Austin Reaves didn’t exactly hide what he wants from the Lakers this offseason: more help.
Los Angeles has already taken heat for some of its moves, including the decision to re-sign Reaves to a major extension. He’s a solid player and should remain a useful piece for the Lakers over the next few seasons, but the bigger issue is clear enough. Rob Pelinka has tried to upgrade the roster, yet the sense around the team is that it still isn’t enough.
Reaves basically said as much when he talked about wanting to keep his career in Los Angeles while also chasing something bigger than a contract.
“That was the main goal at the start of everything was to continue my career with the Lakers and whatever that looked like. As far as the contract for basketball, that is all great, but at the end of the day, I love basketball and I want to compete and I want to win,” Reaves said to Keith Jougnantos.
That message fits with what Pelinka has already heard from more than one player this offseason: the roster still needs work.
Reaves may not be coming out and telling Pelinka directly to keep making moves, but the point is hard to miss. The people inside the Lakers know this is not currently a team built with a great chance to win.
Reaves and Luka Doncic can probably go toe-to-toe with just about anyone, especially Doncic, who is arguably the best player in basketball. But the Lakers know the same thing every team eventually learns: basketball is still a five-man game, and talent gaps show up fast over the course of a season.
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