The Los Angeles Lakers spent their offseason doing everything possible to build a title team. They plugged the hole at center with DeAndre Ayton, added Marcus Smart to strengthen their defense, and even locked Luka Dončić into a three-year, $165 million deal.
NBA superstar LeBron James is staying for one more season after opting for his $52.6 million player option, and the bench has fresh legs in Dalton Knecht and Jake LaRavia.
Yet, one former top draft pick says none of that could help the Lakers win the championship, and the problem is Austin Reaves.
Why Does Evan Turner Think Austin Reaves Isn’t Good Enough As the Lakers’ Third Option?
Evan Turner, the former No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, doesn’t think the Lakers’ current roster can deliver a championship. Appearing on NBA insider Chris Mannix’s Open Floor Podcast, Turner shared a bold take: Los Angeles can’t win with Reaves as their third-best player.
“You have Austin Reaves, he’s very talented,” Turner said. “But if you’re talking championship aspirations, that can’t be your third best.”
Turner’s point wasn’t that Reaves isn’t good. In fact, Reaves averaged over 20.2 points, nearly six assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game last season, which are solid numbers for any guard. The issue, according to Turner, is about championship standards. He believes contending teams need a third option who can regularly take over games, someone at or near an All-Star level.
Turner also hinted that the Lakers might need what he called “a secret weapon or a sixth man killer” — basically, that spark off the bench who can change games when the stars are resting. His take is bound to spark debate, especially since the Lakers have arguably their most balanced roster in years.
Reaves has been one of the Lakers’ most consistent contributors since signing a three-year, $53.3 million deal in 2023. Even after the blockbuster trade that sent Anthony Davis out and brought Dončić in this February, Reaves remained their clear third option.
But with Dončić and James now commanding the ball most of the time, Reaves will naturally shift into more of an off-ball role, relying on spot-up shooting, smart cuts, and secondary playmaking rather than being the main creator.
That’s where Marcus Smart’s addition complicates things. Smart is one of the league’s top perimeter defenders and brings toughness and leadership — qualities coaches often trust in crunch time. In fact, during tight games against elite opponents, the Lakers might lean on Smart as their third guy due to his defense and energy.
However, over the past few years, the Lakers’ best third option has often been a practical rather than star-powered role. During their 2020 championship run, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (KCP) played the third option, providing crucial shooting and defense while averaging about 10 points per game in both the regular season and playoffs.
Other names like Kyle Kuzma and, at times, Alex Caruso also contributed to this spot, but none were consistent high-level creators. The “Big Three” concept in L.A. has mostly focused on James and Davis before the arrival of Dončić, with the third option as a rotating, matchup-dependent player.
Meanwhile, Reaves is adapting to the shifting dynamics in the Lakers’ Roster. He’s reportedly been working all summer to sharpen his off-ball game, improve his catch-and-shoot efficiency, speed up his release, and tighten his defense to fit better alongside Dončić.
He knows his role is changing, but he’s adapting to make it work, and that’s what the Lakers probably need from Reaves to claim their 18th banner.