The Los Angeles Lakers have been involved in multiple conversations regarding potential moves that can be made ahead of the NBA Trade Deadline.
Just in the last few days alone Rob Pelinka and Co. have been linked to five separate role players, two notable point guards and one future Hall of Famer.
That being said – one roadblock constantly presents itself when L.A. talks to other teams: their refusal to include Austin Reaves in any potential swap. Their most recent offer to the Atlanta Hawks for Dejounte Murray, for example, notably omitted him from the package.
Despite Lakers coach Darvin Ham not liking Reaves, and even though Reaves isn’t a particularly big fan of Ham, a divorce doesn’t appear to be imminent.
Of course, aside from LeBron James and Anthony Davis, nobody on Los Angeles’ roster is fully untouchable.
According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the Lakers’ asking price for Reaves is a matter of public record.
“Reaves isn’t technically untouchable, but he’s close. The Lakers value him highly and have no interest in trading him, according to team and league sources,” Buha wrote.
“He’s on a cost-controlled, team-friendly deal for at least two more seasons. For the Lakers to consider moving Reaves, they’d need to receive either a clear-cut All-Star — someone better than Murray or [Zach] LaVine, for example — or multiple rotation upgrades, according to those sources.”
Clearly the Lakers hold Reaves in very high regard. That said, the current roster doesn’t appear to work as presently constructed.
Changes need to be made.
And while it is understandable why all parties involved wouldn’t want to trade Reaves, there is a reason he isn’t fully untouchable.
Laura Rutledge’s Outfit To Ravens’ Game Against Texans Goes Viral: https://t.co/lXZN5tDXfG
— Game 7 (@game7__) January 20, 2024
If the Lakers can get a true difference-maker in the process, they will definitely part ways with Reaves.
It is just a matter of their desired asking price being met.
Will Reaves still be on the Lakers when the NBA Trade Deadline comes and goes next month? Time will tell.
Related: Olivia Culpo’s Outfit To 49ers’ Game Against Packers Goes Viral
A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.
