Lakers Reportedly Plan Austin Reaves Trade With Sacramento Kings

The Los Angeles Lakers are considering trading guard Austin Reaves to address roster needs as LeBron James nears the end of his career and Luka Dončić remains the franchise cornerstone. Several proposals suggest trading Reaves to teams like the Sacramento Kings for forward Keegan Murray, which would bolster the Lakers' wing shooting and perimeter defense while managing salary cap concerns given Reaves’ escalating contract. Fans and analysts debate the merits of trading Reaves for other players such as Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen or Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II, with salary differences and fit with Dončić influencing opinions. Reaves had a career-best season averaging 20.2 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.5 rebounds, making him a valuable but potentially costly asset as he approaches free agency. Lakers management, led by Rob Pelinka, aims to maximize the championship window by balancing veteran presence and youth, with the potential trades reflecting efforts to surround Dončić with shooters and defensive specialists. The Lakers' pursuit of roster optimization underscores the urgency as they prepare for what could be LeBron James’ final season with the team.