Austin Reaves could be the biggest loser from Luka Doncic -handel

LeBron James’ Use percentage is marked down this season, mostly because of Austin Reaves, which shares ball handling duties with the Lakers star.

And with Luka Doncic by doing his Lakers will debut next weekJames is expected to postpone even more and play the ball. Such a scenario could lead to Reave’s being all except dispensable from Lakers.

Reaves-in average a career high 18.4 points and 6.1 assists trigger with the ball in his hands and has earned confidence in head coach JJ Redick, especially in late game situations. However, Doncic’s arrival inevitably means that Slovenian will be Lakers’ Go-to Option in the Clutch, making Reave somewhat superfluous.

Nor does it help that Reaves is not a catch-and-shooting threat that can get out of pindowns and demand defense of defense. He average Only 3.9 catch-and-shoot Trying this season and converting on a mediocre 38.8 percent of these attempts. He is also subpar on his pull-up jumpersWhich only makes 1.9 on 5.2 field dimensions per Match of 37.6 percent.

These numbers scream by a player struggling to influence a game from the ball.

Even more worrying, Reaves is not the best of circumference defenders and is routinely blasted by faster guards. Case: De’Aaron Fox shoots 70 percent When protected by Reaves, Cade Cunningham shoots 57.1 percent and Donovan Mitchell 77.8 percent. Reaves’ mediocre defense is a major reason why Lakers ranks No. 21 in the Armed Forces, allowing teams to make 13.3 triangles per day. Match.

The idea of ​​Reaves, James – an under -couple defender in year 22 – and Doncic in the starting unit did not offer the Lakers defense well. It may be in Lakers’ best interest in trading with Reaves or bringing him off the bench. Regardless of the route they take, Reaves is to lose the most from Doncic’s arrival to Los Angeles.