The Los Angeles Lakers are off to a strong 6-2 start this season. LeBron James has yet to suit up, and Luka Dončić has already missed four games. Austin Reaves has carried much of the load, but he may have sustained a lingering injury against the Miami Heat.
“JJ Redick said Austin Reaves tweaked his groin early in last night’s win vs. Miami, and he played through it towards 26 points and 11 assists. Reaves is sore today and won’t play tonight; Redick said they’ll evaluate him again tomorrow,” Lakers reporter Mike Trudell posted.
Reaves got off to a historic start in his first five games, which included a game-winner against the Minnesota Timberwolves. However, his strong play has raised questions about whether the Lakers might get outbid for him in the future.
“On top of that, if Reaves keeps churning out performances like that one, teams around the league will certainly take even more notice. That could hike up his pricetag in free agency and perhaps even make more teams interested in throwing him an offer. That’s dangerous for the Lakers. Reaves playing well is obviously amazing for the Lakers, but it’s going to make the team’s future a bit trickier to navigate after this season, one way or another,” Lake Show Life’s Jack Simone wrote.
NBA insider Marc Stein, however, has put those concerns to rest, emphasizing Reaves’ loyalty to Los Angeles.
“There is no sense at this point that Austin Reaves is looking anywhere else," Stein said during an appearance on the ALL NBA Podcast. "Going undrafted and becoming a Laker has been tremendous for Austin Reaves. ... His future, I think he would say that he wants it to be in Laker land."
Reaves has been vocal about wanting to spend his entire career in Los Angeles, but that kind of loyalty is rare across the league. The Lakers recognize that Reaves has improved each season, solidifying his value to the team.
It’s hard to imagine a scenario where Reaves leaves—especially with Dončić alongside him, forming a dangerous duo. It will be even more exciting when James returns, particularly if he runs it back with them for at least another season.