Lakers Trade Pitch Cuts Ties With Austin Reaves for Elite DPOY Center

There’s been speculation that the Los Angeles Lakers could move on from starter Austin Reaves. Reaves is a decent player, but he had some struggles during the postseason. 

With Luka Doncic now on the roster in Los Angeles, there might not be much of a reason to have Reaves on the team. While he’d be wanted around the league, the Lakers would be better off having a player at a different position. 

In a proposed trade idea from Bailey Bassett, the Lakers would accomplish just that. His trade idea would send Reaves to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Jaren Jackson Jr., the former Defensive Player of the Year Award winner. 

“(Desmond) Bane went for four first-round picks, a first-round pick swap, Kentavious Caldwell Pope, and Cole Anthony,” Bassett wrote. “The move brings in an influx of draft capital, two rotation players who can fill Bane’s minutes in the backcourt, and some salary relief that could make extending (Ja) Morant and (Jaren) Jackson easier.”

“Even so, fans will still ponder a Jackson trade, especially in Los Angeles, considering their massive void at the center position. The Lakers added Doncic ahead of the trade deadline in what was one of the biggest trade fleeces ever.” The move sent Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks, though, meaning Los Angeles had almost nobody to fill minutes at the five. It hurt them in the playoffs, as the Lakers lacked interior scoring, rebounding, and rim protection. Jackson offers all of that and more. He is a former Defensive Player of the Year winner who has twice led the league in blocks. Jackson’s offensive game is improving every season, too.”

Would the Lakers Prefer to Hold Onto Reaves?

Moving on from Reaves wouldn’t be an easy task for the Los Angeles Lakers. While he’s wanted around the league, that’s more so because of the Lakers’ feelings about him. 

Los Angeles seems to like the 27-year-old, and there’s no reason not to. 

He’s continued to improve in each season throughout his NBA career and is coming off a campaign in which he averaged 20.2 points, nearly five points higher than his previous career high. 

How Does Reaves Feel About Trade Rumors?

Similar to fans, players hear trade rumors. When speaking at his camp recently, the Los Angeles Lakers’ potential All-Star admitted that he’s heard everything. However, he added that he tries to keep that to the side, and that it only gets mentioned when his mother brings it up. 

“I really don’t pay attention to any of it,” Reaves said of the trade rumors, per SI. “If I hear it, it’s usually my mom asking me about it because I’m sure she scrolls all day long looking at that stuff, as a parent would do. At this point, it’s not in my control. I want to be in L.A. If they want to trade me, we’ll start something new somewhere else, but like I said, I want to be in L.A. I want to play my whole career in L.A. I love it there; I love the fans. … And obviously, the Lakers are the best organization in basketball.”

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