The Los Angeles Lakers were considered the winners of the Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis blockbuster February trade, more so after AD missed a chunk of games after only playing three quarters in his Dallas Mavericks debut.
More than that, adding Doncic has opened more options for the Lakers, specifically for Austin Reaves. The veteran guard has come into his own man, coming from being an undrafted free agent to the team’s third option behind Doncic and LeBron James.
Rob Pelinka didn’t mince words when talking about Reaves’ ceiling, noting how much he’s improved since he first joined the purple and gold.
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“My theory is basketball geniuses that love to win, find ways to work and click together,” Pelinka said, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN. “And we knew LeBron was a basketball savant, wants to win at the highest level. Obviously Luka Doncic, basketball savant, wants to win at the highest level. And AR is coming into his own there. He gets the game, he sees it. He can fit, really, with anybody.”
Up until February 10 (Luka Doncic’s debut date with the Lakers), Austin Reaves averaged 19.2 points, 6.1 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game. After the Slovenian star arrived, he has averaged 22.2 points, 5.2 assists and 4.7 rebounds per outing.
While he’s recording nearly one fewer assist per game, the Lakers don’t need to rely on him to be a playmaker since Doncic is the primary ball-handler, even before James.
It’s also true that Reaves has had to go on solo missions when the team’s two main stars are out, but the numbers show that the guard is improving his level.
Pelinka is waiting and pushing for Reaves to be Doncic’s sidekick once James retires and his audition is going just fine so far.