Season Review: Maxwell Lewis

Maxwell Lewis spent most of this season either in the G-League or on the Lakers' bench, but did he show enough promise to become more?

Welcome to our Lakers Season Review Series! For the next several weeks, we’ll be writing columns every weekday, breaking down the biggest questions we have about every player on the Lakers roster. Today, we take a look at Maxwell Lewis.

The Lakers demonstrated a ton of interest in Maxwell Lewis as a basketball player. To even draft him, they executed a trade with the Indiana Pacers and spent over $4 million to acquire the pick. In the second round, they selected Lewis and signed him to a four-year deal, utilizing the new CBA rules to lock in the rookie to a longer-term deal.

With the Lakers in more of a win-now mode, it was generally understood that a rookie, especially one in the second round, wouldn’t get much playing time. But with the minutes he was given, how did Lewis fare?

How was their season?

Lewis got a few quality shifts in the NBA, but they were few and far between. Yes, he played 20 NBA games but never cracked ten minutes in any of them. When he did play, it was often in garbage time and those units this season were notorious for playing poorly and chucking up shots when given an opportunity.

Lewis spent ample time in the G-League with the South Bay Lakers. He played in 25 games, averaging 14.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game. Playing against lower competition, Lewis showed signs of the potential Los Angeles sees in him. He scored easily from the wing, executed pick and rolls well and put in an acceptable effort on the defensive side of the ball.

Should the Lakers Bring Him Back?

His numbers didn’t impress, but the Lakers should bring Lewis back in purple and gold for the 2024-25 season. He’s a young wing and that’s a position worth its weight in gold in the NBA. If you think he has any shot at being a rotation player in the league, you must trust the process and continue to develop him during his sophomore year.

If he can put on some muscle and improve his 3-point shooting and defense, he could follow a similar trajectory as Max Christie has. Next season, he could be on the cusp of getting consistent minutes with the main team.

Will he return?

The return of Lewis is highly likely and a smart move. You have him locked in for three more seasons and at a very affordable price. He didn’t do enough to garner attention from other NBA teams and with his low salary, it’s unlikely he will get thrown into a trade package even to make the numbers work in a deal.

If he doesn’t return, that means the Lakers are so convinced they missed the mark with him that they’re ready to move on and take the hit on their ability to draft by giving up on Lewis. I don’t see that happening, given that he’s a respectable prospect and finding quality wings is difficult.

If you’re skeptical about Lewis, I implore you to reconsider. The Lakers should be given the benefit of the doubt regarding their ability to access young talent, given their track record over the last several years of finding diamonds in the rough, such as Christie, Austin Reaves, and Alex Caruso, to name a few.

Lewis is locked in at a bargain rate and if he makes a modest jump, he could be the steal of the 2023 draft. Offseason workouts and Summer League will be crucial in his development heading into the 2024-25 season.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88.