With Austin Reaves struggling this postseason, is it time for the Lakers to put him in the trade machine?
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It’s not a secret that Austin Reaves struggled this postseason.
Sure, he was reportedly dealing with a big toe sprain during the final two games against the Wolves, but his play had been subpar even before that.
With the Lakers getting eliminated in five games against the Wolves and needing to improve this offseason, the question for this week’s survey is, should Austin Reaves be in trade talks this summer?
If you’re in the trade Austin Reaves camp, the rationale is simple. He hasn’t demonstrated enough for you to believe he can be part of a championship-caliber pairing with Luka Dončić, so moving on from him is in the Lakers’ best interest.
A contract extension is possible this summer for Reaves, but reports indicate he won’t be signing one. He can instead become an unrestricted free agent next summer, and reports indicate he’ll want $30 million a year in that new deal.
If the Lakers don’t see him as a player good enough to win a title with, then it might be time to trade him before he walks away for nothing in a couple of years.
If you’re in the keep Austin Reaves camp, then you believe in his skill set and want to see him grow and blossom here.
Yes, he had a bad series, but that can be a minor setback on his journey to becoming a Lakers champion. There’s no need to panic and trade him when he makes under $14 million a year.
If the Lakers were to trade Reaves after doing the hard part —signing him as an undrafted player and developing him —it would be the dumbest mistake the franchise has made since trading Alex Caruso.
The question is, which side are Lakers fans on? Should Los Angeles throw Austin Reaves in trade talks and see what they can get for him before his big payday, or keep him on the team as part of their future core?
Vote in our survey above and make your voice heard.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.