The Los Angeles Lakers plan on running more of their offense through Austin Reaves next season, according to NBA insider Jovan Buha of The Athletic.
Reaves re-signed with the Lakers on a four-year, $56 million contract, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. The Lakers were never going to lose Reaves, who was a restricted free agent.
“The Lakers plan on running more of their offense through Reaves next season, unlocking the point guard skills he’s flashed through his first two years in the league, according to team sources not authorized to speak publicly,” Buha wrote.
Reaves, who is an undrafted player, averaged 13.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists last season while shooting 52.9% from the field, 39.8% from beyond the arc and 86.4% from the free-throw line. The 25-year-old Arkansas native took his game to another level in the 2023 playoffs, averaging 16.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 16 games versus the Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Austin Reaves & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
The Lakers are expected to start D’Angelo Russell, Reaves, Rui Hachimura, LeBron James and Anthony Davis next season. The purple and gold got swept by the Nuggets in the 2023 conference finals. General manager Rob Pelinka added Gabe Vincent, Taurean Prince, Cam Reddish and Jaxson Hayes in free agency.
Reaves has career averages of 10.2 points and 2.6 assists with the Lakers. He developed a good rapport with James and Davis last season and it sounds like the Lakers are going to put the ball in his hands more often next season.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Austin Reaves & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
It will be fascinating to see how many games Los Angeles wins next season. James will turn 39 in December and Davis always seems to get hurt at least once every campaign. Even though Reaves will have a bigger role in 2023-24, the Lakers will only go as far as James and Davis can lead them.
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