After a deep run in the 2023 postseason, the Lakers entered the 2023-24 season with high expectations. Less than a month into the year, a slow start has Los Angeles in search of answers to right the ship.
The move comes as a bit of a shock as Reaves became a full-time starter late in the 2022-23 campaign, playing an integral role in the aforementioned deep playoff run.
Why was Reaves moved to the bench? Here is what Ham has said about the decision and what it means moving forward.
The results speak for themselves: Reddish finished with 17 points in 28 minutes while shooting 5 of 8 from deep, including a late dagger to put the Lakers up five points with 70 seconds remaining.
"Everybody agreed that we needed to change up the music a little bit. It wasn't a demotion for Austin. It was just a realignment," Ham said postgame.
In the early stages of the season, the Lakers have floundered in the minutes where LeBron James sits.