The Los Angeles Lakers are finally nearing a turning point in their season and it revolves around Austin Reaves.
Head coach JJ Redick confirmed Tuesday that the Lakers expect Reaves to return at some point during the team’s current eight-game road trip, offering much-needed reinforcement after nearly a month without one of their offensive engines.
Reaves has been sidelined since Christmas Day with a Grade 2 calf strain suffered in a loss to the Houston Rockets, an injury that later required careful management after a brief re-aggravation. Now, with the Lakers beginning a critical stretch away from home, optimism is building that his return is imminent.
Clear Timeline Emerges for Reaves’ Return
Before Los Angeles’ 115-107 win over the Denver Nuggets, Redick delivered a direct update that removed much of the uncertainty surrounding Reaves’ status.
According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, “JJ Redick says Austin Reaves is ‘progressing well’ and will return to the lineup sometime during the Lakers’ 8-game road trip. Some good news for the Lakers, who have been without Reaves because of a left calf strain since Christmas.”
The road trip runs from Jan. 22 through Feb. 3, creating roughly a two-week window for Reaves to rejoin the rotation. While an exact date remains unclear, the messaging from the organization suggests his comeback is now a matter of when, not if.
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Lakers Walking the Caution Line
The Lakers understand the stakes. Reaves dealt with both the initial strain and a setback in the same calf, making caution a priority as they finalize his ramp-up plan.
That could mean a minutes restriction, a temporary role adjustment, or staggered usage alongside the second unit early on. The objective is simple: protect Reaves’ long-term health while restoring offensive stability to a team that has felt his absence.
Spectrum SportsNet reporter Mike Trudell reinforced that approach following Tuesday’s win.
“The plan is for Austin Reaves to return at some point in this trip,” Trudell reported. “Obviously, it’s a long road trip of eight games, but it won’t seem exactly like that because the team comes back home tonight to face the Clippers in a road game, before hitting the road for Dallas, and the trip goes through the first few days of February.”
Why Reaves’ Return Matters
The numbers underline his importance. Since Reaves went down on Dec. 25, Los Angeles has gone 7-6 with an offensive rating of 115.6. Before the injury, the Lakers posted a top-eight offense (117.5) while building a 19-10 record.
Individually, Reaves is producing the best season of his career, averaging 26.6 points, 6.3 assists, and 5.2 rebounds on 50% shooting in his fifth year.
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His return also carries long-term implications. Reaves enters free agency this offseason, with teams like the Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs expected to pursue him aggressively. However, the Lakers hold his full Bird Rights and, per Sam Amick of The Athletic, are widely expected to retain him.
As Amick reported, the organization is prepared to offer Reaves “the massive amount coming his way this summer.”
For now, though, the focus is simpler: getting Reaves back on the floor, healthy, and ready to help steer a season that still hangs in the balance.
