Lakers Weigh Austin Reaves Trade Amid Roster Restructuring Talks

The Los Angeles Lakers are considering significant roster changes after a disappointing playoff exit, with trade discussions centering largely on their young star Austin Reaves. While Reaves has emerged as a top-40 player and a homegrown offensive talent, his defensive limitations and looming expensive contract raise concerns for the Lakers' future, especially post-LeBron James. Trade proposals include sending Reaves to the Utah Jazz for center Walker Kessler and guards Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson, addressing the Lakers' need for a starting-caliber center and more bench scoring. However, some analysts caution against trading Reaves for less-than-elite big men like Nic Claxton or Daniel Gafford, as the Lakers lack comparable assets and Reaves is considered irreplaceable without a top-tier return. Other speculative trades involve sending Reaves to the Cleveland Cavaliers to pair with Donovan Mitchell, potentially easing scoring burdens, or a multi-player deal with the Orlando Magic for veterans Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Goga Bitadze to bolster defense and rebounding. Overall, the Lakers face a complex balancing act between maintaining their emerging core and acquiring defensive and positional upgrades necessary to contend for a championship.