Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers
Sports:Basketball
Austin Reaves Recruiting for the Lakers? And Is Steph Curry Really Better Than Magic Johnson?
2023-08-25
Austin Reaves is getting no shortage of press these days, including a new feature from Jovan Buha at The Athletic. It's a deep dive into how Reaves got here, and where he might be going. And while it's worth noting (again) that saying he's not dating Taylor Swift is exactly what someone who didn't want people to know he's dating Taylor Swift might say, those rumors from earlier in the offseason weren't close the big takeaways.
One big one? Reaves is keeping that chip on his shoulder that tells him people still don't believe he's all that good... even as it's clear people are starting to understand, even begrudgingly, that he is. That ability to create slights where they don't exist is a common feature among the most hyper-competitive athletes. And make no mistake, while Reaves is aw-shucks as the day is long... he will cut you.
And might he be the next great recruiter for the Lakers to help bring the next star post-LeBron James?
Who on the Lakers are the players with the greatest variance? Where the ceiling and floor have a good amount of space between them? Is Reaves still one of those guys? What about Rui Hachimura? Gabe Vincent? Or are we talking the Max Christies and Jaxson Hayes types on the roster?
Finally, Steph Curry created an offseason news cycle when he declared himself the best PG of all time. Which, definitionally, means he thinks he's better than Magic. Is he right? Not sure that really matters, or if that's the most interesting part of the question. What is fascinating, though, are the similarities between two guys who, on the surface, don't have a lot in common.
HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky
SEGMENT 1: Austin Reaves, master recruiter.
SEGMENT 2: Who are LA's "variance" players?
SEGMENT 3: Steph or Magic? Magic or Steph? Or does that miss the point?
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