The Los Angeles Lakers are using this NBA offseason to add pieces around their two superstars, LeBron James and Luka Doncic. Caught in the middle of constant trade rumors over the past few weeks is Lakers’ guard Austin Reaves.
At his basketball summer camp, Reaves spoke on the Lakers’ offseason. While he said that he doesn’t listen to rumors and reports surrounding his name, the 27-year-old reiterated that he hoped to be with the Lakers his entire career.
“I want to be in L.A.,” Reaves said in an interview on Saturday at his Reaves Brothers Basketball Camp. “If they want to trade me, then 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. Love the weather, love the golf. And obviously the Lakers is the best organization in basketball. I don’t pay attention to [the noise]. I keep my head down, work, and I feel like that’s one of the reasons I’m where I’m at.”
On a team with James and Doncic, Reaves would likely be traded if the Lakers make a big offseason move. He averaged a career-high 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists on 46% shooting in 73 regular season games this season.
Reaves’ Career So Far
Reaves spent the first two seasons of his college career at Wichita State, followed by two seasons at the University of Oklahoma. In his senior year with the Sooners, the shooting guard averaged 18.3 points and helped the team win an NCAA Tournament game against Missouri. Reaves joined the Lakers after going un-drafted in 2021.
Since becoming James’ teammate in Los Angeles, Reaves has been one of the most consistent players in the NBA. Though averaging just 7.3 points a game his rookie year, Reaves started in 19 games for a Lakers team that won the title just two years prior.
Since then, his averages in each major statistical category have only increased. While his points and assists have nearly tripled since entering the league, Reaves has also slowly become a stronger rebounder and overall defender.
He became a full-time starter this season for the Lakers, as even with the addition of Doncic, he remained a key piece in their 50-win season. During his camp, he spoke on the team adding the Slovenian and how he has impacted their future as an organization.
“I think the sky’s the limit for us. We’re moving in the right direction,” Reaves said. “Obviously, adding Luka Dončić, it gives you a Hall of Fame player such a young age that you can build around, and then obviously, still having LeBron James, the IQ, and still running around at 40 years old.”
Reaves As A Trade Asset
Reaves’ name has been in trade rumors since the Lakers were knocked out of the first round of the NBA Playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves. As an asset, he holds a lot of value, especially considering his scoring ability and team-friendly contract.
Reaves signed a four-year $53 million deal with the Lakers in the summer of 2023. If he had signed an extension later in the season or during last summer, it likely would have been for a bigger number. But earning an average of $14.5 million over the next two seasons, his mid-level contract holds a lot of value on the trade market.
Los Angeles attempted to trade for Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams at the deadline but was unsuccessful due to a failed physical. They will likely go after another big man in the offseason, with Reaves as the likely return piece for whoever they go after.
Regardless, it has been reported that Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka has no plans of trading their shooting guard, according to LA Times Lakers writer Dan Woike. Pelinka reportedly believes that James, Doncic, and Reaves are all ‘pillars’ of the organization, with no immediate plans of letting any of them go.
