Welcome to our Lakers Season Preview Series! For the next several weeks, we’ll be writing columns every weekday, breaking down the biggest questions we have about every player the Lakers added this offseason. Today, we look at Austin Reaves.

Last season for the Lakers was defined by change even before the arrival of Luka Dončić.

They came into the season under a new, first-time head coach in JJ Redick and then traded away their former starting point guard two months into the season. Luka entering the fold then drastically changed the team for the remainder of the season.

Across each of those phases, no player saw their role change more than Austin Reaves. After starting the year at shooting guard, Reaves took the point guard duties after the Russell trade, then shifted into an entirely new role alongside Luka.

But with a roster that should be more stable with regard to his role moving forward, what does the future hold for Reaves? After figuring things out on the fly in the second half of last season, what does his role look like this season with an offseason and preseason to prepare?

For as much as Reaves’ role changed last season, he found success through it all. While there were times of struggle, namely when he became the de facto starting point guard in December and January, he found his footing and those reps will certainly be beneficial moving forward in his career.

It’s that experience, paired with the rest he’s gotten throughout his career, that could have him set up for a huge season in LA. He’ll be entering a season with a role that, barring a major injury, will be the same role he has throughout the year. He’s playing alongside two all-timers and will be given the opportunity, on a near-nightly basis, to take on a team’s second- or third-best perimeter defender.

And he’ll be doing it in a contract year, which motivates players unlike just about anything else in sports.

Given a summer to work on what will be a more defined role this season, Reaves sees his 3-point percentage jump. Last season, his shot ran hot and cold, eventually ending with him slightly above his career average. This season, those highs and lows are ironed out, but he also converts at a much higher clip, going from a 37.7% shooter last year to something north of 40% this year.

The other big area he’ll need to improve is defensively. Very early in his career, Reaves was a solid defender. However, as his offensive responsibility has increased, his defensive impact has decreased accordingly.

This season, with Luka and LeBron set to have the lion’s share of the ballhandling duties, Reaves is able to reallocate energy to his defense, where he improves, allowing him and Luka to share the floor more without needing to play at elite levels offensively.

In the end, it’s Reaves’ most efficient season yet as his role becomes more refined. His ability to successfully play alongside Luka erases any questions about their future together and Reaves is rightfully rewarded with a big contract next summer.

Through all of the changes Reaves went through last season, he not only remained a positive contributor, he had a career year. It’s with that thought process, then, that I approach what his worst-case scenario could be.

Even at his worst, Reaves has a high floor and enough self-awareness that he can still be an impactful player even on off nights. His game isn’t one-dimensional, so when his shot isn’t falling, he still typically has success as a playmaker or rebounder.

However, the biggest question around Reaves heading into this season isn’t anything statistical, but instead is about his fit with Luka. In a worst-case scenario, then, that partnership simply doesn’t work.

Offensively, Reaves is not able to find a consistent rhythm and, while he may be able to contribute in many ways, in too many games, his shot isn’t falling. Defensively, teams pick on him more and more and he’s unable to slow them down.

Because of that, the team struggles to find ways to get the best out of both Reaves and Luka on the court at the same time, raising lots of questions about whether they should bring him back next offseason.

Each season of Reaves’ career has been better than the previous. While that trend does have to stop at some point, the question is will this be that year?

Realistically, I think he can both not have a career-best year in terms of statistics while still having an argument for the best year of his career. Each season, he’s come in having addressed concerns of previous seasons and shown more in his game

It’s with that in mind that I expect another great season from Reaves. I envision a strong season from three, which will really anchor his offensive impact. If that shot is falling, not only is his season going to be strong, but the Lakers are going to create lots of headaches.

At the end of the day, Reaves has an established track record of improving as a player and is entering a contract year ahead of the biggest payday of his career. I have full faith he’s going to establish himself as a star this year.