​There are a notable number of Los Angeles Lakers fans who aren’t completely sold on the team’s updated roster, and the hesitancy isn’t solely tied to LeBron James departing. Some supporters feel the new additions don’t quite measure up to expectations, with a few expressing concern that Walker Kessler, the 7-foot-2 center acquired from the Utah Jazz, still needs to prove himself at a high level. Yet rising star Austin Reaves views the situation through a much more optimistic lens. As he prepared to begin a four-year, $185 million contract, Reaves spoke to Keith Jouganatos of KRCR, a television station based in Redding, California, and expressed genuine enthusiasm about the teammates he would be sharing the floor with this fall.
“Very excited,” Reaves said when asked about the Lakers’ offseason moves. “You know, obviously you never want to see people you’ve been with for years leave. Obviously, I don’t have all the time in the world to talk about how great LeBron is and how much he means to me and my career. But I miss all those guys. Still, it’s a good opportunity for us to turn the page and see what’s next.”
In free agency, Los Angeles bid farewell to James, Luke Kennard, Marcus Smart, Jaxson Hayes, and Rui Hachimura. In return, the Lakers added Kessler and guard Jaden Hardy via a trade, and they also brought in wing Quentin Grimes, big man Sandro Mamukelashvili, guard Collin Sexton, and center Kevon Looney through free agency. The mix signals a shifting dynamic for the team, one that could blend youth and experience in new, productive ways.
Most observers anticipate the Lakers will be somewhat worse than last season, when they went 53-29 and secured the fourth seed in the Western Conference. Still, there is growing sentiment that the 2024-25 iteration could be more cohesive and better suited to the strengths of Reaves and Luka Dončić, with a sharper, more evenly distributed offensive flow. If the pieces click, Los Angeles could present a more balanced attack, featuring more well-rounded players who complement each other on the court.
The Lakers are not necessarily finished shaping their roster. They still have some tradable contracts and are exploring one or more additional moves that could yield another wing or forward. Moreover, they remain in pursuit of free agent Jonathan Kuminga, underscoring a willingness to chase upgrades and optimize the roster around their core talents.
This overview reflects how the team is being viewed as it heads into the new season, with a spotlight on Reaves as a central figure in a lineup designed to maximize his development and effectiveness. The next steps for the Lakers—whether through further trades, free-agent signings, or internal development—will determine how seamlessly they translate the optimism surrounding their revamped roster into results on the floor. This exploration of the team’s direction and aspirations speaks to the broader question of how a franchise balances loyalty to past pillars with the imperative to evolve, especially in a Western Conference loaded with talent and competition. Reaves’s positive outlook offers a counterpoint to the skepticism of some fans, suggesting that the Lakers are embracing a forward-looking approach that could pay dividends in the coming seasons.