There has been speculation that the Lakers might look to trade Austin Reaves this summer to address the team’s needs on the wing and/or frontcourt. He struggled in the Lakers’ first-round loss to Minnesota after a strong regular season and is on a below-market-value contract, which could make it tricky to extend him prior to 2026 free agency — he’s considered likely to decline his $14.9MM player option for 2026/27, per Khobi Price of The Southern California News Group.
However, president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka made it clear that the Lakers highly value the shooting guard when he referred to Reaves as one of the team’s three pillars, alongside Luka Doncic and LeBron James, Price writes.
“When your foundation for those three players is that they’re players of high character and a highly competitive nature, that’s the perfect starting point, to have three players like that,” Pelinka responded when asked about the benefit of having training camp ahead of the 2025/26 season.
“LeBron (is) a selfless player, high character. All he cares about is winning. Luka Doncic, the same. Austin Reaves, the same. When you get those three pillars in a training camp environment and you’re starting to build an ethos around them, that’s a great starting point.”
Here’s more on the Lakers:
- In a subscriber-only column for The Los Angeles Times, Bill Plaschke explains why he believes it’s in the team’s best interest to trade Reaves for a center, despite the impressive strides he’s made over the years. Plaschke is a big fan of Reaves’ game, toughness and story, but says his skill set isn’t an ideal complement for Doncic and argues he’s the team’s best remaining trade chip outside of Doncic and James, who aren’t going anywhere. If they want to make a major upgrade in the middle, moving Reaves is the Lakers’ best option to do so, Plaschke contends.
- The Lakers were at the center of attention last spring and summer amid a coaching change, but there hasn’t been much buzz about them this offseason, writes Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times (subscriber link). According to Woike, the Lakers have shown “no interest” in trading Reaves unless they receive a “top-tier” big man in return, and there aren’t any centers like that on the market right now. Nic Claxton of the Nets and Daniel Gafford of the Mavericks have been linked to the Lakers, Woike notes, but neither is an elite center or a lock to be heading to L.A., for various reasons.
- The Lakers parted ways with strength coach Ed Streit last week, people with knowledge of the situation tell Woike. Streit, whom Woike describes as a “well-liked” member of the franchise, was initially hired as an assistant strength coach in 2019 before being promoted in 2021.
- Los Angeles controls the 55th pick in next month’s draft. LZ Granderson of The Los Angeles Times (subscription required) would like to see the Lakers draft a mature, experienced center prospect with their lone selection.
Reaves is on a good contract but Knecht has 3yrs left on an even better one (from the team pov). Plus he’s such a terrible defender & them already having Luka just makes it impossible to compete against athletic teams in a 7gm series. I’d definitely trade Reaves for a big, but as much as they need rim/paint protection, upgrading the perimeter defense would be a top priority as well.
Austin Reaves, Shake Milton & a future 2nd to Orlando for Wendell Carter Jr & Anthony Black
Magic take a big risk trading Black but it’s very clear they need more scoring & overall playmaking in their backcourt & they get that with Reaves. He’s basically a shiftier, American version of Turkoglu. They could go after Capela in free agency & I can already see them vs Indy in big Eastern Conf series for yrs to come.
Lakers get their big in Wendell. Not explicitly the lob threat that ppl been focused on but he’s versatile, competent, active, strong & could have a career surge season similar to Zubac playing with Luka & Bron. Black is obv the wildcard. He seems like he would be the perfect guy to start next to Luka in LAL’s backcourt for the next 5-10yrs. He could very well end up being better than Reaves straight up tbh. There’s possibly enough maybe in Black’s game to make this happen tho.
Problem is Rob will pretend he is trying to make a trade when all he wants to give up Kleber or Vincent. Magic would want a 1st round pick and 2nd round pick in the trade you mention since both player Magic are giving up has up value. Shake Milton is a throw in. Carter contract is a low price contract.
