Austin Reaves is having his breakout moment for the Los Angeles Lakers. It's also placing nails in the coffin for Bronny James' time in LA, and if it continues, Reaves will force Bronny right off of the Lakers entirely.
With LeBron James sidelined to start the year and Luka Doncic missing a week with a few minor injuries, the Lakers needed a hero. Austin Reaves stepped up in a major way, dropping a 50-burger one night and notching a game-winner in another game. It was his moment, and he thrived.
For the season, Reaves is averaging 32 points and nine assists, leading the league in free throws and a trio of triples per game. He is putting up historic numbers that place him [right up there among the Lakers' greats](https://lakeshowlife.com/lebron-magic-baylor-now-austin-reaves-lakers-fans-are-stunned), and he has kept the Lakers afloat in a competitive Western Conference.
Luka Doncic returned on Friday night and took over the mantle of No. 1 scorer, but there is plenty of room for Reaves to continue flexing his muscles as a scorer and playmaker. He is also incredibly incentivized to do so; not only does it help the Lakers win, but it sets him up for a lucrative payday next summer.
Reaves has thus far [earned a max contract next summer](https://lakeshowlife.com/exact-amount-austin-reaves-next-contract-lakers-revealed), and if his play continues at this level, he will find it from someone. That likely means the Lakers need to pay up to retain him. In the process, then, they will almost certainly say goodbye to LeBron James.
it's a move they have been preparing for ever since trading for Luka Doncic. The groundwork has been laid. The Lakers hope to use cap space next summer to upgrade the team around Doncic, and unless The King is willing to take a significant pay cut to remain in Hollywood, his time with the Lakers may be through.
The Lakers can keep Reaves' small cap hold on their books, use cap space, and then sign him to a max deal. They cannot do that if LeBron is making significant money. They also likely wouldn't, as such a trifecta of max-paid stars would push them into perilous salary territory. Someone has to go, and it's likely LeBron.
Bronny James could be on his way off the Lakers
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That is a story that has been much-discussed all offseason, of course, but one downstream implication is that Bronny James is likely gone as well. LeBron's son has shown some flashes in preseason that he may deserve an NBA roster spot, but even with the Lakers' injury woes he hasn't seen much playing time. He's not ready to contribute to winning basketball, at least not in the eyes of JJ Redick.
If LeBron James either retires or walks in free agency to another team next summer, Bronny James will not be long for the Lakers. The most likely outcome is that he is traded to LeBron's next team as an "add-on" to the new free agency contract. The Dallas Mavericks or Cleveland Cavaliers would trade for Bronny to keep him and his father together.
If not, the Lakers likely find a way to use Bronny's salary in a trade to bring back a player who can help them, or at worst attach a small asset to dump his salary on a rebuilding team to clear the roster spot. The only real reason Bronny was ever on the Lakers was LeBron, and once that reason is gone, the Lakers are likely to move on.
There was a scenario in place for next summer where the Lakers decided Reaves wasn't worth the cost to pair with Luka, and thus, LeBron stuck around for another year. That is out the window, as Reaves has made yet another leap into stardom. Doncic has a strong track record of playing alongside on-ball co-stars such as Jalen Brunson and Kyrie Irving. Reaves is next in line.
And that means Bronny James is about to be pushed out of line.