Evan Turner doesn’t think the Lakers can win it all with Austin Reaves as their third option. Speaking on the Lakers’ title chances, the former NBA forward praised Reaves’ skill but said he’s not good enough to be the third-best player on a championship team.
“You have Austin Reaves, he’s very talented,” Turner said. “But if you’re talking championship aspirations, that can’t be your third best. There has to be a secret weapon or a six man killer.”
Turner’s doubts go beyond just Reaves. He also expressed concern about Deandre Ayton and whether or not he’s truly ready to take on his new role as the Lakers starting center.
“Hopefully mentally he can show up and be prepared for that, there’s much more than showing up, setting a screen and playing with the two best players in the world,” Turner added.
LeBron James was leading the way in Los Angeles for years, carrying them to a championship in 2020 followed by repeated playoff appearances. He ruled as the undisputed alpha for years until just recently, upon Luka Doncic’s arrival.
At 40 years old, James is close to the end now and the Lakers can no longer rely on him like they used to. That fact has become clear early this season with LeBron set to miss opening night for the first time in his career. It will be weeks before he takes the court again, putting all the pressure on Luka and Reaves to pick up the slack.
With career averages of 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game, we already know what Luka can do and he’s slimmed down this summer in hopes of taking another leap as an NBA superstar. The Lakers have placed their full trust in him, and he’s showing flashes that he can live up to their standards.
The situation with Austin Reaves is much less certain. With averages of 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game on 46.0% shooting, he’s proven he can deliver as the third-option but not everyone is convinced it’s enough to compete against teams like the Thunder, Timberwolves, or Warriors. As great as Reaves is offensively, his impact on defense is minimal and that could pose a problem during the playoffs. He’s also relatively inexperienced compared to other third options across the NBA.
That’s not to mention Deandre Ayton, whose NBA past is riddled with disappointment. As a former No. 1 overall pick, expectations were set high for Ayton but he failed to live up to those standards in Phoenix, where he averaged 16.4 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game on 56.6% shooting. After being exiled to Portland, and now Los Angeles, Ayton has a chance to rewrite his legacy but it won’t be easy.
Ultimately, many variables will determine the Lakers’ success this season, but in a stacked NBA the championship is never guaranteed. As long as they have Luka Doncic and LeBron James on the court, the Lakers have a chance to win and they can figure everything else out later.
The Lakers are confident they have the talent to make another run, but critics like Turner see a different story. For all their star power, the true test will be whether Reaves and Ayton can rise to the moment when LeBron and Luka need them most. Until they prove it on the court, the Lakers will have to live with the doubt surrounding their title chances.
