The Los Angeles Lakers face a delicate decision this summer, and Austin Reaves is right at the center of it.
Reaves is coming off a super strong regular season performance. On paper, he looked like a perfect complement to LeBron James and Luka Doncic as a reliable third option. But when the lights got brighter in the NBA Playoffs, the production sadly did not hold up.
Lakers need proof Austin Reaves can deliver when it matters most
In the regular season he averaged career highs in points (20.2), assists (5.8), and rebounds (4.5), all while shooting nearly 38 percent from three. In the postseason it was a different story.
Against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round, Reaves shot just 41 percent from the field and 31.9 percent from beyond the arc, despite taking more than nine attempts from deep per game.
His assist numbers dropped. His turnovers jumped. What was most alarming of all? His free throw attempts, which are undeniably a key part of his game, fell from 5 per game in the regular season to just 1.4.
“This is a big season for him,” a Western Conference assistant coach told ESPN. “He’d better bring it in the playoffs, because he’s got to be good enough [to pair with Doncic].”
That statement sets a clear message. Regular season numbers are not going to mean much if Reaves can’t produce when it matters. Playing next to Doncic who is considered one of the smartest and most demanding offensive engines in the league, means there is very little room for inconsistency.
Reaves has the skill set to complement Doncic, but if the shot is not falling and the decision-making is shaky, the Lakers' offense becomes too one-dimensional. Reaves is heading into free agency.
Chances are he is going to get paid. But it is fair to ask, “How much are the Lakers willing to invest in a player who still has not proven he can deliver in a playoff series?”
Reaves does deserve some benefit of the doubt. To be fair, Reaves, Doncic, and James only played 21 games together last season.
That is not a huge sample, and it makes evaluating fit even harder. Either way, if Reaves is going to be part of this core, the Lakers need to be confident he can step up, not disappear, when the stage gets bigger.
Reaves isn’t the first young player to struggle under playoff pressure. The sad truth is he might be the one the Lakers can least afford to be patient with.
He is for sure talented and likable, but this team is built to win now. If Reaves wants to be part of the future, he will have no choice but to prove he is more than just a regular season story.