Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic are pivotal to the Los Angeles Lakers’ future success, both being young guards under 28 who have already made significant impacts in the NBA. While their offensive skill makes them a formidable duo, concerns persist regarding their defensive effectiveness. Despite these doubts, Reaves remains confident in their potential to improve defensively, especially after the strong defensive performances shown in the latter part of the season.
The Lakers developed their backcourt in contrasting ways: Reaves rising from an undrafted player in 2021 into a key contributor, and the acquisition of Luka Doncic through a trade with the Dallas Mavericks, which sent a former Lakers star to Dallas. Combining their offensive talents, they create a challenging matchup for opponents but balancing that with solid defense remains an ongoing focus.
Reaves Highlights Lakers’ Defensive Potential Following Doncic Trade
Both guards prioritize offense, often at the expense of defense, but Reaves addressed this topic during a conversation with Lakers Nation’s Trevor Lane at his youth basketball camp. When discussing the Lakers’ defensive capabilities, Reaves expressed confidence rooted in the team’s performance shortly after acquiring Doncic.
“Defensively, we just have to lock down and just be with it mentally every possession,” Reaves said about his team. “Right after the (Doncic) trade, for like a month or two months we had a top five defense in the NBA. We’ve shown that we can do that, we just gotta continue to grow.”
—Austin Reaves, Lakers Guard
Following the trade, many analysts predicted a decline in the Lakers’ defensive quality. These concerns were amplified after a first-round playoff loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Nevertheless, Reaves downplays the significance of those criticisms.
“When you become a really good defense, it’s not about one individual defender guarding the ball,” Reaves said about the defense. “It’s about everyone who’s locked in to rotations if you do get beat.”
—Austin Reaves, Lakers Guard
Lakers Prioritize Acquiring a Center to Support Defensive Stability
During their first-round series against the Timberwolves, the Lakers struggled mainly because of limited depth and the absence of a reliable center beyond Jaxson Hayes. This forced the team to often play smaller lineups, which Minnesota exploited effectively. As the offseason approaches, securing a center represents Los Angeles’ most urgent objective.
The Lakers have been linked to various centers who could improve both defense and offense, including Nicolas Claxton, Walker Kessler, and Jarrett Allen—all capable rim protectors and lob threats alongside Doncic. However, general manager Rob Pelinka faces challenges in moving assets, as maintaining continuity with Reaves remains a priority.
One potential option for the Lakers is to utilize their mid-level exception to sign a player like Clint Capela. This could provide short-term help in the frontcourt, while Pelinka explores bigger trades at the 2024 deadline. Regardless of the center who joins, the spotlight will remain on the defensive pairing of Reaves and Doncic leading the backcourt effort.
Reaves is prepared to meet defensive criticism head-on and aims to prove doubters wrong, underscoring a focused offseason mindset built around growth and resilience for the Lakers’ success.