Austin Reaves Discussion: Will He Stay Or Will He Go?

In a CAREER contract year I have no idea how you can possibly think that. Wait and see is my prediction and those are incredibly short sighted takes based upon no history of his past improvement every year 4 seasons running now and just entering his prime years. More strength … book it because he knows he needs it. And higher levels on all his skills has to be his goal. Do you honestly think he plans coming back NOT a better player and expecting 30M per year?

 

Watching it now.

At minute 11 he defers a bit. Talking about the criticisms of Luka-AR pairing on defense, he answers defensive rotations and team defense. He could have mentioned that he needs to become stronger on that end.

Earlier he says that in the summer he will continue to do what he has been doing. No particular area to address. I would like him to improve defensively, on offense he's there.

 

Austin has a great on his shoulders. My skepticism about him and Luka as a long-term pairing has nothing to do with his skill, work ethic, or intangibles. It's solely the physical profile stuff that he has no control over.

Irwin seems insistent that we're trying to swing a trade for a legit big like Kessler, Claxton or Rob Williams and also use the TPMLE on a backup. If that's true, it tells me they're committed to Austin as part of the core and want to build a big, physical team with centers that can clean up some breakdowns on the perimeter. That's sounds good to me. What I don't think is tenable is committing to the Luka/Austin pairing, while also committing to a switch-heavy/small-ball play style.

 

AR doing some scouting with some interagency talent?

 

sharpe working on that corner three is interesting...

AR recruitin'!

not sure laravia's a fit with us unless we move knecht. even then, he's not a great fit, as his defense was really bad until last year, and he's just not super quick.

 

THE CONNECTOR

 

Please keep AR if possible...Better retire Bron)

 

Austin here to stay

 

What I've been saying all along to the consternation of some of the armchair wheelers and dealers grass is always greeners non (exquisite) bird in handers.

 

AR is obviously a very good player.The problem as I see it is I don’t believe he can reach his potential on a team with Luka and LeBron.I guess waiting till LeBron retires is the plan.

 

Yo Austin, need to work on your GM skills. Couldn't deliver LaRavia AND Sharpe?

 

AR playing with LeBron and AD and then LeBron and Luka has raised not his potential but his actual performance every year and by no means has peaked yet ... just entering his prime years. But his max VALUE is being that "connector" that Stever Kerr coined after Austin played a big part in beating GS in the playoffs 3 years ago and then coaching him in FIBA Ball .... to allow those Stars / whoever's on the floor with him to be at their best and do whatever's needed from him to accomplish that.

 

We can’t say Austin has peaked, but we also can’t say he hasn’t. At 20/5/5, he’s knocking on all star level - I’m not sure how much improvement there is left. Do you expect him to be a 25/5/7 player soon?

That would be incredible and make him likely the best undrafted player of all time. And a legitimate star in this league. I just find it hard to project exponentially like that, there’s usually a ceiling to improvement and the better you get the closer that ceiling is.

 

What do those numbers have to do with the kind of player he is? If he wants money up around the 30M level he has to know he's got to get even better. I've said it before that IMO that includes building up his upper body strength wise as he has a good base, and his stamina to take the increased physicality being directed at him now, and working on ALL of his various skills. Better handles for the increased pressure, passing, less turnovers and getting better in all the ways he can score to some degree including his 3 point %. Without DLO here last year and him having that kind of usage he had following the trade all season it's likely his scoring might have been up to 22 per game and more assists and such. If he wants to double his money per season WITH the Lakers he has to take his game to another level. If he can't then he's still a keeper of a player for us and if he truly wants to stay a Laker then he'll know honestly it's for maybe 25-27M.

 

I think he is worth 30m now. He won’t have any higher usage because Lebron and Luka are here. You’re right, he can improve a bit physically and on the handle. But he can’t improve athletically and if he could it would mean defenses couldn’t shut him down as easily like they did in the playoffs.

I really like AR, hope he has a great year like last year. But I’m not banking on any more improvement but consolidation of this level.