When it comes to winning, perhaps no one is more familiar with what it takes than Robert Horry. He won two titles with the Houston Rockets, three with the Los Angeles Lakers, and two with the San Antonio Spurs, the most of any player who never suited up for the Boston Celtics.
Horry spent parts of seven seasons with the Lakers and longs to see them win another title. After adding Luka Doncic last season in a blockbuster trade, Los Angeles looks poised to make some noise in the Western Conference, although their third-best player, Austin Reaves, is all but certain to decline his $14.9 million player option next season.
With unrestricted free agency on the horizon and rival teams clamoring for his services, Horry thinks the Lakers should part ways with Reaves sooner rather than later.
Former Player Urges Lakers to Trade Austin Reaves
Reaves was offered roughly $22 million per year from the Lakers, although he thinks he can command between $30 and $35 million. After averaging over 20 points per game last season and being a key to the Lakers’ success, it stands to reason that he will get what he asks for, provided he remains effective this season.
Next summer, the Lakers will have LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Maxi Kleber, and Gabe Vincent off the books and can easily afford Reaves’ expected asking price, although Horry thinks it’s not worth the investment.
“If the Lakers were smart, they would do a sign-and-trade,” Horry said on September 19. “And the reason I say that is because when you have a team with two players who are pretty much the same, meaning Luka and AR, and I’m not saying they have the same skill set. They play the same position, they pretty much do the same thing.”
In a way, Horry is right. Both Doncic and Reaves are high-level scorers who work best when the ball is in their hands, although Doncic’s track record suggests he can thrive with another dominant guard, as he and Kyrie Irving made the Finals in 2024. Reaves, like Kyrie, could be an elite second option in the backcourt.
Austin Reaves Plays Better With Luka Doncic
Next season, the Lakers will have two of the smartest and most established facilitators in the entire league. James’ basketball IQ has allowed him to remain elite well after his 20th season, and Doncic is one of the best passers in the league.
However, James is not a long-term piece like Reaves is, and trading Reaves might be a bit narrow-sighted by the Lakers.
Last season, Reaves averaged 19.1 points and 6.1 assists per game on 36.4% shooting from deep before Doncic made his Lakers’ debut. After Doncic arrived, Reaves’ averages improved to 21.9 points, and his shooting went up to 39.6% from 3-point range in the final 28 games.
While the Lakers have to answer questions about Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia’s fit on the roster, the only thing that seems relatively certain is that when James retires (or demands a trade), Reaves will emerge as a long-term running mate for Doncic as long as the Slovenian star remains in Hollywood.
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