Orlando might ask for Kleber instead of Milton but I can’t imagine them expecting a 1st plus a potential all-star in the same deal. Carter is an average starter & Black has yet to show that he can be an average starter. They both have value but none more than Reaves.
Why would anyone Kleber? He is a bench player. He was a throw in to the lakers not worth $11 million. Black was their #6 pick 2 years ago so i doubt they would trade him since he has a big upside.
Magic could def use Kleber. Tbh I’d def ask for him in this deal if I’m them. He not only adds to their collection of Germans, he would allow them to start Isaac. Clint Capela (or whatever 5 they sign to replace Wendell), Mo Wagner & Kleber could be their bigs off the bench. Kleber is a versatile big who has loads of big game exp. He screens well, shoots well, he’s active/tough. Obv he’s a bench player, they have 2 all-stars in front of him but those guys can’t play the whole game. Plus he’s an expiring contract. Why wouldn’t anyone want Kleber?
Black being a top10 pick 2 yrs ago don’t mean nothing in 2025. Today he’s a guy that couldn’t step up to fill Suggs’ shoes this season when Orlando needed him to do that. He could def still be a big time NBA player but Reaves is a big time NBA player & they don’t have any more time to wait.
If the Lakers bwere willing to trade Reeves they could get Gafford and Powell plus a 2nd round pick from the Mavs. Mavs could easily lose those 2 and it gives the Lakers depth plus a center.
Id much rather have Carter & Black compared to Gafford & Powell
Gafford is a much better Center than Carter.
Reaves is currently a great value but there’s a big chance Lakers end up seriously overvaluing him, whether in trade talks or his next contract.
Reaves for Draymond who says no? (it wont be Lebron)
Lakers
But if Lebron wants it, it will happen.
Lakers: Clax
Nets: Knecht, Barnes, the 14th pick
Spurs: Rui & the 19th pick
speculation has been that Clax for Knecht & Rui. If Nets can move up in the draft, I would do that.
Nets would want Barnes. Nets could do better by trading Clax to lakers with 1st round swaps for 1 of Nets late 1st round picks with Rui and Knecht.
Barnes is on an expiring deal. And they will need another veteran to go with CamJ with all the youth on the roster. And if it moved them up 5 spots it could be well worth it.
Then flip Barnes back to the Warriors for Buddy and a pick and you are cooking, ShaqFoo!
5 spots is nothing once you get pass the top 10. i am guessing you are a spurs fan because they are the ones making out on the deal the most. Nets would want Johnson over Barnes.
I’m not trading Johnson.
And I’m a Nets fan. I have the Nets getting Knecht plus moving up in the draft. There is very likely a player they could grab at 14 who won’t last till 19, like Wolf for example.
Knecht can’t play defense is why the lakers are not using him very much. He is a sharp shooter but with little else. Nets can get way better player than him if they trade Claxton.
again, I’m pleased to hear that the perception of Clax is outpacing the reality. What do you think the Nets can get for Clax?
As for Knecht, he’s coming off of a rookie season. I know he’s not an AS now. I don’t expect him to be killing it now. But the Nets can give him minutes and he will get better. The point is that he’s not close to what his ceiling is now.
lack of centers makes Claxton a high value than his playing ability. He has average skills be ut a good rebounder. Since he has 3 years left on the contract and it get cheaper instead of higher increases his value. He is better than most of the aviailable centers on the free agent market. I am not sold on Knecht being a starter on any team. He is a bench player at this point in his career. He will need to up his defensive game. I think Whitehead can put up the same unbers as Knecht. Nets need to go after a true PG that can drive into the paint with all the length the nets have.
Great looking trade ShaqFoo ignore people like arc.
First he replies nets would want Barnes.
When the mock trade very clearly has Barnes to Brooklyn.
Then secondly he replies would want Johnson over Barnes.
Again you haven’t included Johnson in anything so obviously he would remain on the Nets.
Then thirdly after being shutdown twice he simply says Knetch is just a sharpshooter and Nets could get more for Claxton.
If you think that then lead with that and forget all the other rubbish.
