Lakers reportedly considering trading Austin Reaves ‘for a bona fide All-Star’

The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to be offered a star player in exchange for considering trading Austin Reaves this summer, according to Jovan Buha of The Athletic.

“I heard the Lakers don’t want to trade Austin Reaves. They love Austin Reaves. But if there was a scenario where they would consider trading him, it would be for a true All-Star,” said Buha. on Monday’s episode of The Buha block.

Reaves “will be the player every franchise is asking for” this summer because his contract is more valuable than other potential trade assets like Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, D’Angelo Russell and Jarred Vanderbilt, Buha said.

Reaves, who turns 26 later this month, was signed at an average salary of $13.5 million for two more seasons with a player option through 2026-27.

Buha named Trae Young and Dejounte Murray of the Atlanta Hawks, as well as Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers, as players the Lakers could consider acquiring this season.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported last month that the Hawks were “likely” to trade Young or Murray in order to shake up a disjointed roster, while the Cavaliers could feel pressure to move Mitchell if he doesn’t not extend an agreement that could expire as soon as next offseason.

Even if these players are made available, the Lakers will be cautious in crafting a big offer for them, in part because of the poor results of the Russell Westbrook trade in 2021, which Buha called a “caveat” .

Still, Young, Murray or Mitchell could potentially fit in better with Lakers stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Buha noted.

“I think all the guys they’re looking at are better players and better fits than Russell Westbrook, and would complement LeBron and AD better than Russ,” Buha said.

“I think if you have two guys at the level of LeBron and AD, two guys in the top ten, top 12, and you bring in a guy who can complement them with a level of play, shooting, passing and ball handling … that’s where I think this group can really raise its ceiling.”

After a slow start to the 2023-24 season, Reaves averaged career highs with 32.1 minutes, 15.9 points, 5.5 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game.

He started all five playoff games for the Lakers, averaging 16.8 points per game before Los Angeles was eliminated by the Denver Nuggets for the second straight season.

A fourth straight year of playoff disappointment has already led to the firing of head coach Darvin Ham and will likely lead to roster turnover as well. Whether that extra turnover will involve Reaves could depend on how the trade market takes shape this offseason.