JJ Redick should consider bringing LeBron James off the bench.
On the surface, it seems preposterous. For a litany of reasons, maybe it is! But as a thought experiment, even if ultimately he opted not to, I would at least have the conversation. Before grabbing your pitchfork, hear me out.
There's no denying that James, who turns 41 in December, will take on a reduced role as the most overqualified second fiddle in NBA history given the blistering start of Luka Doncic. That was always going to be the case, even if James had been ready and in the starting lineup on opening night.
What I'm not sure even the most bullish Lakers' fans could have foreseen is Austin Reaves suddenly turning into an All-NBA level star. Fringe All-Star? You could see it coming. Top-15 player? Don't kid yourself.
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The three games in four days run with Doncic out of the lineup was itself an all-time heater.
- 51-11-9, including 21-22 from the FT line
- 41 points on 22 shots the very next night
- 28 points, 16 assists and a game-winner
We're still in small-sample-size early-season theater, so those three games alone over-inflate Reaves' season averages. But even if you only look at the games he's played with Doncic, the Lakers' current second fiddle is averaging 22.5 points, 7.5 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game while averaging as many free throw attempts as the likes of Donovan Mitchell, Jalen Brunson and Devin Booker. That's even with his first genuine clunker of the season on Wednesday against the Thunder, who have a habit of doing that to people.
When James returns to the lineup, he suddenly faces the prospect of slotting in not only to the ball-dominant Doncic but also Reaves, who ranks sixth in the NBA in time of possession and averages about five seconds per touch, nearly identical to Doncic.
There's only one ball and for all of James' strengths, playing off the ball certainly isn't one of them. It's JJ Redick's job to get the most out of his roster and, at some point, you might ask if, aside from pride, bringing James off the bench to more fully commit to a staggered approach outweighs the diminishing returns of starting James, Doncic and Reaves.
Would you rather have a deferential James picking and choosing his spots more judiciously than ever? Or would you rather unleash perhaps the smartest player in NBA history to do whatever he wants against a bunch of second units?
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There's also the defense to consider. Doncic vacillates between traffic cone and mediocre, Reaves is a below-average and replacement-level defender, and James' effort on that end comes and goes, at least in the regular season. Dramatically redistributing James' minutes would help alleviate any concerns about a defense that currently ranks outside the top 20.
LBJ is one of the great floor raisers and it's easy to imagine the likes of Jake LaRavia, Dalton Knecht, Jaxson Hayes and, yes, Bronny James benefiting from more time next to the four-time MVP. You'll get nights he calls his own number and still rampages for 30 off the pine. You'll get nights he plays orchestra conductor and surgically dissects hapless opposing benches with his brain.
Deploying James as a super sub with him still closing every game at least in the regular season also reduces wear and tear, maximizing the chances he stays fresh for an extended run come playoff time.
What if it all worked? What if Redick has the guts to try it and if James himself buys in? Everyone loves a good story and the narratives write themselves. The NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award isn't held to the 65-game rule either, which means come April, we could once more engage in a LeBron James awards discussion, further fueling a legacy built on firsts.
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Look, if the Lakers were struggling, this wouldn't even be a conversation. But aside from that humbling loss to OKC, which could make a real run at 70 wins with its historically suffocating defense, the Doncic-Reaves Lakers have looked like a bona fide top-4 team in a loaded Western Conference.
The easy decision for Redick is to insert the second-best player of all time back into the starting lineup, go about his day and simply adjust as needed. That might also be the best decision and ultimately how this all plays out.
But it's fun to think about the preposterous. Count me as one who is rooting for it.
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