The Los Angeles Lakers have been one of the best recruitment and development teams in the league. They have an impeccable track record in finding young talent and developing them into valuable rotation players. Alex Caruso is an example, and their latest success story is Austin Reaves.
Reaves went undrafted in the 2021 draft and signed with the Lakers, eventually earning a roster spot and a big-money extension this summer. He revealed that he could’ve been a second-round pick and landed with the Detroit Pistons but chose to stay undrafted to sign with the Lakers.
“We could have gotten drafted 42nd to Detroit but kind of declined that to put me in LA for a better spot. We tiered teams as in the best fit for me and LA was I think two on the list at the time, Milwaukee may have been one, but they were tier one. I think Detroit called yeah I think it was putting myself in a position to get a roster spot.”
Austin Reaves turned down being drafted so he could pick his best fit 🔥
Always bet on you yourself 💯
(via All The Smoke Podcast, @shobasketball) https://t.co/XOSoD5wSma
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 20, 2023
Reaves’ decision has paid off in heaps. He went from averaging 7.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists as a rookie to 13.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.4 assists last regular season. His numbers jumped further in the playoffs as he showed two-way flashes, favoring his defense to impact the game in their second-round series win over the Warriors.
He signed a four-year, $56 million extension this summer and will be a part of the Lakers’ long-term plans.
The Lakers Hoping To Contend For A Championship
The Lakers started last season as a fringe play-in team, a billing they lived up to until February. Mid-season trades changed the franchise completely as they managed to make a push to make the playoffs and advance to the Western Conference Finals. This was even with injuries to both LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
They’ve gotten deeper this summer, adding all solid defenders to double down on their identity as one of the best defensive teams in the league. They may need to find some offensive solutions as the season progresses, but development from Austin Reaves can help him take the mantle as the lead guard of the franchise. He’s shown he can take it in flashes, now it’s about solidifying his consistency.
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