The Lakers locked in Austin Reaves on a four-year, $185 million extension this week. And Iman Shumpert, who won a ring next to LeBron James in Cleveland, wasn’t sure what to make of it at first.
Shumpert said on ESPN that he thought the deal was ‘odd’ given Reaves’ defensive issues. But once he found out the Pistons were sniffing around, it started making more sense. Detroit had the cap space and the need for a scorer, and Los Angeles couldn’t afford to let Reaves walk for nothing.
Defensive Concerns, Offensive Firepower
There’s a real argument that you can’t win a title with your two highest-paid guys both being defensive liabilities. And that’s where the Lakers sit now with Reaves and Luka Dončić. Neither one is going to lock down anyone in the playoffs. But offensively? That backcourt can put up points with damn near anybody in the league.
Reaves is a crafty perimeter scorer who thrives playing off the ball and in pick-and-roll. Pair that with Dončić’s ability to control a game with the dribble, and you’ve got a nightmare for opposing defenses. The question is whether the other three guys on the floor can cover for them on the other end.
What About LeBron?
James is set to hit free agency next week, and the Lakers’ cap situation is already tight. Signing him to another big deal while keeping Reaves and Dončić on max-type money would leave little room to fill out a competitive roster. The team hasn’t said anything publicly about their plan, but the math is pretty unforgiving.
NBA free agency opens June 30. The Lakers have options, but none of them are easy.
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