Playing the blame game is never fun. To be perfectly clear as well, there is plenty of it to go around for this Los Angeles Lakers team. However, Austin Reaves does have a massive target on his back right now.
The Lakers' 2024-25 season is officially over after a disappointing 103-96 loss in Game 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. A lot of the biggest issues for Los Angeles surfaced yet again in the elimination game that put an end to their championship dreams.
One underdiscussed aspect of the Lakers' shortcomings has been the performances that Reaves delivered in this series. The lackluster offensive production only contributed to unmasking the larger issues at play with the roster.
Reaves leaves future in doubt after poor playoff audition
The Lakers had poor depth heading into the postseason. This much was clear in Game 4 when JJ Redick chose to run with five players for the entire second half. What made this an even bigger problem than it otherwise would have been was Reaves coming up short of his expected offensive output.
Reaves averaged 20.2 points and 5.8 assists per game during the regular season. The Lakers guard delivered efficient shooting splits of 46-38-88 to go with it. That was good for a true shooting percentage of 61.6.
During the five games against the Timberwolves, Reaves only scored 20 or more one time. It came on 7-of-18 shooting from the field.
No doubt the Lakers will explore trading Austin Reaves this offseason. pic.twitter.com/LYHj0QXnTx
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 1, 2025
One of the biggest reasons the Lakers were able to see a defensive resurgence from LeBron James this season was the offensive load being lightened for him by Reaves and Luka Doncic. The Lakers newest superstar certainly did his part in this postseason. It is tough to feel the same way about the more tenured member of the Lakers backcourt.
James, at 40 years old, found himself in a position that is all too familiar for him throughout his legendary career: being asked to do too much. Unfortunately for Los Angeles, as elite as LeBron still is at this point, the four-time champion cannot be asked to carry that heavy of a load anymore.
The problem here, too, is the fact that Reaves is a subpar defender. The effort is certainly there, but that does not change the reality of the matter. When Reaves is not delivering on the offensive end, his value on the court quickly goes down.
With an offseason that is sure to be filled with trade rumors, the fourth-year pro certainly did not do much to keep himself safe in potential talks. That would not have been the case leading into the postseason.
Reaves is a tremendous player. However, after the poor playoff audition as the third star next to Doncic and James, the question of whether the Lakers can find a better fit during the summer will certainly not be ignored.