The Los Angeles Lakers need to add a little more talent to their roster this offseason in order to be able to seriously contend for the NBA championship next season. One question is whether they will look to make incremental improvements or major changes.
It has been suggested by at least one prominent writer that the Lakers may need to trade guard Austin Reaves in order to take the next step. Reaves increased his production yet again this season, but he played poorly in the first round of the playoffs when L.A. lost in five games to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and once again, people are re-examining his weaknesses.
Podcaster and Boston Celtics superfan Bill Simmons seems convinced that Reaves will be wearing a different uniform this fall.
“When Reaves gets traded this summer — and he WILL get traded – the stuff they [Lakers] get back for him is gonna make it seem worse that they [Dallas Mavericks] didn’t get him in the trade,” Simmons said.
Reaves averaged 20.2 points and 5.8 assists a game during the regular season, and he closed out the schedule in strong fashion before struggling in the postseason against Minnesota. Simmons referenced February’s trade for Luka Doncic and how the Mavericks could’ve demanded more from the Lakers than Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round draft pick, only to have Lakers executive Rob Pelinka reportedly negotiate down the price.
Reaves will make $13.9 million next season, so perhaps he wouldn’t fetch a lot in terms of serviceable players, but if the Lakers do indeed trade him, which is a huge if, perhaps they could get some much-needed draft capital in return.