Lakers Trade Rumors: Team’s Plans for Austin Reaves Revealed

The Lakers are once again caught up in rumors surrounding a third star. Along with recent reports that the team is a frontrunner for Donovan Mitchell, The Athletic’s Jovan Buha provided a notable update on Austin Reaves’s status within the organization.

Lakers Trade Rumors: Team’s Plans for Austin Reaves Revealed

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In the latest episode of his podcast “Buha’s Block,” Jovan Buha discussed potential roster-building paths in the offseason. The issue that has continually emerged is whether to make smaller upgrades or go all out for a third star. Buha noted that of all of the team’s “tradable contracts,” Reaves’ is the most valuable.

While the Lakers still “love” Austin Reaves, Buha revealed a catch in the team’s plans for the 25-year-old.

“If there was a scenario in which they would consider trading him, it would have to be for a bonafide All-Star, an All-NBA caliber guy. That will be put to the test this offseason, depending on which direction the Lakers go.”

The standout shooting guard succeeded despite several obstacles thrown at him this season. Playing all 82 games—and starting 57 of them—Reaves averaged nearly 16 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game on .486/.367/.853 splits. He got into a great rhythm after the trade deadline, with his scoring hitting double digits from Feb. 8 to the end of March. In that time, he put up 17.1 points, 6.3 assists and 5.4 rebounds per game.

Reaves also played well despite LA’s first-round exit, posting 16.8 points per game on 47% shooting from the field and attempting to will the Lakers himself in the closing moments of game five. Still, when it was all said and done, he held himself accountable and vowed to be better heading into next season.