Austin Reaves Discussion: How Much Is He Worth?

And I'm not trying to hate on Reaves. I've been a staunch defender. I was saying they should have given more opportunities instead of AD and just focus on cleaning up around the rim and playing defense rather than being the automatic 1st or 2nd option on the team.

When LeBron was clearly not meshing well with Luka+Reaves, I said LeBron should step aside and let Reaves control more possessions.

I think because Reaves is homegrown and has outplayed his contract since playing for the Lakers, we try and give him more leeway to make mistakes, not always perform well, etc.,

I'd like to believe all of this changes when you're now getting paid max dollars and trusted to be the Lakers 2nd option. Because his current gameplay will not get it done. And if he's not that type of player, which there is no harm in not being one, then the Lakers should explore trade options. I wouldn't be upset at trading Reaves + Vando + Knecht for Kyrie and a combination of their players. Dallas probably wants no business trading with Lakers but Reaves would be great for their team. Kyrie's a better shooter, passer, off-ball player, and shows up to perform when it matters. Already has good chemistry with LeBron and Luka.

Like what's the excuse for Reaves horrible play against Minnesota last playoffs? He played horrible. And he largely walked away without anyone blaming him. At what point does Reaves have to show up and improve? He's going to be 28 and in his prime. This is no longer a player who needs development. Are you that guy or should the Lakers trade you for that guy or other pieces who fit better? Just saying.

 

He got much stronger this summer. Was visible early season.
He has actually improved a lot each summer and I think he will continue to do so.

Definitely there's a discomfort from him against physicality and his playoff performances have been subpar, no way around it. And it does impact how much he should be paid.

But as with Ellis, I think it just means we can get him a bit cheaper and that's a good thing. Maybe he's more comfortable with the 35 price tag and gives us some extra room to operate.

No way I accept losing him this summer, that's a fireable offense. If it doesn't work with Luka he will always be a good contract to trade down the line.

 

From a tactical standpoint...JJ could set him up with some more picks, and ball screens farther out. This gives him a little more space, to get up some steam on his drives. He's not Luka..I don't think he should be left on his own, to have to beat ball pressure, out past the top of the key, and get us into our sets constantly.

 

There’s nothing to fill. By all metrics Murray is equal to or better than AR in playmaker/creator and that’s in year coming off injury.If you want to say AR is the more efficient offensive player I concede but he isn’t the better playmaker

 

Lots of good conversation. It’s funny, I feel like AD used to get hammered as out 2nd option, but being homegrown we let things slide.

Across 3 years of playoffs, Reaves is a 16/4/4 guy, to be the second option he needs to be a 22/5/6 guy.

If we are going out and building a different kind of team, where Luka is the epicentre and we surround him with a bunch of 3rd / 4th options, that’s fine too. It just means Reaves should take 30m per year.

 

not true.

 

Ok let’s see it.Show me the metrics

 

That is not true. I know we’re all down on AR right now and for good reason, but I’ll still take him over Murray any day of the week.

 

Murray has been putting up big playoffs performances since the bubble. They are not the same guy. The playoffs just hit harder for me.



If we are going out and building a different kind of team, where Luka is the epicentre and we surround him with a bunch of 3rd / 4th options

I like that idea.

 

i assumed you were talking about dejounte, not jamal.

add in dejounte's VERY worrisome injury history, and i think it's clear which guy is worth more money right now.

iirc, your proposal was him and jones...and that's not something i'd be that mad about, but you could regret it.

 

We’re not talking about Jamal Murray.

 

Oh..Dejounte..the dreaded ACL/Achilles combo...no tks.

 

I don’t believe this helps your argument that there wouldn’t be a secondary playmaker although I appreciate your reply.I guess it just depends on what metric site you put your faith in.
I’m not arguing who’s worth more I’m arguing what makes the team better. Everyone here wants Watson and I’m advocating teaming him with Jones.Also a Lukacentrc back court of smart and Murray.

 

I always like Murray with AR for some reason not as a replacement

 

Hilarious that most in here are completely omitting the FACT that he’s just come off an injury and needs to play himself back into shape.
Whatever, AR can be the whipping boy for everyone.
OKC would have beat our unbalanced roster even with a healthy AR.
Just face the truth: Lakers are multiple pieces away from being a true contender- we have know this since the beginning of the season.

 

I think the frustration is that a lot of pieces that the Lakers weren't sure of actually have fallen into place?
-Lebron looks great in whatever role you want to put him in
-Ayton/Hayes is a legit solid C rotation
-Rui is Rui but the shot continues to work and he's at least shown enough flashes as a man to man defender to be a considered a legit solid roleplayer on a playoff team
-And finally Smart has been awesome

Then you see AR who won you a bunch of game and the team is ready to throw down a #2 type of contract in the apron era sit the bed - it's frustrating. I get it (and I'm an AR fan and I think it would be crazy not to pay him).

Yeah Luka hurts and everyone is ready to shower love on the non-Wonder Twins in Jake and Vando but it ain't fun watching a tough veteran team that's shown fight despite the injuries continue to plug away only to see one of the leaders kind of fall apart. This is the price you pay when you move up a level in terms of expectations.

 

Nobody wanted Marcus on this team because he was injury prone as well

 

We are one of the most top heavy squads in the League.
We have no bench and when OKC rest their starters, they don’t lose a thing when it comes to scoring, defending and athleticism.
Luka more than “hurts.” He makes everything easy for everyone else on offense and can literally win games himself with his massive scoring/assist outbursts.
Let’s still pretend that Austin is the only player that doesn’t need to get back into game shape because he’s a cyborg.

 

Umm no s***? Fact is AR was not just bad but historically bad. Weren't you one of the guys all over Lebron in the beginning of the year. - fact is AR is really good your expected to perform better even when you are facing adversity