The Los Angeles Lakers let LeBron James walk in free agency. He admitted he was “more than happy” to play for the Philadelphia 76ers, but Austin Reaves should miss the GOAT. Reaves passed James as the number two option last season, but LeBron was always there to bail out his teammate. If AR was struggling, James could flip the switch into alpha mode. LeBron did it for the Sixers on Friday night, and the Lakers wish they had that lever to pull later that evening.
Reaves has turned the ball over 16 times in the last two games. He is struggling to keep the offense rolling when Luka Doncic goes to the bench and has to learn how to be a co-star. AR was the Lakers' number two option last season, but things are different without LeBron. There is no third star to turn to. Someone capable of getting a bucket or setting up a teammate for an easy score.
LeBron decided to leave the Lakers after eight years. He signed a minimum contract with the 76ers, so it clearly wasn’t about the money. Los Angeles could have offered more, but they opted to part ways. LeBron isn't coming back, so Reaves has to learn how to do it on his own.
Austin Reaves has been up-and-down in new role
The Lakers are 4-2 to start the season, so the sky isn’t falling. Reaves has scored 20 points in five of the six games. He led LA to a blowout win over the Clippers without Luka Doncic. AR is averaging 23.8 points, 5.3 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 35.5 minutes per game, while shooting 54.8 percent from the field and 42.4 percent on his threes.
Those are outstanding numbers, but Reaves is turning the ball over 4.8 times per game. He has had six or more turnovers in three of the six contests.
The Warriors blitzed Luka after a blazing start on Friday night, and the Lakers had no answer. The purple and gold scored 38 in the first quarter and 57 in the final three. Reaves was turning the ball over and struggling to run the offense. The Lakers are short on ball-handlers behind their stars, which made this look disastrous.
LeBron was an elite third option. He was capable of scaling up to be a number one as he did in the playoffs or letting the other two stars cook. The Lakers certainly miss that skill.
Lakers lack third option to save them when Austin Reaves struggles
Walker Kessler is the Lakers' new number three. He is the center Luka wanted. Kessler is an elite rim protector and lob target, but he needs to be fed. The 7’2 big man will roll to the rim hard, but he needs someone to find him.
LeBron was creating for himself and others. He can still beat his man off the dribble at 41 years old. King James averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 33.2 minutes per game in his final season with the Lakers. He had six 30-point games. LeBron had no issues steadying the ship on a night like Friday when Reaves was struggling.
The Lakers have to figure it out. Quentin Grimes must be better. He is the eighth-leading scorer on the team, despite being the fourth-highest paid player. Collin Sexton and Sandro Mamukelashvili need to keep expanding their offensive games. The Lakers have nine new players from last season. They will only get better, but they don’t have someone as talented as LeBron.
LeBron James is happy with the 76ers
King James has no regrets about leaving the Lakers. The Sixers are 6-1 and sitting atop the Eastern Conference. James said this after Friday’s win over the defending champion Knicks.
"I'm having a great time.... I'm a big-a** kid, to be completely honest, but these guys are great to be around, and I'm more than happy that I made the decision to come here."
LeBron is playing with Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Jaylen Brown. They have arguably the best starting five in the NBA. That is easier to do when King James is on a minimum salary. He told the Lakers he didn’t want to return and chose the 76ers.
Los Angeles rebuilt their roster around Luka Doncic. The pieces fit as the Lakers got younger and more athletic. They believe they can grow into a championship roster. Austin Reaves is having some growing pains as the number two option. He can no longer rely on LeBron to bail him out when things get tough. King James is now doing that as the fourth option in Philly.
The Los Angeles Lakers will figure things out. There will be more frustrating nights like Friday’s loss to Golden State, but Austin Reaves will be an All-Star and in the running for All-NBA if he plays 65 games. He will find his footing as Luka’s number two. LeBron James is gone and isn’t coming back. It will take time, but the Lakers will learn how to succeed with this group. Fans just need to be patient and accept the growing pains.
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