Austin Reaves Sparks Lakers' 2021 Re-Draft Debate

The 2021 re-draft exercise reshuffles expectations: Evan Mobley, Cade Cunningham, Alperen Şengün, Scottie Barnes and Franz Wagner remain pillars, but an undrafted Austin Reaves has pushed to the doorstep of a top-five slot after a breakout season. His on-ball poise, crafty floaters and ability to facilitate—plus the Lakers’ alarming on/off splits with him as the lead option—force teams to rethink where value really landed in that class. Merlin sees a story of development over pedigree. This class still brims with two-way stars (“All-world defense” sits in Suggs’s case) and high-upside forwards, yet Reaves is a reminder: skill, fit and steadiness can outrank draft status. Expect continued jockeying as sample sizes grow.