Lakers Urged to Make Unpopular Austin Reaves Move This Summer

The Los Angeles Lakers were projected to compete for the championship this year after acquiring Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks in February. Pundits thought Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves would lead the Lakers to at least the Western Conference Finals. 

However, Los Angeles lost to Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round in five games. 

During his end-of-the-season press conference, Lakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka said he will attempt to acquire a center this summer. Los Angeles played without a center in Game 5 of the Timberwolves series and was outrebounded 54-37, including 18-8 on the offensive glass.

With the Lakers in desperate need of a center, Bill Plaschke of The Los Angeles Times thinks Pelinka needs to trade Reaves this summer to get a star big man. 

"I hate writing these next three words," Plaschke wrote. "Trade Austin Reaves. Send him packing in a deal that brings the Lakers the sort of lob partner and rim protector whose absence knocked you out of the postseason. Use him as the most attractive asset that could lure the sort of behemoth that could help this group bully their way back into contention.”