Lakers’ Austin Reaves’ future in limbo after Walker Kessler’s blockbuster trade, says NBA insideroriginally appeared onThe Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as aPreferred
The Los Angeles Lakers have undoubtedly had a busy summer as they prepare to enter a new era this season. For the first time in nine seasons, LeBron James will not be suiting up for the Lakers
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With James moving on, Los Angeles can now fully shift into the Luka Doncic era. However, the organization still needed to get a deal done with Austin Reaves, and the Lakers were able to reach an agreement with their star guard
“Reaves, who originally agreed to a four-year, $185 million extension with a player option on the final season, ended up inking a four-year, $180 million deal, league sources confirmed to ESPN. Reaves’ decision, sources told ESPN, will give the Lakers more financial flexibility moving forward — making it possible to pursue a player with the non-taxpayer midlevel exception next summer. In the meantime, Reaves will be relied on more than he ever was in his first five years in Los Angeles to lead the Lakers alongside Luka Doncic,” ESPN’s Dave McMenamin wrote.
Los Angeles also quickly made a major move to acquire its center of the future in Walker Kessler. However, the Lakers paid a significant price in draft capital to get the deal done
“The Los Angeles Lakers started the process of remaking their roster in the wake of LeBron James’ decision to leave with a blockbuster trade and a trio of free agency signings Wednesday.alker Kessler from the Utah Jazz for unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 and first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030,” ESPN wrote
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Kessler’s arrival was a move the Lakers had been pursuing for some time, but it also came with significant long-term implications. NBA insider Zach Lowe recently explained the potential risk the trade could have on Reaves’ future in Los Angeles
“There’s no question that they overpaid for him [Walker Kessler] and are now trapped with this team and have to figure out: either this is the team or is there a way to pivot by trading Austin Reaves down the line or something like that. They are out of tradeable assets because of the Walker Kessler deal,” Lowe said
The reason Reaves is being mentioned as a potential trade candidate is simple: the Lakers are highly unlikely to move on from Doncic, who is now firmly established as the franchise cornerstone. While Reaves has become a star in LA, his value could potentially bring the Lakers valuable draft capital in a future trade
For now, Reaves remains an important part of the Lakers’ plans. However, the Kessler trade may have changed the organization’s long-term flexibility, leaving the door open for a potential blockbuster involving Reaves down the line
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