The Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated in just five games in the first round of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves, who ultimately punched their ticket to the conference finals for the second consecutive season.
Despite their first-round playoff elimination, there is a lot to look forward to in Los Angeles. The Lakers traded for Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks in February, and many expect that the team will be busy this offseason to maximize the rest of the team around him.
While nothing is official yet, one of the changes some believe could happen revolves around starting shooting guard Austin Reaves, who recently received a major injury update.
In his fourth season in the league, Reaves enjoyed a career year, averaging 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.1 steals (all career highs). However, his season ended on a bit of a sour note as he struggled in the Lakers' final game against Minnesota due to a toe injury.
Though Reaves last played a couple of weeks ago, there was still some uncertainty regarding his next steps. Fortunately for him and the Lakers, he reportedly will not need surgery, according to Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times.
"Yet according to people with knowledge of the situation, Reaves is still recovering from a serious toe sprain (though it’s improving and not expected to require surgery)," Woike wrote about Reaves' injury.
This is good news for Reaves, though his future in Los Angeles is still uncertain. The Arkansas native is eligible for a four-year, $89.2 million contract extension in the summer, but many believe the Lakers could trade him to improve the roster and avoid signing him to a new deal. Regardless, this will be important to follow all offseason as he recovers from his injury.
