As the Los Angeles Lakers look ahead to the offseason, Austin Reaves’ days with the franchise could be numbered.
On the latest Buha’s Block, The Athletic’s Jovan Buha addressed trade speculation regarding the Lakers’ third-year guard. And while Buha noted that Los Angeles doesn’t actively want to trade Reaves, he did state that he could be available for the right price.
“I’ve heard the Lakers do not want to trade Austin Reaves. They love Austin Reaves,” Buha said. “But, if there was a scenario in which they would consider trading him, it would have to be for a bonafide All-Star.”
Considering his age, ability and contract, Buha said that Reaves is “going to be the player that every franchise asks for” in trade negotiations with the Lakers. To that end, it will be interesting to see which All-Star players potentially become available for the Lakers, with Donovan Mitchell and Jimmy Butler standing out as potential targets who would also qualify as “bonafide All-Stars.”
After going undrafted coming out of Oklahoma in 2021, Reaves has become a regular part of the Lakers’ rotation the last three seasons. Appearing in all 82 regular-season games during the 2023-24 campaign, the 25-year-old averaged career highs of 15.9 points, 5.5 assists and 4.3 rebounds in 32.1 minutes per game.
Following Buha’s reporting regarding a potential Reaves trade, many took to social media to weigh in.
Thinking u trading someone who will never be an all star for a bonafied one shows why we are where we are https://t.co/teMFDgNTmW
— Mr. Good NRGY (@G_COLDS) May 14, 2024
He will be 26 years old in 2 weeks. He is not a positive trade asset to teams. https://t.co/HpR08YK4n8
— Boston Three Party (@CelticPride0) May 14, 2024
This sounds like the exact situation that a front office in Florida is doing with a certain somebody https://t.co/W9O3RqYlMt
— Emo Jimmy (@WheelerJaylen) May 14, 2024
“We will only trade you our non-All Star for your All Star” https://t.co/SgXS0s9qzc
— Laney (@LaneyDoe) May 14, 2024
I would also like the Kings to trade an average role player for a bonafide all star https://t.co/QluZDmlulA
— Dix0n Cider (@ItsDix0n) May 14, 2024
They do this every year when they have a half decent role player. Nobody is trading a good star player for just him https://t.co/cVTyQTXhSJ
— Paulstradamus (@small215) May 14, 2024
Why would I trade my all star for Reaves ? https://t.co/9z4zQVHOB2
— dre' (@DreTaughtYou_) May 14, 2024
