NBA analytics guru Tom Haberstroh is convinced the Los Angeles Lakers can’t win a championship with Austin Reaves, Luka Doncic and LeBron James in the lineup, citing their collective defensive issues. The numbers man has called for a hypothetical Lakers trade that would see the team make a significant upgrade to both its defense and three-point shooting, while parting with Reaves.
In his Substack feature, Haberstroh compared Reaves’ situation — the star guard will be a free agent this summer — to that of James Harden in 2012, when the Oklahoma City Thunder had no option but to trade the southpaw and allow him to thrive as the No. 1 option on the Houston Rockets.
“It feels similar to James Harden on the Thunder where there’s a superstar waiting to break out. But can he do it on the Lakers? And should he?” he wondered about Reaves.
Lakers Trade Idea for Austin Reaves
The proposed trade would see the Lakers acquire Trey Murphy III and Herbert Jones, two of the NBA’s best 3-and-D players. The latter, a former All-Defensive First Team selection, has been heavily linked as a Lakers trade target ahead of the Feb. 5 deadline.
Pelicans would receive: Austin Reaves, Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber, 2031 first-round pick (Top-4 protected)
Lakers would receive: Trey Murphy III, Herbert Jones
Haberstroh argued that putting Murphy and Jones next to Doncic, James and Ayton would instantly solve a lot of the Lakers’ defensive issues, given that both incoming wings stand at over 6-feet-7 and can guard multiple positions. Furthermore, Murphy has consistently made over 2.5 threes per game at an efficient clip across his last three seasons, establishing himself as one of the elite sharpshooting wings in the league.
The Lakers, who rank 24th in 3P% (34.5) and 25th in 3PM (11.7), would get a huge boost from Murphy’s shooting, while also shoring up their 23rd-ranked defense.
Perfect Fits Next to Doncic
“The Pelicans have two wing players that would be ideal next to the Doncic’s Lakers,” wrote Haberstroh. “As we saw in Dallas, the Slovenian is maximized next to long defenders, rangy athletes and lob threats. Enter Trey Murphy III and Herbert Jones.”
“Murphy IIII is a good volume 3-point shooter and also one of the elite dunkers in the league, which makes him a snug fit next to Doncic, who loves playing next to kickout recipients and cutters who can finish above the rim,” continued Haberstroh.
“When healthy, Jones ranks among the best perimeter defenders in the league. He’s willing to do the dirty work and checks in a lot younger, bigger and cost-controlled than Marcus Smart.”
The NBA insider argued that the hypothetical Lakers trade would also be a huge plus for a Pelicans team intent on building around Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen. With Reaves, 27, in the mix, they could grow their core while remaining youthful.
Slowest Trio in the NBA
Haberstroh’s main argument for the Lakers breaking up their star trio is simple: their defensive issues will be tough to mask in the playoffs.
Doncic, Reaves and James are among the three of the 10 slowest defensive players in the league based on how much ground they cover. That would explain why the Lakers have routinely given up 130+ points to lottery-bound teams, even if they’ve escaped those games with victories. Haberstroh believes the trio will be severely exposed in the playoffs, like they were against the Minnesota Timberwolves last year.
“In their current forms, Doncic, James and Reaves represent three of the most offensively-skewed stars in the league,” he wrote. “You can have one or maybe two of these all-world-offense-but-please-hide-me-on-defense stars and expect to win at the highest levels. But three? Good luck.”
In 695 minutes with the trio of Doncic, Reaves and James — since Doncic arrived in Los Angeles last February — the Lakers have been outscored by 31 points. Their offensive brilliance hasn’t been enough to mask the defensive issues.
“That’s 1,406 possessions worth of data,” Haberstroh stressed. “Having multiple guys who need to be hid defensively spreads a defense thin. Three guys? It’s untenable.”
Reaves has repeatedly stated his desire to re-sign with the Lakers, but Rob Pelinka and Co. may need to take a drastic step if they’re serious about winning a championship.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Lakers Trade Austin Reaves for Two Elite 3-and-D Stars in Blockbuster Pitch appeared first on Heavy Sports.