This upcoming season will feature essentially a brand new Los Angeles Lakers roster built around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Everyone that started Game 1 against the Houston Rockets has departed and it puts into question how soon this team can truly contend.
Notably, L.A. sign-and-traded for Walker Kessler, while also signing Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Colin Sexton and Kevon Looney. More moves await as the team needs more forwards, specifically a starting caliber power forward.
Although Los Angeles’ offseason is not done yet, Reaves expressed excitement for what pieces have come together thus far.
“Very excited. You know, you never wanna see people you’ve been with for years leave,” Reaves said in an interview with Keith Jouganatos of KRCR Channel 7. “Obviously, I don’t have all the time in the world to talk about how great LeBron is and how much he means to me and my career. But, miss all those guys. It’s a good opportunity for us to turn the page and see what’s next.”
Roster turnover is a given in today’s NBA with a CBA that fosters change in a way. With eight different champions in the last eight years, teams have had limited windows to compete and trying to repeat has frankly never been harder.
Losing an all-time great in LeBron James will set you back and learning curves are to be expected not having him in the fold as a dynamic third option. But, it elevates Reaves to a solidified backcourt mate with Doncic and he needs to live up to his max contract that he is signing this offseason
Judging by the Lakers’ moves this summer, they want a younger and faster team. Head coach JJ Redick appears to be on board with that as shared a similar sentiment at the end of last season, so the foundation is in place for Doncic and Reaves. However, there needs to be additional moves on the wing to truly tie this team together to contend in a compact Western Conference.
Austin Reaves motivated to win championship alongside Luka Doncic
It’s been six years since the Lakers won a title and there is growing anticipation to win No. 18 with Doncic at the helm. Following an MVP-caliber season, Doncic unfortunately missed the entire postseason and it felt like a missed opportunity.
As they retool things around their Slovenian star, Reaves is motivated to win a championship alongside him after securing a contract to remain in Los Angeles for the foreseeable future. Now, it is up to the front office to give their backcourt duo the necessary pieces to cash in on another title.
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