Lakers Officially Fill 14th Roster Spot

Even with James Ennis getting worked out last week, it looks like the Lakers have settled on their 14th roster spot internally.

As training camp is around the corner, the Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that the Lakers have found their 14th man right before training camp is to start.

The Los Angeles Lakers are planning to sign two-way guard Austin Reaves to a new two-year contract, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Reaves converted to a standard NBA contract, becomes Lakers‘ 14th roster spot.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 26, 2021

After going undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft, Austin Reaves made his way onto the Lakers Summer League roster. He managed to sign a two-way contract with the team over the summer.

In seven games, between Sacramento and Las Vegas, Reaves averaged a mediocre 7.8 points and 3.9 rebounds during Summer League. He did have a nice game winner against the Phoenix Suns in Las Vegas.

What a putback pic.twitter.com/xpqOS8j5z4
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) August 9, 2021

Reaves must have shown the front office some good potential, as he managed to parlay his two-way contract into an official two-year contract. The second year will be a team option.

Second year on Austin Reaves’ deal will be a team option, sources said. Lakers have had success developing unheralded players such as Talen Horton-Tucker and Alex Caruso and view Reaves -- a 6-foot-5 guard -- in a similar mold. https://t.co/i1IMRiAOg1
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 26, 2021

As Charania notes, the Lakers have shown good potential with player development over the years, so it will be interesting to see if Reaves carves out a bigger future with the squad if he improves.

The former Oklahoma Sooner averaged 18.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists as a senior in college. With the Lakers stacked with talent from top to bottom, Reaves will be used seldomly on the court. He should see time with the affiliate South Bay Lakers squad to get more reps in, and hopefully he will learn a ton from the Laker veterans throughout the season.