The Los Angeles Lakers are riding high on a wave of momentum, but head coach JJ Redick is shaking things up in a big way. As the team prepares to host the New Orleans Pelicans at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday night, Redick has announced a pivotal rotation tweak centered around star guard Austin Reaves and the legendary LeBron James. This decision comes amid ongoing developments in James’ usage rate, signaling the end of one era in the Lakers’ lineup strategy and the dawn of a more optimized approach.
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The Lakers (36-24) are firmly in the playoff hunt, sitting sixth in the ultra-competitive Western Conference—just one game behind the Denver Nuggets. With the final quarter of the season underway, the West is a battleground: a mere three-and-a-half games separate third place from seventh. Los Angeles is looking to extend their winning streak to three games after dominant victories over the Golden State Warriors (129-101) on Saturday and the Sacramento Kings (128-104) on Sunday. These blowouts showcased the team’s depth and firepower, but Redick knows fine-tuning is key to sustaining success.
In a pre-game press conference, the second-year coach opened up about the challenges of managing his star-studded rotation, particularly when it comes to playing James, Reaves, and D’Angelo Russell (commonly referred to as DLo) together on the court. “The bigger challenge is when they’re all on the court together because they all want the basketball,” Redick explained. “And the reality is someone, or in some cases, people have to give up and sacrifice.”
This ball-dominant trio has created intriguing dynamics, but Redick is putting an end to the status quo. He revealed plans to adjust the lineup specifically to increase Reaves’ playing time alongside James. “We’ll keep tweaking stuff,” Redick said. “We’re going to tweak a little bit of stuff tonight so that we get Austin a little more run with LeBron. We’ll just keep doing it.”
The move isn’t arbitrary—it’s rooted in data-driven insights from the season. Redick highlighted a key development: James’ usage rate dips noticeably when he’s sharing the floor with Reaves. For a 41-year-old icon in his 23rd NBA season, managing workload is paramount. As the league’s all-time leading scorer, James still possesses elite skills and “plenty of gas left in the tank,” but the Lakers are prioritizing preservation to fuel another deep postseason push. By pairing him more frequently with Reaves, whose playmaking and shooting complement James’ style, the team aims to maximize efficiency without overtaxing their superstar.
Reaves, the 25-year-old guard who has emerged as a key contributor, brings versatility to the table. His ability to handle the ball, space the floor, and make smart decisions could alleviate some of James’ on-court responsibilities, allowing the King to operate in a more sustainable mode. This adjustment marks the end of experimental lineups that occasionally sidelined Reaves during James’ minutes, ushering in a phase where their synergy takes center stage.
As the Lakers face the Pelicans—a team hungry to climb the standings themselves—fans will get their first glimpse of these changes in action. If successful, this could be the catalyst that propels Los Angeles higher in the West and solidifies their championship aspirations. With James’ legacy on the line and Reaves stepping into a bigger role, Redick’s decision isn’t just a tweak—it’s a statement that the old ways are over, and a bolder, more balanced Lakers era is here.