Reaves became visible during the NBA Playoffs of the previous season as a possible third star for the Lakers. He was the best third player behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis because of his aggressiveness and ability to fill in gaps.
But Ham took Reaves out of the starting lineup earlier in the season. Back then, Ham expressed his idea of Reaves developing into a Purple and Gold star akin to Manu Ginobili.
Reaves has averaged 13.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.1 assists since switching to the bench. He has also shot 38.8% from three-point range and 49.3% from the field.
Reaves’ playing time has decreased progressively ever since D’Angelo Russell was benched. Reaves now has to deal with a guard on top of him, and it seems like that is cutting into his playing time.
The choice to marginalize him is dubious given that he was among the Lakers’ most influential players the previous season and has been having a strong season.
It’s difficult to understand why Ham would find Reaves objectionable. He’s adapted to his new position and is having a meaningful influence. But, if the fan favorite has expressed concerns behind the scenes, there may be pressure from other parts of the franchise to give him a larger role.
Anunoby, who led the NBA in steals the previous season, is a definite upgrade for a Knicks team that is having defensive struggles, even though leaving behind important members of their youthful core could be risky. The agreement also opens the door for the Knicks to sign a star in the future, but they cannot afford to pass on that player.
To maximize the benefits of the Anunoby acquisition, LAKERS should focus on these three players in the interim.
DeMar DeRozan, Bulls of Chicago
It is hard to say whether Knicks president Leon Rose will be able to (or should try to) pull off his much-anticipated big splash in the middle of the season given the uncertainty surrounding the current trade market. However, adding DeRozan, an upcoming free agent, could be a smart move to raise the team’s ceiling while it waits for New York to find a long-term shooting guard solution.
With a 15-19 record and a spot in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, the Chicago Bulls may ultimately elect to sell at the trade deadline on February 8.
DeRozan shouldn’t fetch too much money in a deal, but that could vary based on the teams that are interested and the path Chicago wants to take. As the centerpiece of a DeRozan trade, Chicago might be interested in acquiring some of New York’s draft capital as well as shooting guard Evan Fournier’s expiring contract. Additionally, re-signing DeRozan to a short-term contract could be a workable stopgap measure if by the time free agency rolls around it’s still unclear which star the Knicks ultimately intend to pursue.
Atlanta Hawks’ Dejounte Murray
Murray may be the most well-known player the Knicks pursue given NBA insider Marc Stein’s recent report that the team “does not intend to mount an all-out pursuit of” Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell.
Despite Murray’s effectiveness, Atlanta is off to a rough 13–19 start following their disappointing first-round playoff exit from the previous season. In addition to averaging 20.5 points, 5.2 assists, and 1.5 steals this season, the 27-year-old is shooting 38.3% from beyond the arc, which is his highest since his 38-game rookie campaign. Nevertheless, given that Murray’s output hasn’t resulted in victories, Atlanta might decide to recover a portion of the draft capital—three first-round picks and forward Danilo Gallinari—that it used to acquire him in June 2022.
It’s reasonable to wonder if Murray would mesh well with Jalen Brunson, another small guard, considering how disastrous their backcourt combination has been.
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