I actually think it’s a solid deal.
Claxton to Lakers is a win for them.
Nets in return get back Barnes who would be a solid vet and can play either forward spot next to Cam Johnson (if he stays). They get Knetch who’s shown good promise as a rookie and they move up in the draft.
Spurs jump in and get Rui for Barnes, making them younger and more athletic and the price is moving back in the draft 5 spots.
If anything Nets are probably drawing the short straw and Lakers getting it too good. Throw in a future first from the Lakers to Brooklyn or a pick swap and then yup.
Lakers don’t have much draft capital. If the Nets can extract a swap maybe in ‘28 by which time the Nets should be better, then that’s a bonus.
I’m also taking the moving of Clax’s contract as a plus.
SMH its Keldon Johnson from the spurs who is a PG that the Nets need more than a old wing when they have much better younger wings. Duhhh…. Come on Simmons you are the king of bad trades here.
The Lakers should make a trade with the Mavs again. The Mavs need a point guard and they have redundant center and with Flagg redundant small forward. Reaves is Luka lite with the same strength and weaknesses.
Trade Reaves and Maxi or Vincent for Gafford and PJ Washington. This gives the Lakers not only very good center and wing who are very competitive and tough, but two who played and went to the finals with Doncic.
The problem is that Pelinka doesn’t think outside the box, and rigid in his thinking so he will go for a center and a wing who were good two or three years ago and have a name instead.
Of course, Nico may not want to deal with the Lakers again; however, both PJ and Gafford are on their last year of a context, somewhat redundant with the players they have now (Davis and Flagg) and are going to require a significant pay boost in 2026 that the Mavs are not going to pay.
It seems pretty clear that the Lakers aren’t trading Reaves.
First, like I said they SHOULD and that Pelinka doesn’t think outside the box and is too rigid. HOWEVER, a GM saying they want to keep a player, even saying that is their number one goal, has so much weight.
They will say that cause if they don’t trade him they want that player to think they always wanted him so have good rapport with that player. Second, much much better players than Reaves have been traded unexpectedly (beyond Luka). You telling me if Dominic says I want Gafford and PJ and the Lakers have a chance to get them they won’t trade Reaves? I mean LeBron would advocate for that too.
Potential Lakers trades
1.
Brooklyn: Pj Washington, Maxi Kleber and Dalton Knetch
Lakers: Nic Claxton
Mavs: Austin Reaves
Found their long term centre in Claxton who I believe has a really high ceiling and would be worth losing Reaves.
2. Rui Hachimura for Jusif Nurkic
More of a cheap fill in centre with Nurkic
3. Maxi Kleber and 2 second round picks for Goga Bitadze
Similar to the second option but Goga is younger and never had a chance as a starter. Think he’d be a really good option and not cost very much. At worst he’d be good for sharing the centres job and playing 15/20 minutes.
4. Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura for Klay Thompson and Daniel Gafford
By far my favourite deal.
Klay slots is great as an off ball shooter next to Luka and LeBron. While Gafford fills the centre void. Gafford isn’t elite but he averaged 12 and 7 with 2 blocks per game last year in just over 20 minutes.
Dallas gets Reaves to help fill in for Kyrie and also get Rui is a good 3 and D combo forward.
5. Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber and Dalton Knetch for Rob Williams and Mattise Thybulle
Rob if he can stay healthy is a really good centre especially on defence and Mattise also is a terrific defender.
Austin and Luka are not a good mix in the backcourt. Plus Luka like Trae needs a DPOY candidate next to him lol. Thats is what Lakers should do. I can see them moving Reaves. He can play with Suggs. Magic could be a good place for him.
As far as Robert Williams, I think he’s going to have to get back on the court and prove that he’s healthy before anyone is going to trade anything of value for him.
I’m also not buying that Reaves cannot play with Luka. They will figure out how to make that work. If there is any deal for Reaves, it’ll be for someone like Ja.
I also think the Lakers and Mavs are probably done dealing for a while.