As reported in May 2023, The Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated from the 2023 NBA playoffs after lodging a defeat to the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals 4-0. Post this defeat, an alteration in the team’s roster was inevitable, as a strong comeback was imperative for the Lakers. It was suspected that new players would be adding to the feathers of the team.
Consequently, it has been a power-packed dusk in the basketball world with Team Lakers expanding their roster by adding Austin Tyler Reaves, D’Angelo Russell & Jaxson Reed Hayes. The Laker’s current plan, however, is to keep their last roster spot open for pliability.
Austin Tyler Reaves
With a record average of 13.0 ppg in 28.8 mpg for the Lakers in 2022-23, Austin Tyler Reaves was added to the list. He is being seen as a bonanza for the team by the experts.
The Lakers and Austin Reaves had taken matters into their own hands in free agency as Reaves and his representatives reportedly had met with the Lakers in the first moments of free agency on Friday when the team offered him a four-year deal worth $56 million.
This deal marks a watershed moment as it’s the maximum that Lakers were allowed under the collective bargaining agreement through Early Bird Rights. Reaves agreed to a four-year deal with the Lakers that has a player option for the final season.
Reaves was one of the breakout players of last season, emerging as a feasible role player in the season before growing into one of the most reliable secondary ball-handler after Russell Westbrook was traded in February. Reaves, as a shot-creator, makes up a valuable deal for the team, and thus he is an essential part of their plan to ease the ball-handling burden on aging LeBron James.
D’Angelo Russell
Next, The Lakers acquired Russell at the NBA trade target date in a deal that included Westbrook, a trade that helped turn the team’s season around. Russell again has a record average of 17.4 points and 6.1 assists per game after the trade, shooting 41.4% from three-point range.
It is speculated that The Lakers traded Russell to the Brooklyn Nets just two years into his career to help create the cap space that would later be used to sign LeBron James. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the 27-year-old point guard agreed to a two-year, $37 million deal to remain with the Lakers after hitting unimpeded free agency.
Russell presents a good option for the Lakers in order to surround LeBron James and Anthony Davis through his impeccable shooting skills and ability to play off and on the ball.
Jaxson Reed Hayes
Last but certainly not least was Jaxson Reed Hayes, who last played for the New Orlean Pelicans of the NBA. His per-game block mark in the Big 12 ranked #3. As per sources, he signed a two-year deal for the minimum with a player option in the second year.
His 2023-24 salary is expected to be around $2.2 million. His skills, alongside remarkable athleticism, are off the charts, and he has undoubtedly had some of the best poster dunks recently.
As for the team, he will be able to protect the rim and block shots along. Moreover, he is also a legitimate lob threat for any of the Lakers’ guards.
Despite being a team of relative basketball strangers, The Lakers continue to be one of the most successful teams in the history of the NBA. Now in order to continue with that momentum, they need to ignite the fire within themselves, which they hopefully already have with the new additions.
The upcoming matches are going to be extremely important for the fans to analyze the impact of the changes.
Also read: 10 Hottest NBA Players in 2023
