Austin Reaves Named as Surprising Commerce Asset for Lakers

[ad_1] You'll be able to count on to look at the Los Angeles Lakers function with a purchaser's mentality because the 2026 NBA commerce deadline approaches.

If the Lakers are actually seeking to make a splash, they may find yourself making a surprising determination by parting methods with Austin Reaves.

Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale did a rundown of every NBA workforce’s top-three commerce property this week. For LA, Reaves was the No. 1 possibility.

Final season, that was usually the case. As a lot as Reaves was thriving, the Lakers had a dynamic duo of LeBron James and Luka Doncic after hanging essentially the most surprising commerce of the last decade.

This 12 months, shifting on from Reaves would classify as a shocking transfer.

<img id="11229773" alt="" caption="LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 10: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers attempts a three-point basket during the fourth quarter of the Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinal against the San Antonio Spurs at Crypto.com Arena on December 10, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)" credit="" sourcealt="" sources="[]" fetchpriority="auto" loading="lazy" width="4820" height="3215" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" src="color:transparent;aspect-ratio:inherit;object-fit:cover" sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 1536px, (min-width: 768px) 768px, 100vw" srcset="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GettyImages-2251420902.jpg?w=640&quality=80&webp=1 640w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GettyImages-2251420902.jpg?w=750&quality=80&webp=1 750w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GettyImages-2251420902.jpg?w=1000&quality=80&webp=1 1000w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GettyImages-2251420902.jpg?w=1200&quality=80&webp=1 1200w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GettyImages-2251420902.jpg?w=1360&quality=80&webp=1 1360w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GettyImages-2251420902.jpg?w=1600&quality=80&webp=1 1600w" bad-src="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GettyImages-2251420902.jpg?w=1600&quality=80&webp=1"/> Ought to the Lakers Take into account Parting Methods With Reaves? In relation to the Lakers, they're all the time pondering large.

Usually missing satisfaction, there all the time appears to be somebody greater and higher on the market for the Lakers. They have an inclination to have a hyperlink to each large title that hits the market.

Are any of the highest commerce items value a package deal centered round Reaves? To date, the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes hasn’t actually included the Lakers as a possible touchdown spot.

Anthony Davis is one other large title, however a reunion in LA doesn’t appear seemingly.

Another names embrace LaMelo Ball, Trae Younger, and Ja Morant.

This example ought to really feel completely different for the Lakers proper now. In Reaves, they've a homegrown budding star. They already acknowledged that, which resulted in a $53 million funding into the younger veteran.

Final 12 months, Reaves averaged 20 factors and 5.8 assists for the Lakers in 73 video games. This season, his numbers have improved to 27.8 factors and 6.7 assists.

Reaves has clearly improved, shifting right into a second co-star spot when LeBron James missed a piece of the season early on. However it’s not simply in regards to the manufacturing, it’s additionally in regards to the relationships.

The Lakers are transitioning from the LeBron period to the Luka one. They should preserve Doncic glad, and it’s clear that Doncic and Reaves have a powerful bond. So long as that’s the case, splitting the duo up doesn’t make a lot sense for the Lakers until they're going so large that it’s too good to go up.