Austin Reaves wants Lakers to re-sign D'Angelo Russell in free agency
D’Angelo Russell will be a free agent, and it seems like he wants to be back there in LA. What are your thoughts on his free agency and him staying with the Lakers? Austin Reaves: I want him to be around. That’s probably my best friend on the team. We hang out off the court and golf a lot together. We’re constantly in communication and play Call of Duty together. He’s been one of my closest friends since I’ve been in the NBA. Obviously, his basketball play speaks for itself with how talented he is and what he can do for our group. We need him to be at our best. When he’s playing at his best is when we’re playing at our best. Anything we can do or I can do to help him stay around, I’m definitely going to try to do that.
Source: HoopsHype
Source: HoopsHype
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Michael Scotto @MikeAScotto
Lakers guard Austin Reaves discussed a wild team travel story, the possibility of being a Laker for life, D’Angelo Russell’s free agency, what he’s learned from LeBron James, why Anthony Davis is his Defensive Player of the Year, and more on @hoopshype. hoopshype.com/lists/austin-r… – 12:07 PM
Lakers guard Austin Reaves discussed a wild team travel story, the possibility of being a Laker for life, D’Angelo Russell’s free agency, what he’s learned from LeBron James, why Anthony Davis is his Defensive Player of the Year, and more on @hoopshype. hoopshype.com/lists/austin-r… – 12:07 PM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Austin Reaves on going from the 10 seed to the 7, with the starters now 19-6 together: “The last couple months we’ve been really happy with the way we’re playing. We’ve found some stuff offensively … as a team we’re super exited moving forward.” – 10:32 PM
Austin Reaves on going from the 10 seed to the 7, with the starters now 19-6 together: “The last couple months we’ve been really happy with the way we’re playing. We’ve found some stuff offensively … as a team we’re super exited moving forward.” – 10:32 PM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
Man if the Lakers pull this out, that 3 is gonna be so huge for DLo’s confidence going into the Nuggets series. – 10:00 PM
Man if the Lakers pull this out, that 3 is gonna be so huge for DLo’s confidence going into the Nuggets series. – 10:00 PM
Will Guillory @WillGuillory
DLo with a huge corner 3 to put the Lakers up 104-100 with 50.3 seconds left. Still no sign off Zion Williamson after went to the locker room.
If the Pels can’t get a bucket here, this one might be over. – 9:59 PM
DLo with a huge corner 3 to put the Lakers up 104-100 with 50.3 seconds left. Still no sign off Zion Williamson after went to the locker room.
If the Pels can’t get a bucket here, this one might be over. – 9:59 PM
Khobi Price @khobi_price
Austin Reaves drive-and-kick to D’Angelo Russell for a corner 3; giving the Lakers a 104-100 lead with 50.3 seconds left. – 9:58 PM
Austin Reaves drive-and-kick to D’Angelo Russell for a corner 3; giving the Lakers a 104-100 lead with 50.3 seconds left. – 9:58 PM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
D’Angelo Russell drills the open 3 from the left corner and the Lakers go up by 4, 104-100, with 50.3 seconds left. Huge shot from DLo. – 9:58 PM
D’Angelo Russell drills the open 3 from the left corner and the Lakers go up by 4, 104-100, with 50.3 seconds left. Huge shot from DLo. – 9:58 PM
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Did Scott Foster just hit Austin Reaves with a tech? #Pelicans #LakeShow – 9:46 PM
Did Scott Foster just hit Austin Reaves with a tech? #Pelicans #LakeShow – 9:46 PM
Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
D’Angelo Russell misses wide open 3 — hasn’t scored since first half — and Trey Murphy gets the rebound, dribbles down and hits a long bomb, his first of the night. After a block of Prince’s jumper, Zion Williamson appeared to get fouled at 3rd QTR buzzer. Referees reviewing. – 9:24 PM
D’Angelo Russell misses wide open 3 — hasn’t scored since first half — and Trey Murphy gets the rebound, dribbles down and hits a long bomb, his first of the night. After a block of Prince’s jumper, Zion Williamson appeared to get fouled at 3rd QTR buzzer. Referees reviewing. – 9:24 PM
Will Guillory @WillGuillory
First possession of the 2nd half and the Pels failed to get matched up on defense, leading to an Austin Reaves 3.
Not ideal. – 8:56 PM
First possession of the 2nd half and the Pels failed to get matched up on defense, leading to an Austin Reaves 3.
