The Lakers are a franchise that always empowers its stars.
LeBron James had a ton of say in what the Lakers did during his time as the No. 1 player. Luka Dončić reportedly wanted the Lakers to acquire Walker Kessler, and the front office got it done.
And now, with Austin Reaves re-signing with the Lakers on a max deal, he’s the No. 2 behind Luka, making him a big part of what the Lakers do.
During a recent interview on the “Dan Patrick Show,” Reaves explained that he was in constant communication with
Luka, Lakers President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka, and head coach JJ Redick during this offseason.
“I had a lot of talks with Rob. I’m really close with Luka and JJ as well. We’re just building something that can be sustainable for not just now but the future. I seen something the other day that I’m the oldest guy on the team and I’m 28. That’s actually crazy to me. We want to have success now and five, six, seven years in the future.”
The Lakers have committed a ton of money to Luka and Reaves. This is the new star duo in LA, so they will be in the know and have a lot of say. That’s not a bad thing. The Lakers are heavily invested in them, and it’s best to make sure most of the big decisions and the main plan are ones they are on board with and like.
Pelinka is still running things, so decisions fall on him, but it’s good to keep Luka and Reaves in the know.
This summer has been transformational for the Lakers. As Reaves said, they’ve gotten much younger. And now they are built around Luka and Reaves.
At least for now, it seems everyone is on board with the plan. Now we just need to wait for the fall to see how it looks in action.
We’re still in the heart of the offseason, though, so it’ll be a while before we see the new-look Lakers in action. For now, it’s summer, and with Reaves getting a huge payday, he should celebrate his success and the raise.
So far, as he discussed on The Dan Patrick Show, he hasn’t really done that.
“I haven’t bought myself anything. Actually, my financial advisor told me the other day that I needed to spend more money. So, I struggle with that. I mean, I’m more, I like getting gifts for other people so I’ve done a little bit of that.”
It sounds like being Reaves’ friend is a good thing to be right now. Hopefully, Reaves can treat himself and enjoy his new deal. Perhaps he can buy himself a great set of golf clubs or take a vacation to a place he’s always wanted to go. He’s certainly earned it, and once the NBA season starts, it’s back to work, and the time for extended fun will be over.
And when the Lakers play again, Reaves will be the No.2 in every way possible. His usage reflects that, as does his pay and insights into the franchise’s decisions.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
