Austin Reaves

The Lakers have benefitted from the play of three of these four role players: Austin Reaves, Lonnie Walker IV, Troy Brown Jr., and Dennis Schroder.

He’s also [fourth](https://cleaningtheglass.com/stats/team/14/onoff#tab-team_efficiency) on the Lakers’ season-long plus-minus leaderboard, as the team has played 5.6 points per 100 possessions better than when he sits. [Yankees](https://www.pinstripealley.com/) at SB Nation’s Pinstripe Alley — no, he’s not also a Cowboys fan. was [one of the most promising candidates](https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2022/10/28/23427780/troy-brown-jr-lakers-3-and-d-lebron-james-anthony-davis-free-agent-interview-film) to step into that role, but had yet to do so in four seasons spent between the Wizards and Bulls. [Knicks](https://www.postingandtoasting.com), the [Lakers](https://www.silverscreenandroll.com) are in a four-way tie for ninth-place in the West, but only a game out of seventh, two out of six, and two-and-a-half out of fifth. Considering Troy and Dennis’s play, it stands to reason why these are the only two minimum salaried players signed this offseason left on the Lakers’ roster. Since finishing the calendar year with merely league average 3-point shooting, he’s lifted his [season average to almost 38%](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/browntr01.html), especially helped by 46% shooting from downtown since the trade deadline (before Sunday’s 0-8 brick-fest). [Coming into this season](https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2022/9/12/23317110/troy-brown-jr-lakers-3-and-d-wing-free-agency-bulls-juan-toscano-anderson-wizards), the Lakers’ need for a 3-and-D wing was glaringly obvious. He has some on-ball juice, but lacks the pop, vision, or touch to be a centerpiece of an efficient offense, even coming off the bench. As the season went on, though, his minutes faded with his defensive consistency, and he is now on the outside of the rotation looking in. At the start of the season, Lonnie seemed like a steal. This season, he’s taken a huge leap in efficiency, climbing to 51/39/87 shooting numbers across the board. [San Antonio Spurs](https://www.poundingtherock.com).