NBA free agency begins on Monday, June 30, 2025, but the Los Angeles Lakers may be better suited to make a splash via trade. With an expensive payroll, Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka may be looking to strike another blockbuster NBA trade.
Outside of Luka Doncic and LeBron James, the Lakers most valuable trade asset is Austin Reaves. With the scoring guard headed for an eventual lucrative contract, Bleacher Report’s Connor Thoms pondered three potential deals for Reaves.
The Athletic’s Dan Woike reported that Reaves declined a $90 million contract extension with Los Angeles. Chances are a deal will eventually get done, but it is worth exploring what the Lakers could net in return for the guard if Los Angeles opted to move in a different direction.
Thoms labeled the Utah Jazz, Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets as the top potential landing spots for Reaves. One trade proposal has the Lakers landing two possible starters in exchange for the guard.
The proposed trade has the Lakers acquiring Jazz playmaking guard Collin Sexton, center Walker Kessler and a protected first-round pick. Los Angeles would send Reaves and Jarred Vanderbilt to Utah as part of the deal.
Let’s dive into if this trade makes sense for the Lakers.
