As a seasoned sports analyst, I break down why the Lakers' Austin Reaves is one of the most undervalued assets in the NBA. With his $13M contract delivering 20 PPG in regular season and 16 PPG in playoffs, trading him for anything less than a star would be criminal. This isn't just fandom – it's math. Let me show you why Reaves-for-center proposals deserve to be laughed out of every front office.

In a candid interview with *Lakers Nation*, Austin Reaves opens up about his underwhelming performance in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Reaves admits his struggles, particularly when facing their relentless switch defense, and shares insights on how the Timberwolves' scouting disrupted the Lakers' offensive flow. As a data-driven analyst, I break down the tactical nuances behind Reaves' challenges and what he can improve moving forward.

As a former NBA scout turned data analyst, I dive into Austin Reaves' surprising solo performance against the Pacers. Through advanced stats and lineup analysis, we'll uncover how the Lakers' questionable roster decisions actually created the perfect storm for Reaves to shine—despite front office blunders that would make any basketball purist cringe.