Austin Reaves - 51 points - 11 rebounds - 9 assists

[ShawkFactory]

Neither of them could carry a team offensively like Reaves with their best player(s) out.

Look at Mobley's numbers this year with Garland out. It's a small sample size but he's not doing more to fill that void offensively. OKC had the best RS in their team's history last year with Chet out for a huge chunk of it.

No they couldn't. That's why I said offensively he's the best.

That's also why I said that Chet and Mobley are far more useful overall. Of course the caveat is that the best players are actually playing. In the playoffs with everyone playing, would you rather have Reaves or Chet/Mobley? The answer is clear.

[Yes or No]

Neither of them could carry a team offensively like Reaves with their best player(s) out.

Look at Mobley's numbers this year with Garland out. It's a small sample size but he's not doing more to fill that void offensively. OKC had the best RS in their team's history last year with Chet out for a huge chunk of it.

That doesn't matter.

Any championship contender will have a third option that is better than Austin Reaves at doing the things a third option needs to do. Defense and or hitting threes.

It's the same thing they've got going on with Luka and LeBron. Luka is better at everything LeBron does right now except defense. They would be better off moving him even if they got a worse second option.

But even with moving LeBron they still wouldn't do anything.

The Lakers are not a championship contender. The roster is mediocre.

They could trade LeBron for a healthy Anthony Davis and they still would struggle to contend.

[Full Court]

That doesn't matter.

Any championship contender will have a third option that is better than Austin Reaves at doing the things a third option needs to do. Defense and or hitting threes.

It's the same thing they've got going on with Luka and LeBron. Luka is better at everything LeBron does right now except defense. They would be better off moving him even if they got a worse second option.

But even with moving LeBron they still wouldn't do anything.

The Lakers are not a championship contender. The roster is mediocre.

They could trade LeBron for a healthy Anthony Davis and they still would struggle to contend.

There's no way a healthy AD/Luka combo doesn't contend. Not in this universe.

[1987_Lakers]

There's no way a healthy AD/Luka combo doesn't contend. Not in this universe.

Says the guy who once said he wouldn't trade LaVine for AD.

[Full Court]

Says the guy who once said he wouldn't trade LaVine for AD.

Because he's my second least favorite player in the league. I don't want him on my team. He's still top 5 in the league any way you try to slice it. Speaking of which, did you know that the Bulls are undefeated so far?

[FultzNationRISE]

Offensively, yes. However there is that idea of diminishing returns.

When you have great offensive 1st and 2nd options, having a 3rd option who is excellent defensively is going to be far more useful. Chet Holmgren and Evan Mobley are the true best 3rd options.

This is a valid point, altho there is a counter argument that in todays game where guys sit out every time they get a hangnail, having an extra player who can carry the scoring load is pretty nice insurance to have.

Not saying this to argue Reaves is or isnt the best third guy, just that its the other side to the coin of having a third guy who's more of a role scorer and defensive presence. I think both have pros and cons.

But in general I would agree that Bron, Luka, Reaves are not an IDEAL fit together when theyre all healthy. It's something LAL has to at least think about. I was saying before the season Reaves should play sixth man. In terms of floor balance it just makes all the sense in the world IMO.

[ShawkFactory]

Because he's my second least favorite player in the league. I don't want him on my team. He's still top 5 in the league any way you try to slice it. Speaking of which, did you know that the Bulls are undefeated so far?

Anthony Davis?!

Or were you talking about Luka?

[1987_Lakers]

Because he's my second least favorite player in the league. I don't want him on my team. He's still top 5 in the league any way you try to slice it. Speaking of which, did you know that the Bulls are undefeated so far?

So you wouldn't want a so-called "top 5 player", just because you don't like him?

That shows me you are not a true fan of your team. Just a typical player Stan.

[999Guy]

If LA was smart they’d trade him very soon. He’ll never be this impactful on a Luka led team. Trade him for better parts. But they don’t have the competence or balls.

[ImKobe]

That doesn't matter.

Any championship contender will have a third option that is better than Austin Reaves at doing the things a third option needs to do. Defense and or hitting threes.

It's the same thing they've got going on with Luka and LeBron. Luka is better at everything LeBron does right now except defense. They would be better off moving him even if they got a worse second option.

But even with moving LeBron they still wouldn't do anything.

The Lakers are not a championship contender. The roster is mediocre.

They could trade LeBron for a healthy Anthony Davis and they still would struggle to contend.

AR is the best 3rd option given how much the Lakers have relied on him, and he's upped his production when he's asked to do more. Last year in the Playoffs he did play injured and they used him more as a spot-up shooter, a coaching error IMO because Luka was doing too much with the ball just by bringing it up the court vs multiple defenders and it wore him down. Chet is a reasonable argument overall because I think he has a higher ceiling, but if a player of AD's caliber wouldn't help the Lakers contend over Reaves then Chet and Mobley sure as hell don't matter either.

Mavs built a title contender with Luka and Kyrie, so it's likely the Lakers could build one around him and Reaves as well. Lakers just need to get rid of Lebron so they can get the depth they need to build an actual team. Right now if you took AR off and replaced him with a big they'd be screwed offensively. Whatever improvement you get on D you're losing way more on the other end. The offense without Reaves in these 5 games has been abysmal to say the least, and that was also the case last year.

[tontoz]

He's a UFA this summer after he declines his option which is a sure thing.

[999Guy]

He's a UFA this summer after he declines his option which is a sure thing.

Oh man, surely they have to be looking to trade him right? This has to happen then.

[tontoz]

This reminds me a bit of Linsanity.

[Yes or No]

Reaves is overrated af because he plays for the Lakers. No way in hell I would max this guy out or anywhere close to it and I would deal him while his stock is high.

Every Lakers player in my entire basketball viewing lifetime has been overrated because they have the largest fanbase by far.

The only thing to consider about it is how close is Luka to him now? Idk.

[SouBeachTalents]

This reminds me a bit of Linsanity.

Nah, Linsanity was more out of nowhere. Reaves has shown he can ball before, obviously the numbers are ridiculous and more than you'd expect, but it's not exactly shocking he's putting up big numbers with Luka & LeBron both out.