The most pressing issue for the Los Angeles Lakers beginning the 2025-26 NBA season is the notable absence of LeBron James. However, as he slowly recovers from dealing with sciatica, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have taken the reins for the Lakers to start the year.
While the future of Doncic is set in stone in Los Angeles, the plans for James and Reaves over the next 12 months are relatively uncertain. With James likely controlling his destiny, Reaves isn’t the same, as currently without a long-term deal, the shooting guard has been mentioned in extensive trade talks since his growth over the past few seasons.
However, Reaves recently made comments that could drastically impact his future with the Lakers. Though it came off in a joking manner, the 27-year-old urged his teammate, James, to retire.
“If I was LeBron James, I probably would’ve retired by now, but he’s one of the greatest players to ever touch the basketball, so you have to do it as a collective group,” Reaves said about the Lakers’ missing James and their struggles in their opening night loss to the Golden State Warriors.
As has been seen in the past, criticisms of James coming from his own teammates usually haven’t led to anything good. Reaves’ comments were almost certainly light-hearted, but they came shortly before a new trade team was mentioned as a possible suitor for the shooting guard.
New Austin Reaves Trade Team Named
Again, Reaves’ comments came as a seemingly joking hypothetical after explaining how the Lakers were missing a player like James to fill in the gaps for them in the loss against Golden State.
However, that doesn’t change the fact that he has been one of the top players in trade rumors over the past few months. With that, Reaves has been mock traded to the Utah Jazz for Lauri Markkanen or Walker Kessler, the Warriors for Jonathan Kuminga,and even to the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
While none of those deals have ever come to fruition, a new team was recently mentioned as a potential landing spot for Reaves, if the Lakers decide he either isn’t a great fit next to Doncic or is asking for too large a contract extension.
In a new article by Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report, the Minnesota Timberwolves were urged to target Reaves as an impactful addition for their current roster. While they already have Anthony Edwards playing the role of franchise superstar, Swartz wrote that Reaves would be a strong replacement for Donte DiVincenzo.
“The Minnesota Timberwolves are still searching for a franchise point guard to pair alongside Anthony Edwards… (and) Austin Reaves is a better overall version of DiVincenzo,” he wrote. “Contract concerns could cause the Lakers to sniff around Reaves’ trade market.”
Reaves reportedly declined his player option and an extension from the Lakers for next season, set for restricted free agency with hopes of landing a big deal. The team could choose to deal him somewhere like Minnesota in a sign-and-trade if they don’t want to pay him next summer.
Lakers Injuries To Begin The Year
As has been the case for Reaves his entire Lakers tenure, the star will continue to be in consistent trade rumors, regardless of what he says, his play on the court, or anything else. But while Los Angeles is dealing with injuries to James, Maxi Kleber, and other rotational players, the status of Reaves himself might be in question.
After the Lakers lost to the Warriors in their season opener, it was reported that both Doncic and Reaves had suffered minor injuries. According to head coach JJ Redick, Reaves, suffering from ankle discomfort, expects to play in the team’s second game of the season.
He isn’t on the injury report, and Redick said, “I know Austin and I expect him to play,” according to Lakers insider Jovan Buha.
The same can be said for Doncic, who suffered a groin injury, as he and Redick don’t believe it is anything too serious.
“It’s probably nothing,” Doncic said to reporters. “Just felt it a little bit because my hip went [the opposite] way. Felt it a little bit, but it’s probably nothing.”
He seems to be fine. I don’t think it’s anything major,” Redick added.
Both Doncic and Reaves were the stars of the show for Los Angeles, as they combined for nearly two-thirds of the team’s points. While James continues to be sidelined, with an unknown return date, the two younger stars, both set to play, will have increased roles as Redick solves the issue of how the rest of the roster will fit alongside them.
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