Los Angeles Lakers Have Verdict on Potential Austin Reaves Trade

The Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated from the NBA playoffs after losing 4-1 to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round. It was far from the season the Lakers wanted.

The Lakers might look to shake up their ranks for the upcoming season, and Austin Reaves' future has come under the spotlight.

Reaves will be a free agent next summer and looks set to get a mega raise. 

The Lakers, though, are not interested in using Reaves as a trade unless they get a top-tier big, according to the LA Times.

The Brooklyn Nets' Nic Claxton and the Dallas Mavericks' Daniel Gafford are on the Lakers' radar.

Claxton doesn't look likely to leave despite his potential match with Luka Doncic. Gafford, meanwhile, has played successfully alongside Doncic for the Mavericks.

However, his partnership with the likes of Dereck Lively and Anthony Davis makes it unlikely for the 26-year-old to leave.

Hence, Reaves being used in the trade doesn't look like a possibility at the moment. The shooting guard played 73 games during the regular season.

He averaged 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 0.3 blocks during the regular season. During the playoffs against the Timberwolves, Reaves averaged 16.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 0.6 blocks in five games.

Austin Reaves, though, played in the series against the Timberwolves with a serious toe injury. The aforementioned source reports that the 26-year-old is still recovering.

Reaves is reportedly improving and won't need surgery.

Lakers' coach JJ Redick is looking forward to a better campaign individually and collectively next season. He noted that the team needs to be in championship shape.

Redick said after the Lakers' elimination, "I don’t necessarily take any satisfaction in how the year went. That’s not to say I’m not proud of what the group was able to do."

While there might be incoming changes, Reaves looks set to stay next term.