Not ideal. – 8:56 PM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Halftime: Lakers 60, Pelicans 50
LA outscored New Orleans 34-16 in the second quarter. LeBron has 15/4/5. DLo has 15 points and 6 assists. AD has 6 points (2-7 FGs) and 8 rebounds. Every Laker has a positive plus-minus except for Spencer Dinwiddie (-9 in 5 min). – 8:40 PM
Halftime: Lakers 60, Pelicans 50
LA outscored New Orleans 34-16 in the second quarter. LeBron has 15/4/5. DLo has 15 points and 6 assists. AD has 6 points (2-7 FGs) and 8 rebounds. Every Laker has a positive plus-minus except for Spencer Dinwiddie (-9 in 5 min). – 8:40 PM
Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
D’Angelo Russell and Jose Alvarado got double technicals after getting into it in the first quarter 👀 pic.twitter.com/pKR9Obflk1 – 8:11 PM
D’Angelo Russell and Jose Alvarado got double technicals after getting into it in the first quarter 👀 pic.twitter.com/pKR9Obflk1 – 8:11 PM
Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel
The Pelicans are taking a 34-26 lead into 2nd quarter. They outscored the Lakers 16-4 in the paint and allowed only 1 offensive rebound.
New Orleans physicality present at the outset.
Honestly, if not for D’Angelo Russell’s hot shooting, L.A. would be trailing by much more. – 8:08 PM
The Pelicans are taking a 34-26 lead into 2nd quarter. They outscored the Lakers 16-4 in the paint and allowed only 1 offensive rebound.
New Orleans physicality present at the outset.
Honestly, if not for D’Angelo Russell’s hot shooting, L.A. would be trailing by much more. – 8:08 PM
NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
Jose Alvarado and D’Angelo Russell each received a technical after this interaction. pic.twitter.com/BYiExsUQnt – 8:07 PM
Jose Alvarado and D’Angelo Russell each received a technical after this interaction. pic.twitter.com/BYiExsUQnt – 8:07 PM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
First quarter: Pelicans 34, Lakers 26
The Lakers were outscored 11-5 over the final 3:50 with LeBron off the floor. DLo has 13 points and 4 assists. AD has 5 points on just 2-of-6 shooting. LA is shooting 34.6%. Zion (10 points) has nearly matched his total from last game (12). – 8:07 PM
First quarter: Pelicans 34, Lakers 26
The Lakers were outscored 11-5 over the final 3:50 with LeBron off the floor. DLo has 13 points and 4 assists. AD has 5 points on just 2-of-6 shooting. LA is shooting 34.6%. Zion (10 points) has nearly matched his total from last game (12). – 8:07 PM
Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
This DLo-Alvarado jaw-fest has been reviewed like it was the Zapruder film. AK – 8:05 PM
This DLo-Alvarado jaw-fest has been reviewed like it was the Zapruder film. AK – 8:05 PM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
D’Angelo Russell just got a technical foul for existing in the same general region of space as Jose Alvarado while he was committing a technical foul. – 8:04 PM
D’Angelo Russell just got a technical foul for existing in the same general region of space as Jose Alvarado while he was committing a technical foul. – 8:04 PM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Jose Alvarado started talking to D’Angelo Russell in the 4th Q of Sunday’s game, and has been going at him again here in the 1st Q, with Russell responding.
Matching technicals here with 58.8 seconds left in the quarter, so no FT’s. – 8:04 PM
Jose Alvarado started talking to D’Angelo Russell in the 4th Q of Sunday’s game, and has been going at him again here in the 1st Q, with Russell responding.
Matching technicals here with 58.8 seconds left in the quarter, so no FT’s. – 8:04 PM
Dave McMenamin @mcten
After a review, a double technical foul called on Jose Alvarado and D’Angelo Russell. – 8:03 PM
After a review, a double technical foul called on Jose Alvarado and D’Angelo Russell. – 8:03 PM
Jim Eichenhofer @Jim_Eichenhofer
Avid fans will remember that D’Angelo Russell was the unintentional originator of “Yes I Can Shoot” when he played for Timberwolves, asking in a mic’d up segment if Jose Alvarado could shoot. Apparently Jose was not on the scouting report that night – 8:01 PM
Avid fans will remember that D’Angelo Russell was the unintentional originator of “Yes I Can Shoot” when he played for Timberwolves, asking in a mic’d up segment if Jose Alvarado could shoot. Apparently Jose was not on the scouting report that night – 8:01 PM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Much better defense from the Pelicans tonight, but D’Angelo Russell has helped LAL stay attached with 13 points on 4 of 6 FG’s, including 3 triples.
LAL trail 31-26 late in the 1st Q. – 8:00 PM
Much better defense from the Pelicans tonight, but D’Angelo Russell has helped LAL stay attached with 13 points on 4 of 6 FG’s, including 3 triples.
