NBA Notes: Lakers, Austin Reaves, Kings, Keegan Murray, Nets

Lakers

The Lakers have been hit with another setback.

Guard Austin Reaves has been diagnosed with a Grade two left gastrocnemius strain and will miss at least four weeks before being reevaluated, the team announced Friday. The update was first reported by Dan Woike of The Athletic.

Reaves suffered a mild left calf strain on December 8 and returned to action December 23, but experienced renewed soreness during Thursday’s loss to Houston and exited at halftime. An MRI later confirmed the strain.

While the injury is believed to be related to the earlier calf issue, team and league sources told Woike that it involves a different muscle group. 

Reaves told teammate Luka Doncic that he wasn’t sure how severe the injury was.

“Just hoping,” Doncic said. “I just say, ‘If you need something to help with, I know how it is to go through a calf injury.’ It’s not fun at all. Just be there to support him. Take your time. Calves are dangerous.”

It’s tough timing for Reaves, who is playing for his next contract. The 27-year-old is widely expected to decline his $14.9 million player option for 2026-27 and enter unrestricted free agency next summer.

Before the injury, Reaves was enjoying a breakout fifth season, averaging 26.6 points, 6.3 assists, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.0 steal while shooting .502 from the field, .365 from three, and .873 at the line in 23 games.

The injury also removes him from Most Improved Player consideration, as he has already missed six games and will now be sidelined for at least 14 more.

It’s also rough timing for the Lakers, who opened the season 15-4 but have dropped six of their past 10 games, including three straight.

Head coach JJ Redick was highly critical of the team’s professionalism and effort following Thursday’s loss.

Kings

The Kings will be without forward Keegan Murray for at least the near future.

Murray has been diagnosed with a mild right calf strain after undergoing an MRI, a source told Sean Cunningham of NBC Sacramento. He will be reevaluated in one week and is expected to miss at least the next four games.

The Kings confirmed the diagnosis in a press release.

Murray, 25, had already missed the first 15 games of the season after undergoing thumb surgery in mid-October.

Since returning, he was averaging 14.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.7 blocks in 15 games while logging 37.1 minutes per contest, which would rank second in the league if he qualified.

Nets

The Nets have filled their final two-way roster spot.

Brooklyn signed free agent Chaney Johnson to a two-way contract, according to Brian Lewis of the New York Post.

Johnson, a 6-foot-7 forward, went undrafted after serving as a key reserve on an Auburn team that reached the Final Four last season. He averaged 9.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks in 38 games as a senior.

The 23-year-old has spent this season with the Cleveland Charge, averaging 12.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.1 blocks in 16 games while shooting .604 from the field and .400 from three.

Brooklyn had the league’s only open two-way slot, so no corresponding move was required.