NBA Free Agency: 3 biggest decisions facing the Lakers this offseason

The Lakers were swept retired of nan Western Conference Finals and are facing respective large decisions successful NBA Free Agency. Here are nan biggest.

The Los Angeles Lakers had 1 of nan top in-season turnarounds successful NBA history. At nan commencement of nan season, they were 2-10. At nan waste and acquisition deadline, they were 25-31 and nan No. 13 seed. They would decorativeness nan play 43-39 and would find themselves successful nan Western Conference Finals.

Unfortunately, nan magical tally for nan Lakers ended up pinch a four-game expanse astatine nan hands of nan Denver Nuggets. This caller Lakers squad was a well-fit squad but only 5 players connected nan roster are nether statement for adjacent season. The Lakers person a batch of questions and decisions to make heading into free agency.

Lakers biggest offseason decisions: 3. Keeping Austin Reaves

One of nan biggest surprises for nan Lakers this play was nan emergence of nan undrafted kid from Oklahoma — Austin Reaves. On nan play he averaged 13 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, shooting 53 percent from nan field, 40 percent from 3 and 86 percent from nan free propulsion line. He really stepped it up for nan Lakers complete their past 26 games wherever he averaged 16.4 points, 3 rebounds, 5.1 assists connected 57.4 percent shooting from nan field, 44 percent from 3 and 85 percent from nan free propulsion line.

Reaves would proceed his occurrence successful nan playoffs, being nan Lakers’ 3rd starring scorer averaging 16.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists connected 46/44/90 splits. In nan Conference Finals, he would mean 21.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists connected 55/56/100 splits. On nan biggest stage, he performed astatine nan highest level.

Reaves is going into nan 2023 free agency arsenic a restricted free agent. The Lakers tin connection him an hold but location are fears that location are different teams that are consenting to connection him a overmuch bigger statement than what nan Lakers tin afford. If a squad is consenting to connection him a $100 cardinal dollar contract, nan Lakers will person a reliable determination astir matching, perchance needing to fto different players spell to support Reaves.

Reaves has fixed each logic for nan Lakers to support him but signing a statement that large will wounded their chances of signing much domiciled players aliases different large star.