ESPN analyst doubts Lakers can win with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves

[ASFN Admin]

As the Los Angeles Lakers try to figure out how to make their Western Conference semifinal series against the Oklahoma City Thunder competitive, there remains the possibility that their roster will look considerably different by the time next season starts.

A number of their current core players can or will become free agents, including rising star guard Austin Reaves. Many expect Reaves and the Lakers to agree on some sort of new contract this summer, but plenty of people also have their doubts that a team with Reaves and Luka Doncic can win the NBA championship. Most of those doubts center around the defensive shortcomings both players have.

Former NBA player and current ESPN analyst Jay Williams is one of the skeptics, and he expressed his doubts on "Get Up."

“As you look at next year, people talk about LeBron and where will LeBron be,” Williams said. “I don’t know how you can have Austin Reaves on the same team with Luka. A lot of people try to say Reaves is Luka’s Jalen Brunson or Luka's Kyrie Irving. At some point though, having both of them on the court from a defensive liability perspective, is a major thing.

“I think you have to get 3-and-D guys that can defend, can shoot and literally construct a team around Luka. I don’t know if it’s worth paying Austin Reaves 30 million-plus dollars and then have cap space issues to get those opposing players.”

Reaves returned from an oblique strain in Game 5 of the Lakers' first-round series versus the Houston Rockets. After struggling in his first few games back, he went for 31 points on 10-of-16 overall shooting, 3-of-6 from 3-point range and 8-of-10 from the free throw line in Game 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday. But he is a below-average defender and is below average athletically by NBA standards, and both deficiencies are things L.A. will have to play around as long as he's on its roster.

Doncic is also relatively unathletic, and although his defense did improve this season, when a team's top two scoring options are also underwhelming defensively and lack foot speed, it's a lot to overcome.

The Lakers have been very reluctant to even consider moving Reaves in any hypothetical trade, other than ones that would bring back a true superstar such as the Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo. Antetokounmpo, of course, is expected by many to be moved this offseason, and according to multiple reports, the Lakers are expected to make a move for him.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: ESPN analyst doubts Lakers can win with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves

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