Austin Reaves was a breakout performer for the Lakers last season. Could second-year guard Max Christie make similar strides?
After a strong showing in the Summer League, he feels he’s ready to step into the Lakers’ rotation, he told Heavy.com’s Sean Deveney.
“I feel a lot more comfortable, feel a lot more confident out here, just having the ball in my hands and being able to just play my game,” he said. “And so it’s kind of crazy what one year can do for you one year of experience. And so I think I’m reaping the benefits of just sort of staying even-keeled last year and learning a lot and being able to showcase it out here.”
Christie, who averaged 19 points per game in three appearances in Las Vegas, could carve out second-unit minutes behind Reaves at shooting guard.
We have more on the Los Angeles teams:
- Mason Plumlee re-signed with the Clippers on a one-year, $5MM contract this month and the veteran big man said his experience with the club last season was a motivating factor, per Andrew Greif of the Los Angeles Times. “Just believing in the roster and having a little bit of playoff experience playing for (Tyronn Lue) and the staff,” he said. “To me, we were playing really well those first couple games even without Paul [George] yet into that and I just have a personal belief in this group and it’s something I wanted to be a part of.” Plumlee was acquired from Charlotte at last season’s trade deadline.
- Kawhi Leonard is extension-eligible, and The Athletic’s Law Murray says the “dialogue is healthy,” but he still doubts that a deal will be reached anytime soon. Murray anticipates Leonard will once again opt for free agency as soon as next summer, when he must make a decision on his $48.8MM option for the 2024/25 season. Murray notes Leonard did not sign an extension with San Antonio after he was named the league’s MVP and also walked away from Toronto after winning a championship there.
- Should the Clippers trade for James Harden? Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times believes so, opining that it’s the last chance for Leonard and Paul George to seriously chase a championship with the franchise.
The days of paying aging stars are over. Especially ones who have injury history. Finally some common sense …….
It isn’t over at all…
Teams are gifting lots of money to often injured players…
There needs to be something put in place to stop teams from overpaying often injured players… And something else to protect teams from themselves as the players go past the age 32 year…
Some kind of production and games played incentives written in as permanent language for those contracts… No wiggle room for negotiation just enforced incentives…
Embiid is a rare case, not many who miss as many games as he did end up playing as many regular season games as he does… Most never live up to the contract…
I’m a fan of the clippers the days of paying aging stars isn’t over but the days of a core of aging stars Winning big is over If it ever was a thing !
The average age of russ , Harden , George and Leonard 33.5 years of age !
If everything goes right they could contend for a title but what are the odds they fight off age decline and or injuries?
CBA gives players roughly 50% of all of the basketball related income. That number came to about $10 billion in 2022. 30 teams. 15 guaranteed contracts for a total of 450 players. Roughly 450 players splitting $5 billion of money that HAS to be spent.
Why not put a maximum (guaranteed) contract length?
You can only sign a contract until 35 years. So if you are 33 you can only sign for 2 years (or more in case of team option).
With afterwards each time only 1 season + team option allowed.
It would protect the teams from over-spending as their colleagues wouldnt be able to do it either. And in case of too much injuries or decline in play, they could fall back to a vet minimum.
Players Union will never allow that to be in the CBA. Players won’t give that up. The new CBA with a 2nd tax apron makes it highly prohibitive for teams who spend heavily.
The violent nature of football has kept the “guaranteed” money somewhat in check in the NFL.
Thank goodness Bill plaschke doesn’t run the Clippers.
Christie is the only trade piece the Lakers have. His days in L.A. are numbered.
Reaves to be the starting SG and Christie should be the back up SG, think he’s primed for a breakout year.