Enjoying for the Los Angeles Lakers is on no account a straightforward job, however one of many “overrated” gamers appears untouched by themselves on the crew.
Following their third seed end through the 2024-25 NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers have improved with a large offseason addition.
With the dynamic duo of LeBron James and Luka Donsic already on the roster, the Lakers have actual photographs to win subsequent season.
The Lakers had a constructive offseason earlier than the offseason, however Bleacher Report’s Zack Buckley believes the crew relies in one of many NBA’s most overrated gamers.
Regardless of not being drafted through the 2021 NBA Draft, Austin Reeves was capable of change into a key participant for the Lakers.
That is why many think about him the third most suitable choice within the league. Now, that is an enormous assertion. Clearly, the Lakers provided him an extension of his contract this summer season.
Nevertheless, Reaves declined the $90 million supply subsequent season, hoping to signal an even bigger deal. However is 27 price such cash? In accordance with Buckley, AR15 as an alternative belongs to the league’s most overrated participant.
“Dwelling underneath the Hollywood highlight has each its perks and issues. The efficiency contained in the Fish Bowl expands each its strengths and flaws, and infrequently confuses gamers’ views of true rankings.
“In different phrases, he is not likely on this listing due to Reaves, however he additionally advantages from being maybe probably the most talked about third possibility in basketball,” writes Buckley.
“If that they had posted the identical 20.2 factors and 5.8 assists on the New Orleans Pelican as an alternative of the Lakers, would the headline be devoted to him?” he added.
Buckley then analyzed how the Reaves “not spectacular” as they barely surpassed the common participant effectivity score final season.
“These are actually good numbers, however they are not spectacular. For that, they are not even a profession mark for gamers’ effectivity rankings (15.5, league common of 15) or BPM (plus 0.5).
“He is a talented scorer and a succesful secondary playmaker, however he isn’t an elite in both class. He is additionally a restricted on-ball defender who would not play on the sting of the ground,” Buckley defined.
Regardless of Buckley’s factors, Reaves has proven steady progress since making their NBA debut in 2021. So, what does this imply for his subsequent contract?
Ought to Reaves make round $30 million a 12 months? It actually would not appear to suppose so.
“Should you add all that, you see a strong starter or maybe a high-end sixth man who received hit (assault solely?);
“Even so, you will hear that he is a star, he is uncontrolled and that he might quickly be paid $30 million north a 12 months,” the NBA author continued.
In the end, Buckley dropped a reasonably harsh verdict on the Reaves by labeling him as a “high-end function participant.”
“He could also be a high-end function participant, however that is in all probability going to shut out as a result of he might look youthful by way of NBA companies (the 4 seasons underneath his belt), however his twenty seventh birthday is already behind him.
“We might have already seen his greatest. His greatest is not so good as we have heard from the loudest and most optimistic elements of his fanbase,” concluded Buckley.
