Lakers future is bright with Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves on the team
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of followers throughout the NBA. Throughout the yr we ask questions from the most plugged-in Lakers followers and followers throughout the nation. Sign up here to take part in the weekly emailed surveys.
How the Lakers’ season will finish is very a lot in flux. They can end the yr as excessive as the No. 3 seed in the West, however can nonetheless fall all the method all the way down to the play-in in the event that they go on a shedding streak.
Once the postseason begins, it is anyone’s guess how well or poorly that will go.
While how the 2025-26 season concludes for the purple and gold is nonetheless in query, one factor is sure: this shall be a giant summer season for the Lakers.
They’ll have a ton of cap house and open roster spots accessible to be very aggressive in the free company market as they appear to construct the greatest contender attainable round Luka Dončić.
Austin Reaves is a type of gamers who should resolve the place he’ll play subsequent yr. He shall be an unrestricted free agent this offseason and is reportedly looking for a big payday. If the Lakers pay that worth, they’re going to be locked right into a backcourt that includes Dončić and Reaves for years to come back.
But is that the greatest path ahead?
For our SB Nation Reacts survey this weekwe requested followers how assured they’re in a Dončić-Reaves backcourt. The outcomes are in, and the overwhelming majority, 80%, are assured in the duo.
Clearly, Lakers followers imagine in Luka and Austin. And they’ve good causes to. Dončić is main the NBA in scoring and is simply getting into his prime.
Reaves has gotten higher yearly and is placing up his greatest numbers this season, averaging 23.9 factors, 4.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists. Had he not suffered a calf injury and missed a bunch of video games, he would’ve seemingly made his first All-Star look this season.
It’s very attainable we have not but seen the greatest basketball both participant attain, and locking up this duo for his or her greatest years looks as if an excellent use of LA’s assets.
Their chemistry on and off the court is incredibleand as the seasons go on, this tandem will seemingly solely get higher. While most Lakers followers like the Dončić-Reaves backcourt being the future, 11% have been not sure.
The hesitance is seemingly as a result of we’ve but to see this duo discover postseason success. Last yr in the playoffs, the Wolves picked aside the Lakers, and each Dončić and Reaves fought in the collection. With the purpose at all times being a championship, Lakers followers shall be watching this yr’s playoff run and undoubtedly placing a number of inventory into how properly Luka and Austin carry out towards the greatest in the West.
The excellent news for the Lakers entrance workplace is that solely 9% of followers usually are not assured on this backcourt pairing. That’s a comparatively low quantity, so re-signing Reaves looks as if it will likely be a straightforward and widespread resolution to make this summer season.
Overall, the future appears bright for the Lakers with Luka and Austin as the two foremost gamers the team can construct round. Last season, the Lakers have been a 50-win team and related success is nonetheless on the desk this yr. And if they carry again Austin, that sort of profitable shall be a sensible final result shifting ahead.
You can comply with Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
