Lakers Trade Rumors: Austin Reaves ‘Good As Gone’ This Summer

The Los Angeles Lakers need a center. In the worst way. Of course, nobody in LA is regretting trading Anthony Davis for Luka Doncic, but they have a huge hole in the middle that they'll need to fill if they are to be a serious contender next season.

And truly, the only legit trade piece they have—and it's a good one—that can land them the big man they so desperately need, is Austin Reaves. This is a player that the Lakers have been loathe to trade for a couple of years now. They've refused to put him on the table.

But this summer, it might be time.

Clutch Points quotes Bill Simmons as saying on his podcast, "When Reaves gets traded this summer, and he will get traded, the stuff (the Lakers) get back for him is gonna make it seem worse that (the Dallas Mavericks) didn't get him in the (Luka) trade."

Bill Plaschke of the LA Times made the same point recently, claiming that "The Lakers must trade Austin Reaves," and calling it a "painful truth."

Column: A painful truth — Lakers must trade Austin Reaves https://t.co/mgelSdB0Er
— Bill Plaschke (@BillPlaschke) May 11, 2025

As the Lakers insider notes:

If the Lakers are going to get where they need to be, they'll have to get there without Austin Reaves. If the Lakers truly value the acquisition of a big man, they're going to have to get rid of the little fella.

He calls Reaves "My favorite. Everybody's favorite... But it's time."

But Clutch Points reports that "the Lakers reportedly view Reaves as one of the 3 cornerstones of the franchise, and (they STILL) aren't looking to trade him."

When push comes to shove this offseason, and the team realizes they really need an impact center to push the team to the next level, we'll see if they finally give in and pull the trigger.

Reaves became a 20-point scorer this season, averaging 20.2 ppg, along with 4.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game. Each of those numbers has risen in each of his four years in the NBA. He is now a true star in this league. He has one year left on his deal at $13.9 million and then has a player option to become a free agent. That decision is a slam dunk.

But as Clutch sums it up, "The only question is who he'll be playing for by then."