LAL trail 31-26 late in the 1st Q. – 8:00 PM
Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
If Austin Reaves is guarded by Herb Jones, just don’t bother running PnR with him. He won’t be able to get to his spots. – 7:53 PM
If Austin Reaves is guarded by Herb Jones, just don’t bother running PnR with him. He won’t be able to get to his spots. – 7:53 PM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
A frantic pace to open this game. LA leads 21-20 with 5:10 remaining in the first quarter. DLo has 8 points (two 3s) and 4 assists. AD has 5 points but has missed a few point-blank looks. Both teams are shooting 50%. The Pelicans are playing with more force and physicality. – 7:47 PM
A frantic pace to open this game. LA leads 21-20 with 5:10 remaining in the first quarter. DLo has 8 points (two 3s) and 4 assists. AD has 5 points but has missed a few point-blank looks. Both teams are shooting 50%. The Pelicans are playing with more force and physicality. – 7:47 PM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Lakers’ starters vs. New Orleans:
D’Angelo Russell
Austin Reaves
Rui Hachimura
LeBron James
Anthony Davis
Record as starters: 18-6 – 7:04 PM
Lakers’ starters vs. New Orleans:
D’Angelo Russell
Austin Reaves
Rui Hachimura
LeBron James
Anthony Davis
Record as starters: 18-6 – 7:04 PM
More on this storyline
D’Angelo Russell told me in an interview he told you, “You’ll be here a long time.” What are your thoughts on potentially being a Laker for life? Austin Reaves: Going into free agency this year, that was the main thing, which was to get back here (Los Angeles). The fans and organization are great. There’s so much history here. I want to try and chip into the history movement. It’s an unbelievable organization that gave me an opportunity that not a lot of people wanted to do. They took a chance on me and really helped me get my start. -via HoopsHype / April 19, 2024
ClutchPoints: “Same as it was against New Orleans.…We’ve been preparing all year for whoever we were gonna see….I’m ready to compete.” D’Angelo Russell when asked how excited he is to face Denver again 🗣 (via @michaelcorvo_) pic.twitter.com/GjrMA0eQSh -via Twitter @ClutchPointsApp / April 18, 2024
Jovan Buha: Final: Lakers 110, Pelicans 106 The Lakers advance and will be the No. 7 seed. They will face the No. 2 Denver Nuggets in a rematch of last season’s WCF. LeBron had 23/9/9. AD had 20 and 15. DLo had 21. LA improves to 3-0 in the Play-In. Up next: Game 1 at Denver on Saturday. -via Twitter @jovanbuha / April 16, 2024
What are some funny or wild travel stories with the Lakers? Austin Reaves: The craziest one to me was when we were in Portland, and it was 20 or 30 minutes before we were leaving to go to the game, and the fire alarm started to go off. Fire alarms occasionally go off. They come over the intercom, and they turn them off quickly, but these kept going off. I was like, I didn’t want to be stuck in a burning building, so I got down the stairs and walked out. Everybody else in the building was going out, too. We went out the front, and our bus was leaving from the back from where our meal room was at the time. I think they finally turned the alarm off, but the security for the hotel wouldn’t let me go back there. It’s like how I was talking about before how I fit in with the regular crowd. As an NBA player, how do you travel privately during the offseason when booking hotels and flights? Austin Reaves: For me, it’s not that hard because I kind of look like an average person. I can get around pretty well, especially if I’m wearing a hat or a hoodie. I don’t have to go too incognito, but it’s getting more difficult. Flying doesn’t bother me. With hotels, I’ve traveled spontaneously and gotten regular rooms. I came out to LA for the US Open on a last-minute kind of thing with my mom and my girlfriend, and we just got a place at the Renaissance by the hotel. It was great. For me, it’s not that difficult. -via HoopsHype / April 19, 2024
Some people said maybe the Lakers should lose and avoid the Nuggets. What did you think of that suggestion and facing the defending champs? Austin Reaves: There’s definitely a chip on our shoulder. They’ve beaten us I don’t know how many times in a row, and they put us out of the playoffs last year. There’s definitely a chip on our shoulder to go in and compete at the highest level and prove everybody wrong, basically. There were all these people talking about losing the Play-In game to end up playing the other game to get the eighth seed to play Oklahoma City. That was never even spoken about in our locker room. We wanted to make sure that we got into the playoffs first of all, and more than likely, you’re going to see them at some point anyway, so I’d assume you’ve got to beat them at some point anyway. That’s our main focus. Go out and compete at a high level and try to win this thing. -via HoopsHype / April 19, 2024
What have you thought of this season for Anthony Davis? Austin Reaves: He’s definitely lost in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation. In my opinion, he’s the best defender in the league. I can factually say my side of the story, but then you could look at the numbers of when he’s on the court and when he’s off the court with our unit and see the differences defensively for us. In my opinion, he’s the Defensive Player of the Year. He gets lost in that conversation. I don’t know for what reason. He played the most games he’s played in his career this year at 76. What we do wouldn’t work without him at all. He changes the game defensively so much. Offensively, every big man guarding him is always worried about him. When me and D’Angelo come off pick-and-rolls, we have more space and opportunity to create for ourselves and others because if I were another coach, my game plan would be not to let Davis catch the ball. What he does for us, I don’t think, gets talked about enough. -via HoopsHype / April 19, 2024