Reaves Watch: Lakers not saying yet

WASHINGTON – The Lakers missing Austin Reaves is an understatement.

And it is also clear how much they missed him when he was sidelined due to a strained left calf.

While Reaves’ return will have to wait at least one more game, with the Lakers downgrading Reaves to out for Friday’s road game against the Wizards after listing him as questionable on Thursday’s injury report, his return to the floor remains imminent.

Reaves, who has missed 18 straight games and 21 of 23 due to a left calf injury, is expected to make his return to the court in New York before the Lakers’ ‘Grammy’ trip ends, either on Sunday against the Knicks or Tuesday against the Nets.

Coach JJ Redick reassured Friday that Reaves had no setbacks and that the team was being cautious in not letting the 27-year-old guard play against the Wizards.

“He continues to make progress,” Redick said of Reaves. “He hasn’t had any setbacks. [Thursday] was five weeks after the injury. He’s right on schedule, if not a little ahead of schedule. So it’s just that he has complete confidence in his body. And he continues to do a great job on the field.”

And once Reaves returns to the court, the Lakers will once again benefit from having a player in Reaves who was performing at an All-NBA level before his injuries.

But how exactly will the Lakers benefit from Reaves’ return?

Pick and roll maestro

It may not be at the same level as earlier in the season, but the Lakers remain one of the pick-and-roll-heavy teams in the league, with Luka Doncic leading the NBA in possession finishes as the pick-and-roll ballhandler (11.5).

Doncic is one of the league’s most productive and efficient pick-and-roll maestros – and Reaves is right there next to him.

Reaves is the second-most efficient pick-and-roll ballhandler in the league, just behind reigning MVP, Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

His improved finishing inside 15 feet of the basket and his passing have made Reaves one of the most dynamic playmakers in the league. The Lakers need his drive to the basket and his pace to operate at the expected elite offensive level.

With averages of 26.6 points, 6.3 assists and 5.2 rebounds in 23 games before missing the past five weeks, Reaves will help the Lakers offensively in several ways.

Once he’s back in the lineup, Reaves will give the team another high-use ballhandler who can take the pressure off Doncic and LeBron James.

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Role orientation

Speaking of easing the pressure, Reaves will change the complexion of what the Lakers have looked like over the past month.

James will no longer be tasked with leading the second unit starting the second and fourth quarters – situations he and Reaves had together before Reaves’ injury.

Marcus Smart and Gabe Vincent will have to operate as ballhandlers less often.

And even James, who has found his stride after a slow start to his season following a 14-game absence to start the year due to sciatica but whose impact on the field has been a rollercoaster over the past month, could be a third option offensively — and sometimes a second option behind Doncic — with Reaves back.

Help Ayton

Starting big man Deandre Ayton will benefit the most from Reaves’ return.

Reaves and Ayton quickly found synergy in pick-and-rolls, with Reaves being the Lakers’ best ballhandler by finding Ayton on short rolls – Ayton’s preferred way to operate.

Since Reaves’ injury, Ayton’s production and efficiency have dropped significantly.

Reaves won’t make Ayton a better defender. But he will get Ayton more involved offensively, which will help Ayton be more involved in the ways the team needs him to be.