Life After Lebron: Austin Reaves Embracing New Role On New-look Lakers Roster

LAS VEGAS — From nan clip Austin Reaves joined nan Lakers successful 2021 arsenic an undrafted prospect, his hoops life centered astir playing pinch a savant successful LeBron James.

That nary longer will beryllium nan case.

Reaves re-signed pinch nan Lakers connected a four-year, $185-million deal, but James decided to move on arsenic he prepares to play an unprecedented 24th season.

Reaves was stunned erstwhile he heard astir James’ determination while playing play successful Lake Tahoe. Nearly 2 weeks later, Reaves says he still is trying to process nan development.

“I benignant of was reasoning astir it past nighttime erstwhile I sewage here,” Reaves said Monday successful his first news convention since re-signing. “Starting nan play without him being connected nan squad is going to beryllium different for me. He’s benignant of each I’ve ever known. Just him being around, joking around, acting for illustration he’s 15. But that’s his determination and for illustration I said successful Tahoe, anytime I’ve talked astir it, I sewage thing but emotion and respect for him and yeah, let’s play immoderate play soon.”

The statement Reaves signed was nan richest successful NBA history for an undrafted player. At 28 and entering his sixth season, Reaves wanted to enactment successful L.A.

“I wanted to beryllium a Laker nan full time. We had that play from erstwhile nan play ended until nan first [of July] to get thing done and we figured it retired earlier then,” he said. “My bosom was successful L.A. nan full time.”

Reaves will go 1 of nan de facto leaders of nan Lakers on pinch Luka Doncic. The 2 erstwhile again will beryllium 1 of nan astir move backcourts successful nan NBA.

“Obviously my narration pinch nan guys that were connected nan squad past year,” Reaves said of why he wanted to stay. “And past Luka. I mean, he’s 1 of my champion friends connected this planet. Talk to him almost each azygous day. He sends maine videos of his play plaything and asks maine what he tin do to get amended and I show him I’m not a coach.”

The Lakers person overhauled nan roster: All nan players who started alongside Reaves successful nan playoffs past outpouring are gone. With nan signing of erstwhile Brooklyn Nets guardant Ziaire Williams connected Monday, nan Lakers person 9 caller players, each of them arriving either via trades, free agency aliases nan draft.

“They’re good,” Reaves said of nan moves. “Obviously, I’ve been pinch nan guys that are leaving for a mates years and pinch Bron for 5 years and I dislike to spot guys for illustration that go. But nan pieces that are coming in, I’m very excited astir and I’m happy to get started coming and spot wherever it goes.”

One of those caller players is Walker Kessler, a 7-foot-2 halfway nan Lakers felt fresh champion astir Doncic and Reaves because he’s a lob threat, rim-protector and bully defender and is processing his three-point shooting.

The Lakers sewage him from nan Utah Jazz successful a waste and acquisition and past signed him to a four-year, $130-million contract. The Lakers sent retired 2 unprotected first-round picks (2031, 2033) and 2 first-round prime swaps (2028, 2030).

Kessler, who played only 5 games past play aft having room to repair a torn labrum successful his near shoulder, is alert nan Lakers paid a large value to get him.

“It decidedly makes you consciousness a definite measurement erstwhile you cognize an statement believes successful you,” Kessler said. “And I deliberation what they’ve invested, they’re showing that belief successful a monetary value, not conscionable pinch money, but for illustration you said, assets. And for me, I’m personification that if I cognize that they person that belief successful me, I’m gonna tally done a ceramic wall for them. That’s conscionable really I’ve been wired my full life and it decidedly makes it a batch easier to spell retired location and compete for a team.”

Power guardant Sandro Mamukelashvili could go a instrumentality favorite, successful portion because of nan tattoo he has connected his little near limb — a No. 24 successful grant of Kobe Bryant.

Mamukelashvili, who signed a four-year, $52-million deal, averaged 11.2 points past play pinch nan Toronto Raptors and changeable 52.3% from nan field, including 38.9% from three-point range.

“I sewage a Mamba Mentality tattoo. I conscionable emotion his mindset,” Mamukelashvili said Monday successful his introduction. “Growing up, I utilized to ever say, “Mah-moo Mentality!’ So, I cognize it’s a small acold from each other. But we are getting closer.”

When defender Collin Sexton, different caller Laker, was drafted by nan Cleveland Cavaliers successful 2019, James near and signed pinch nan Lakers. When Sexton signed a two-year, $19-million woody pinch nan Lakers this month, James near again.

Sexton could only laughter astir missing retired connected playing pinch James.

“He’s conscionable leaving each clip I arrive,” Sexton said, laughing. “That’s what it is. No, but 1 of nan different coaches made nan aforesaid joke yesterday. It’s cool, I know. I’ve ever wanted to squad up pinch him for sure, but it’s decidedly cool knowing him and conscionable having normal conversations and stuff, truthful that’s cool.”

Sexton averaged 15.4 points and changeable 48.5% past play pinch Chicago and Charlotte. He’s fresh immoderate domiciled coach JJ Redick and nan Lakers want for him.

“They judge successful me,” he said. “And I conscionable consciousness for illustration astatine nan extremity of nan day, whenever a coach believes successful you and for illustration he said, he’s going to beryllium difficult connected maine and yelling and screaming astatine me. So, I for illustration that. I deliberation that’s what gets nan champion from me.”