2 Los Angeles Lakers that will be kicked out of rotation by Austin Reaves

By Jason Reed | Oct 30, 2021

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 29: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers takes a shot against Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the third quarter at Staples Center on October 29, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

1. Rajon Rondo

It is hard to see Rajon Rondo keeping his place in the rotation once Kendrick Nunn comes back. Nunn is the backup point guard of this team and quite frankly, fits on this team much better than Rondo does in 2021.

In previous years a player like Rondo had a lot of value as the Lakers needed a second ball-handler who could take some of the workload off of LeBron James. With Russell Westbrook now in town, the Lakers do not really need that and Westbrook can’t really play next to someone like Rondo effectively.

Nunn can as he is an off-ball scorer that can provide a catch-and-shoot outlet for both LeBron and Westbrook as well as having the ability to create his own shot when needed. Rondo is currently averaging 17.5 minutes per game and Nunn should probably be playing around 20.

Reaves is not a point guard but there are lineup possibilities with both Westbrook and LeBron on the bench. In that case, the Lakers could have played Rondo next to Nunn and while it would not have happened often, it would have kept Rondo in the rotation.

With Reaves playing well, the team can simply run Nunn and Reaves together at times with Reaves also getting minutes with the closing lineup as well.

But hey, maybe it will keep Rondo fresh so playoff Rondo can return.

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