Even after Austin Reaves‘ struggles in their first-round loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Los Angeles Lakers still view him highly.
Reaves was their third star this past season, whether with Anthony Davis in the first half and Luka Dončić in the second half.
Los Angeles Times’ Dan Woike reported in May that they will only part ways with Reaves if it brings back one of the best centers in the league.
The Lakers are desperately looking for a center after their small-ball lineup flamed out in five games in the postseason despite having Doncic, LeBron James and Reaves. The biggest obstacle for the Lakers to acquire a starting-caliber center is their lack of trade assets, with only one first-round pick (2031) left in their cupboard.
With everything factored in, Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley asserts that the Lakers might need Reaves to fix their biggest problem and balance out their roster.
Here’s Buckley’s trade proposal:
Los Angeles Lakers receive: Nic Claxton and Cameron Johnson
New Orleans Pelicans receive: Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent
Brooklyn Nets receive: C.J. McCollum, Dalton Knecht, a 2026 first-round pick (lottery-protected, via NOP), a 2029 first-round pick (top-five-protected, via NOP) and a 2031 first-round pick (via LAL)
Lakers Fix Their Biggest Problem
Getty Nic Claxton of the Brooklyn Nets is fouled by Brook Lopez of the Milwaukee Bucks.
According to Buckley, the Lakers “would get their own rim-running big in Claxton, plus a high-end shooter with some flexibility on defense in Johnson.”
The Lakers will essentially swap two of their starters — Reaves and Hachimura — with their 2031 first-round pick and Dalton Knecht as the sweetener for Claxton and Johnson to fix the imbalance of their current roster and shore up their defense.
Both Nets starters have been on the Lakers’ radar for quite some time now, especially Claxton.
According to Anthony Irwin of Clutchpoints, the Lakers have held trade talks involving Claxton among other centers available on the trade market.
A starting five of Doncic, Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith (assuming he opts out and re-signs with the Lakers), James and Claxton is more balanced than their playoff roster.
Johnson is taller than Reaves and is way better defender, who can take on the opposing team’s best backcourt players and shield Doncic on the defensive end.
A frontcourt of Finney-Smith, James and Claxton will be a force to reckon with on both ends of the floor, especially on the defensive side.
But Another Issue Comes Up
However, with the Lakers sending out four players and only two coming back in Buckley’s trade proposal also creates a problem for the Lakers, who will only have the $5.7 million taxpayer and veteran minimum to round their bench.
The Lakers could gain access to the $14 million non-taxpayer MLE if James opts out of his player option and take a significant paycut in a new deal.
If they will only the taxpayer MLE, they could split that in two rotation players. Jarred Vanderbilt will be their Sixth Man. Get Jordan Goodwin back and another big. Then the next question the Lakers will have to ask is, is Bronny James ready for rotation minutes in his second season?
