The Los Angeles Lakers appear to be in tremendous form to start the season. With the backcourt pairing of Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic firing on all cylinders, the Lakers hold a 6-2 record, featuring a four-game winning streak even in the absence of LeBron James.
One of the main reasons for the team’s recent success has been Austin Reaves’ rise to stardom. With the 27-year-old establishing himself as a solid co-star next to Doncic, the Lakers only stand to gain from his growth.
However, the Lakers’ plans to contend for the title have not changed. Given their inclination to trigger the necessary trades to bring in the right pieces, Los Angeles could look to leverage some of its key assets.
With trades becoming a potential avenue to improve roster strength, Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale ranked the Lakers’ top trade assets for this season. Austin Reaves was mentioned at the top of Favale’s list, followed by the 2031 first-round pick and the 2032 first-round pick swap.
Favale justified Reaves’ position by noting, “Ranking Reaves as an asset isn’t problematic because he’s ‘older,’ or because he’s headed for free agency next summer (player option). It’s difficult because the Los Angeles Lakers could be hard-pressed to upgrade from him. LeBron James could be more likely to land on the board next time around at this rate.”
Along with Reaves, Favale also mentioned the 2031 first-round pick and the 2032 first-round pick swap as valuable trade assets.
In reference to the 2032 pick swap, he stated that players like Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht may also compete for a spot on the list. He wrote, “Actual debate ensues between Rui Hachimura, Dalton Knecht, and that 2032 swap. The latter squeaks by on long-term mystique, but Hachimura is right on its tail.”
Hachimura has considerable value as a trade asset. Given his status as an expiring contract, the forward is bound to generate some interest in the trade market. When additionally factoring in his averages of 16.9 points and 4.1 rebounds per game on 59.3% shooting from the field and 45.5% from three-point range this season, the 27-year-old is positioned as a solid pickup.
Meanwhile, Knecht may garner interest as a young player with shooting upside. But considering recent reports regarding his trade value falling after some underwhelming outings, given that he’s averaging 7.0 points on 20.0% shooting from deep this season, he may not rank as high as the Hachimura or the 2032 draft pick.
For all intents and purposes, this positions Austin Reaves as the most valuable trade asset the Lakers possess. With several sources calling for the team to trade Reaves while his value is high to bring in another star, the Purple and Gold may have some decisions to make.
Should The Lakers Trade Austin Reaves?
While there is enough reason for the team to be enamored by Austin Reaves’ performances, it is difficult to overlook the upcoming challenges with his contract. Given that the guard is expected to decline his player option next summer in pursuit of a sizable contract, the Lakers are at an impasse.
Given the guard’s performance to start the season, it would be difficult to underplay how deserving he is of a larger contract. Considering his averages of 31.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 9.3 assists on 48.9% shooting overall, with 34.4% from three-point range, losing the 27-year-old may hurt the team in the future.
Some sources claim that the Lakers can’t win with Austin Reaves as the team’s primary scoring option. But in the absence of Doncic and James, the guard effectively carried the Purple and Gold to victory, highlighting his ability to manufacture wins in the most unlikely situations.
While there could be merit in packaging Reaves along with some expiring contracts and draft assets to bring in a superstar, it may also be counterproductive.
With Reaves and Doncic developing unique chemistry, the pairing could be considered one of the best backcourts in the league. Breaking this up in pursuit of a bigger name may not serve the Lakers well in the long run.
Even with LeBron James out of the lineup, the Lakers have looked formidable. If anything, this could be a case for James to be considered a disposable asset, although his no-trade clause could raise some issues on this front.
Overall, given how well the team is shaping up with Reaves acting as the catalyst, the Lakers wouldn’t be advised to trade the guard just yet.
