Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves’ name appeared in rumors this week about him being a potential trade piece for a “top-tier big man,” per Dan Woike of the LA Times.
Reaves, undrafted in 2021 and having developed into a dynamic scorer, has a team-friendly four-year, roughly $54 million contract that he signed in 2023. Seen as a bargain then and a massive bargain now, after he just finished the season averaging 20.2 points and 5.8 assists per game, the Lakers guard could be the driving force behind a trade package for a big man.
Following the Luka Dončić trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks, LA struggled inside, often reverting to lineups with no center as they didn’t have a starting-level big on the roster. But with rumblings of Reaves being a part of a deal for a big man, where could he happen to land that would return a center to the Lakers?
Dallas Mavericks
How likely would general managers Rob Pelinka (Lakers) and Nico Harrison (Mavericks) discuss yet another trade after the latter was lambasted for sending Dončić to LA in a secret, middle-of-the-night deal?
It’s quite possible considering their close relationship and the optics behind Dallas’ logjam at the center position. Dereck Lively II is clearly the future at the position, as the 21 year old has been excellent as a rim-running, shot-blocking player with potential to continue to grow with time. Anthony Davis is slotted next to him, who can easily fill the backup center role when Lively is off the court.
That leaves Gafford in a reserve role — not something an accomplished veteran who helped lead an NBA Finals push just a season ago wants to be in. Add in that he’s an unrestricted free agent after next season, and Harrison would be wise to gauge his trade value before losing him altogether, as he’d more than likely price himself out of a return to the Mavericks.
With Dončić on board, it’s imperative to get a center like Gafford, who developed instant chemistry with the Slovenian star during his time with the Mavericks. The Lakers get their center, and the Mavericks get another creator to fit next to Kyrie Irving, Davis, Lively, and the presumed No. 1 overall pick, forward Cooper Flagg.
It makes too much sense — meaning it likely won’t happen, but it’s an immediate win-win for both teams.
Brooklyn Nets
Enduring a rebuild, the Nets have several high-quality role players still on the roster. Among them is center Nic Claxton, who has struggled the past two seasons without an established point guard to play with in the pick-and-roll game. He’s also an above-average rim protector, registering 1.7 blocks per game in his career.
Signed until 2028, Claxton has a very favorable descending contract, earning just $20 million during the final year. The Lakers’ center could be the form of Claxton, as he’s exactly the type of player Dončić thrives with.
Reaves, not super athletic but demonstrating a flashy play-style, could help reinvigorate a rather dormant Brooklyn fan base. As the focal point and not the third-fiddle, as he is in LA, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him average 25+ points a night and blossom into a true star. All that while proving to be a positive trade for both sides in the long run.
Utah Jazz
Long needing a steady hand at either of the guard positions during their rebuild, the Jazz are a candidate to be aggressive in the Reaves market as they have a center of their own who has seemingly maxed out his role in Utah.
Third-year center Walker Kessler averaged a double-double last season and was, more importantly for the Lakers, a force defensively. At 7’0″ and with ridiculously long arms, Kessler registered 2.4 blocks per game. That long wingspan also allows him to catch and throw down lob jams high above the rim — something Dončić did well with Lively while on the Mavs.
Similar to the Nets, Reaves would immediately step in as the best guard on the team and be a building block for the future.
