Austin Reaves looks ready to save the Lakers from the mistake that tanked them

The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most difficult franchises to criticize. They're prominent enough to draw criticism nonetheless, but the counter is simple: 17 championships and nine more appearances in the NBA Finals than any other organization.

If there's one area in which the Lakers have consistently fallen short since the end of the Kobe Bryant era, however, it's player development.

The Lakers once understood the importance of balance, as evidenced by the championship it won after Wilt Chamberlain joined Jerry West in Los Angeles. That continued when Los Angeles paired Magic Johnson and James Worthy with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Kobe Bryant with Shaquille O'Neal.

Los Angeles even developed Andrew Bynum into a player who started 41 of 46 playoff games when Bryant, Pau Gasol, and the Lakers won back-to-back titles in 2008-09 and 2009-10.

Fast forward to the modern era and it continued to ring true until the Lakers decided it didn't matter anymore. Kyle Kuzma was traded for Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles failed to re-sign Alex Caruso, and the franchise inevitably stumbled as they turned to free agency for its pursuit of depth.

As the 2024-25 season begins to take shape and JJ Redick leaves his mark on the direction of the franchise, however, Austin Reaves is taking center stage.

Austin Reaves is the homegrown talent the Lakers desperately needed

Reaves signed with the Lakers as an undrafted free agent in 2021, starting 19 out of 61 games. He appeared to take a significant step forward during year two, but continued to come off the bench in favor of more experienced players such as Patrick Beverley, Troy Brown Jr., Dennis Schröder, and Lonnie Walker IV.

Even in 2023-24, when Reaves set career-best averages in every statistical category on the box score, he was unceremoniously benched for 25 games.

In 2024-25, there's no question about where Reaves stands in the Lakers' hierarchy. By the traditional definition, he's the clear-cut third star, supporting Anthony Davis and LeBron James as the tertiary scorer and play initiator.

On a level beneath the surface, however, Reaves has shown signs of progressing into the nightly No. 2—a change that would help a 39-year-old James more easily navigate the regular season.

Reaves is currently averaging 18.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.7 blocks, and an absurd 2.7 offensive rebounds. It's only been three games, but that's a fair reflection of how balanced his impact has been early in the season.

Reaves is flying all over the court, extending possessions and creating for his teammates while knocking down shots with a high degree of difficulty.

It's the development the Lakers have desperately needed as a team with two franchise players on max-level contracts. Having gotten in on the ground floor with Reaves, the Lakers were able to sign him to a bargain contract once his emergence began. He's owed just $26,913,936 over the next two seasons before he inevitably declines his player option for 2026-27 in search of a bigger deal.

Between his individual quality of play, his ability to take pressure off of James, and his team-friendly contract, Reaves is saving the Lakers from the neglect they'd previously shown to internal development.