received a dose of optimism on the injury front Monday, upgrading Austin Reaves to questionable and raising hopes the breakout guard could return as soon as Tuesday night against the Phoenix Suns.
Lakers coach JJ Redick said Reaves participated in practice for the first time since suffering a left calf strain, though his workload remained limited after missing the past three games.
“He’ll be day to day,” Redick said following practice.
Still, the latest NBA injury report has fueled optimism that Reaves’ return is imminent — and potentially well-timed for a Lakers team navigating growing injury concerns.
Reaves’ Potential Return Comes at Critical Juncture
The update arrives as the Lakers prepare to play without franchise centerpiece Luka Dončić, who exited Saturday’s 103–88 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers with a lower left leg contusion and has already been ruled out for Tuesday.
Reaves’ availability would be especially significant given the Lakers’ recent offensive strain. Since joining the starting lineup full-time, the fifth-year guard has evolved from a complementary scorer into one of the league’s most productive high-usage guards.
Before the calf injury, Reaves appeared in 21 games, averaging more than 37 minutes per night while posting career highs across the board: 27.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.0 steal per game. He is shooting an efficient 50 percent from the field, 37 percent from three-point range and 88 percent from the free-throw line, placing him among the NBA’s most efficient perimeter scorers.
Impact Beyond the Box Score
Reaves’ influence extends well beyond scoring. According to StatMuse, he leads the Lakers in plus-minus at +81, underscoring his two-way value and lineup versatility.
Redick has been vocal about Reaves’ trajectory dating back to their earliest conversations.
“Our first conversation when I took the job was, ‘You’re going to be an All-Star,’” Redick recalled. “I’m not going to every player and saying that. I actually said it because I believe it.”
On the court, Reaves has backed up that confidence, emerging as a stabilizing offensive engine alongside Dončić and LeBron James.
Trade Debate Emerges Despite Breakout Season
Despite Reaves’ ascent, questions about roster construction have intensified. NBA analyst Tom Haberstroh recently suggested the Lakers should consider trading Reaves while his value is high, citing defensive concerns surrounding the team’s star trio.
In a recent Substack column, Haberstroh argued that a lineup featuring Dončić, James and Reaves places too much defensive strain on the roster.
“The Lakers aren’t going to go deep in the postseason with Luka Dončić, LeBron James and Austin Reaves,” Haberstroh wrote. “All three players deserve better.”
Using Second Spectrum player-tracking data, Haberstroh noted that Dončić, James and Reaves rank among the league’s slowest defensive players based on ground covered, a combination he deemed untenable over a full playoff run.
Production vs. Fit Remains Central Question
GettyLuka Dončić, Lebron James and Austin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers are net negative when they are all playing together on the floor.
By traditional metrics, the Lakers’ star trio has been prolific. Dončić is averaging 34.8 points, 8.8 assists and 8.8 rebounds, while Reaves’ 27.8 points, 6.7 assists and 5.6 rebounds represent career highs. James, at age 40, continues to defy expectations with 20.2 points, 7.1 assists and 5.6 rebounds.
According to Haberstroh’s research, the Lakers are the first team in NBA history to feature three players averaging at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists.
However, lineup data from pbpstats paints a more complicated picture. Since acquiring Dončić, the trio has logged 695 minutes together, producing a minus-31 net margin and a minus-2.6 net rating per 100 possessions.
Lakers Remain Well Positioned Contractually
Despite the debate, the Lakers maintain a strong financial position regarding Reaves’ future. Holding his full Bird Rights, Los Angeles can offer the undrafted guard a five-year, $241 million contract, while rival teams would be limited to a four-year, $178.5 million deal.
For now, the focus remains on health. As the Lakers await Dončić’s return, Reaves’ potential availability Tuesday could provide a critical lift — and another opportunity for the rising guard to reinforce his growing importance to the franchise.
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