Gilbert Arenas Thinks The Lakers Should Trade Austin Reaves Instead Of D’Angelo Russell For Zach LaVine

Gilbert Arenas has suggested that the Lakers trade Austin Reaves instead of D'Angelo Russell for Zach LaVine.

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Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

The Lakers are being heavily linked with Zach LaVine, with most people expecting the former two-time All-Star to end up in a Laker jersey by February. The Lakers have reportedly been looking for another star, and they have players like Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell on trade-friendly contracts. Gilbert Arenas believed the Lakers should offer Reaves to Chicago before Russell.

“I like AR, but for Zach, I’ll give up Lemon Daddy for Zach because, at the end of the day, I still have D’Lo being D’Lo with Zach and Bron and AD… I wanna keep DLo because I don’t know if AR is aggressive enough to be the point guard. Also, why would they need D’Lo over in Chicago?”

Many will consider this a hot take, but I think I agree with Arenas. Ideally, you keep faith in your well-built roster. But if we see it’s not well-built and needs to be changed by February, the Lakers should move Reaves to Chicago before Russell. If this is a win-now group, Russell’s point guard play will be crucial, especially with him averaging 17.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 6.2 assists to start the season.

Reaves has already fallen to being a sixth man, with Darvin Ham electing to play Cam Reddish for his defense over him. Reaves is averaging 13.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists and has had a slow start to the season. He’d be the more attractive trade chip for the Bulls as well, so it’ll be interesting to see how the Lakers manage this situation if they’re genuinely interested in LaVine,


Who Will The Lakers Have To Give Up For Zach LaVine?

There are so many ways for the Lakers and the Bulls to agree upon a trade, but nothing can happen before January. Rui Hachimura, D’Angelo Russell, and Austin Reaves are not trade-eligible after signing extensions this summer, so the Lakers have time to evaluate their roster more. But from a salary perspective, the Lakers have to give up three players to be able to afford LaVine.

If the Lakers want to completely shake their roster up, they could trade all three aforementioned players to also get the Bulls to give up Alex Caruso for a steady guard who knows how to play with LeBron. This would also open up guard minutes for rookie Jalen Hood-Schifino and could be an option the Lakers explore. However, it doesn’t look like the Lakers can win a bidding war over Caruso if he hits the open market.

I would prefer the Lakers keep the combo guard ability of D’Angelo Russell, especially with the playmaking improvements he’s shown this season. But my money is on the likelier outcome which sees the Lakers protect Reaves for being slightly younger and a better theoretical fit next to LeBron with his off-ball scoring ability.

The Lakers could replace Russell by throwing LeBron at a point or reintroducing Reaves into the starting lineup as the point guard, though James continues to be the primary playmaker., similar to what Draymond Green does for Golden State. There are ways the Lakers can make this work for sure. Whether they make the plunge is something we’ll have to wait and see.

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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