The Lakers are certain to appoint a fresh recruit during the offseason to take up the position. Subsequently, the status quo has given rise to a plethora of trade rumors.
Having given away star Center Anthony Davis, the LA Lakers are yet to bring reinforcement to the squad. The absence of a genuine Center heavily cost the Lakers, as their defensive frailties were perceptible, which the Minnesota Timberwolves exploited in Round 1 of the Playoffs. Timberwolves crushed the Lakers 4-1 to knock them out of the competition, leaving the management to dwell about solutions. The Lakers are certain to appoint a fresh recruit during the offseason to take up the position. Subsequently, the status quo has given rise to a plethora of trade rumors, highlighting names who could be linked with a move to Los Angeles. In the process, let’s take note of a fresh entry in the mix.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ top priority this summer will be finding a starting-caliber Center to complement Luka Doncic. After trading Anthony Davis, the team struggled with a void at the position. However, the Lakers are unlikely to trade their key asset Austin Reaves for a big man, according to Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times.
“The team has shown no interest in using Reaves in a trade that nets them anything less than a top-tier big, and there really aren’t any of those available, with the two most common names linked to them in the earliest stages of the offseason — Brooklyn’s Nic Claxton and Dallas’ Daniel Gafford,” Woike said.
Austin Reaves had a breakout season, averaging 20.2 points and 5.8 assists with impressive shooting splits (46/38/88). He joined an exclusive group alongside Darius Garland and Jamal Murray as the only NBA players to achieve 20+ points and 5+ assists with similar or better shooting efficiency.
The Lakers might not want to trade Austin Reaves for Nic Claxton or Daniel Gafford, as both are solid but not star-level players. The question is, does the Lakers’ current roster and assets give them enough leverage to acquire one of these big men without trading Reaves?
The Lakers’ ability to land Claxton or Gafford without trading Austin Reaves hinges on how the Brooklyn Nets and Dallas Mavericks value the Lakers’ future draft picks.
The NBA trade market will become clearer as the draft and free agency approach, with the Los Angeles Lakers search for a starting Center being a key storyline to watch.
