The Los Angeles Lakers are currently in a delicate situation with their young star, Austin Reaves. While the guard has been a staple in the team’s main rotation, even emerging as the third star behind LeBron James and Luka Doncic, his future with the team appears to be uncertain.
Reaves remains under contract with the Lakers. With two years left on his deal with a $14.9 million player option in the final year, it is apparent that the guard is undervalued. Reaves is also aware of this, as most rumors suggest that he will decline his player option in search of a contract worth approximately $30 million annually.
Given the Lakers’ plans to keep cap space clear to sign players next summer onwards, there are some doubts about whether the Purple and Gold would offer the young guard what he demands. Should this happen, the Lakers could risk losing Reaves without getting anything in return.
This would not be in the Lakers’ best interests. Instead, to gain something out of Reaves’ contract, we look at a trade idea with the Sacramento Kings that could be considered a good deal in the greater scheme of things.
Proposed Trade Details
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Keegan Murray, 2027 first-round pick, 2029 first-round pick
Sacramento Kings Receive: Austin Reaves
Why Should The Lakers Do This Trade?
Replacing Reaves would certainly be a challenge. The 27-year-old has displayed an impressive offensive arsenal, featuring a multitude of shot-creation skills along with playmaking versatility.
When considering the sheer extent of what Reaves brings to the table, the Purple and Gold may be at a loss. However, given what they receive in return, the Lakers may be able to address some role-related concerns on the roster.
Acquiring Keegan Murray could be quite useful for Los Angeles. Murray has been an incredibly valuable piece for Sacramento, one that the franchise has been hesitant to part with. As a solid 3-and-D forward, he would be a valuable addition to the Lakers’ wing rotation.
Given how valuable wing depth is in today’s game, there are very few wing players as capable as Murray. Pairing him next to a talented playmaker like Luka Doncic is only bound to produce favorable results.
Last season, the 25-year-old saw a minor drop-off in production. Still, he put up respectable figures, as he averaged 12.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game on shooting splits of 44.4% from the field, 34.3% from three-point range, and 83.3% from the free-throw line.
His declining efficiency as a perimeter shooter may be a bit of a concern, but in a better system with more open looks, the forward could see a resurgence of form.
As valuable as Murray’s addition could be for Los Angeles, the two first-round picks they receive as part of this deal would also have significant value for the franchise.
Over the last few seasons, the Lakers have made significant moves. In doing so, they have had to part ways with precious draft assets. As a means of rebuilding their stores, adding these two picks, especially assets within the next five years, could be deemed highly valuable.
Overall, the Purple and Gold may not be able to match Reaves’ production, but acquiring an expiring contract like Murray’s could help them improve their wing depth while also adhering to their plans for next summer.
Do The Kings Need Reaves?
The Sacramento Kings have featured a lot of talented point guards in recent history. From a youngster like Tyrese Haliburton to a star like De’Aaron Fox, the Kings have always had a solid starting point.
Unfortunately, with the departure of Fox, the Kings are depleted in the point guard department, primarily in the playmaker role.
On this note, acquiring Reaves addresses a very basic need on their roster. With players such as Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis on the team, Sacramento features star-caliber talent, but it needs a capable point guard to tie it all together.
Last season, Reaves often played behind James and Doncic as the secondary playmaker, even taking over ball-handling and facilitating duties in many situations. In this capacity, the 27-year-old has proven himself to be a capable floor general, while also being a scoring threat.
He averaged 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game in the 2024-25 season, while shooting 46.0% from the field and 37.7% from three-point range. When considering that he was a tertiary scoring option for the Lakers, the potential for Reaves to be a more significant contributor has increased due to his recent growth in stature as an offensive player.
Sacramento’s project for the upcoming season seems to be quite optimistic, too. Having added Dennis Schroder to their lineup, with hopes of also adding Russell Westbrook, the Kings are rounding out their backcourt depth.
In addition to this, Sacramento has also been linked to acquiring Jonathan Kuminga. While this deal is unlikely to go through, the potential for the Kings to be a competitive team with all the right additions is worth taking note of.
In this regard, adding Reaves could be a great starting point to begin retooling their roster.
The Lakers Shouldn’t Let Go Of Reaves
While there is legitimate merit to trading Reaves, given his current value around the league, the Lakers are more likely to benefit from retaining him as a core piece for the future.
The 27-year-old has displayed immense loyalty to the franchise, delivering whenever called upon to do so. Despite some inconsistencies, the guard has been immensely productive for the Lakers, presenting as more of an asset than a liability.
While it is likely that he will decline his player option next summer, the Lakers will also have a lot of money being cleared because of their wealth of expiring contracts this year.
With massive contracts like LeBron James’ sizable contract coming off the books, the Lakers will have the necessary cap space to offer Reaves a new contract, befitting his value. On this note, a potential pairing of Doncic and Reaves could even set the foundation for a new era.
