Marcus Morris has raised eyebrows with his candid assessment of the Los Angeles Lakers' roster construction, suggesting the team should consider trading guard Austin Reaves despite his status as their third-best player.
"Any team with Luka and LeBron on it has a chance. I think that some things that they need to do — If I was a GM, I would move — this might be unpopular, but I would move Austin Reaves," Morris stated frankly.
The former LA Clippers forward explained his reasoning with a pointed critique of the defensive limitations when Reaves and Doncic share the court, particularly during high-stakes playoff matchups.
Interestingly, Morris acknowledged that Reaves isn't necessarily a liability during the regular season. "Like unless we're moving Austin Reaves to the bench, that starting unit during the regular season is cool," he explained. "Nobody's like picking on them."
However, when it comes to the postseason, Morris doesn't mince words about the defensive vulnerabilities. "In the seven-game series in the playoffs, on my scout report, I got red on both of them. You see them, kill them," he added bluntly.
Morris' assessment comes at a time when the Pacific Division teams are facing disappointing playoff results, while the Indiana Pacers have surprisingly reached the NBA Finals. The Lakers were eliminated in just five games, with their defensive struggles playing a significant role in their early exit.
Despite how unpopular this take might be among Lakers fans, could Morris actually be onto something with his tactical assessment? The postseason often exposes defensive weaknesses that teams can hide during the regular season.
