Apr 9, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) and guard Austin Reaves (15) during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Lakers Legend Says LA Should Trade Austin Reaves

Originally posted on Los Angeles Lakers on SI
By Jason Fray | Last updated Sep 21, 2025 6:30 PM ET

The status of Austin Reaves moving forward is something that will be monitored all year long.

When Reaves initially agreed to a very team-friendly four-year, $53.8 million deal as a restricted free agent in 2023, it included a player option for his fourth year. The Arkansas native smartly bet on himself, and the development he's enjoyed led to Reaves being a 20.2 PPG scorer last year.

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With Reaves virtually a sure bet to opt out after this season to test his value on the open market, it opens up an interesting scenario for the Lakers. Some believe the team will bring back him due to the fact they helped turn Reaves from an undrafted free agent into an All-Star-level player.

On the other hand, with Reaves being the team's best trade chip, could the team move off him to further reshape a more conducive roster around the team's lynchpin in Luka Doncic?

On his Big Shot Bob podcast, former Lakers champion forward Robert Horry was recently asked what it would take for the Lakers to hold onto Reaves. There's a thought that a long-term extension may come which would essentially lock Reaves into being the Robin to Doncic's Batman. When hearing the question, Horry's answer may surprise than a handful of people.

"If the Lakers were smart, they would do a sign-and-trade. The reason I say that is because when you have a team with two players who are pretty much the same — meaning Luka [Doncic] and [Reaves], and I'm not saying they have the same skill-set," Horry said. "They play the same position, they pretty much do the same thing. It's a wash. Don't get me wrong, I love [Reaves] and I think he can play. But you don't need two of the same players."

Horry then went on to speak about the best teams in NBA history, and how each team is diversified with its pool of players rather than having a similar archetype across the board.

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Reaves, like Doncic, is a ball dominant player. There's some real intrigue in having two elite shot creators on the floor at the same time. Therefore, an extension may make some real sense as both enter their respective primes.

Reaves' Future in Los Angeles

However, neither are good athletes nor average defensively. Could Reaves be flipped to another squad for a more defensively-inclined player with better athleticism? Or perhaps a better shooter to play off Doncic?

Two possible names fitting that mold both play for the New Orleans Pelicans in Trey Murphy and Herb Jones. If Reaves does indeed become available, he'll surely draw interest from several ballclubs.