The 2023 offseason has gone just about as well as it could have for the Los Angeles Lakers. They have made some solid additions like Gabe Vincent, but the biggest key for them was to re-sign their key free agents and they have done it.
Rui Hachimura was the first to re-sign, followed by D’Angelo Russell, and then finally Austin Reaves, the most important signing of the lot. The Lakers managed to keep him for a fairly reasonable price of $56 million over four years and they have some big plans for Reaves, as per The Athletic’s Jovan Buha.
“The Lakers plan on running more of their offense through Reaves next season,” Buha wrote. “Unlocking the point guard skills he’s flashed through his first two years in the league, according to team sources not authorized to speak publicly,”
Reaves certainly flashed some playmaking capabilities last season. When LeBron James missed 13 games with that foot injury he suffered in February, Reaves put up 6.0 APG to go with 17.8 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 0.6 SPG, and 0.3 BPG in that time.
Then in the playoffs as the full-time starter, he averaged 16.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 4.6 APG, 0.6 SPG, and 0.2 BPG, and the Lakers have clearly liked what they have seen from him as a playmaker. If he does start running the offense more, then it will take some load off LeBron’s shoulders as well and he can then focus on other aspects of the game.
The Lakers Seem Primed For Another Deep Playoff Run
Whatever you may think of some of the decisions that the Lakers have made, there is no denying that this team is now better on paper than it was last season. They have a lot of quality depth in multiple positions and didn’t lose any key players either, maybe with the exception of Dennis Schroder.
They did get Gabe Vincent though and he will slot into that backup point guard role that Schroder had. Vincent could get the starting role too, depending on how the season goes and that is a luxury to have. If LeBron and Anthony Davis can stay healthy, then the Lakers will be a major factor come the 2024 playoffs.
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