Austin Reaves Steps Up as Lakers' Primary Second Option Post-LeBron

Following the departure of LeBron James, Austin Reaves is firmly established as the Los Angeles Lakers' primary second option alongside Luka Dončić. Fresh off securing a lucrative new contract, Reaves carries an expanded shot-creation and leadership burden. Though the Lakers lost key veterans, their roster reconstruction added nine players—including Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, and Collin Sexton—giving Reaves and Dončić a deeper, more complementary 12-man rotation to navigate the 2026-27 season.