The Los Angeles Lakers may soon be forced into making a decision they don’t want to — whether to commit big money to guard Austin Reaves or flip him for long-term defensive help.
Reaves was one of the Lakers’ most reliable contributors last season, averaging 20.2 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.5 rebounds as the team’s third option behind Luka Dončić and LeBron James. He’s earned the love of fans, and for good reason. But his future in Los Angeles is far from certain.
According to Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley, one path forward could involve a polarizing deal with the Dallas Mavericks:
Proposed Lakers-Mavs Trade
Lakers receive: Dereck Lively II and Caleb Martin
Mavericks receive: Austin Reaves and a 2031 first-round pick
“Lakers fans probably won’t like this suggestion. Maybe their decision-makers wouldn’t, either. That’s fine,” Buckley wrote. “They all seem like big fans of Reaves, and he’s given them plenty of reasons to feel that way—like the 20.2 points and 5.8 assists he averaged as a third option this past season.
“He’s a really good player. He’s also not a great trade asset. His growth potential is probably limited by his age (27), and he might be super expensive by this time next year. One executive recently told ESPN’s Tim Bontemps that Reaves ‘will get $30 [million] plus’ on his next contract.
“The Lakers could cross their fingers and give him that kind of coin, but they could also flip him and a future first for Lively, who has established chemistry with Luka Dončić and cornerstone potential on defense, and Martin, a reliable role-playing wing with a proven ability to perform on the postseason stage.”
The Case for Lively
While Lakers fans might recoil at the thought of losing Reaves, Lively represents exactly what this roster has been missing: a young, rim-protecting center with room to grow into an elite defensive anchor.
The 21-year-old big man was a crucial part of Dallas’ run to the 2024 NBA Finals, thriving in pick-and-roll action with Dončić, finishing lobs, and covering for defensive lapses at the rim. His ability to alter shots and set crushing screens makes him an ideal fit for Dončić’s playstyle — and a potential long-term solution for the Lakers’ interior defense. Adding Caleb Martin would also bring postseason-tested wing depth, giving the Lakers a two-way player who proved his value during the Miami Heat’s 2023 Finals run.
The Money Factor
The real sticking point for Los Angeles is financial. Reaves has already turned down a four-year, $89.2 million offer, reportedly seeking a contract “in the Tyler Herro range” of $30 million annually, according to NBC Sports’ Kurt Helin.
If Reaves continues to produce as he did in the regular season — and especially if he proves himself as a reliable postseason scorer — the Lakers may have no choice but to pay up. But if his playoff struggles from previous years resurface, L.A. could question whether tying up that much cap space in him is wise.
Why Dallas Might Say No
For the Mavericks, this hypothetical is far less appealing. Lively has barely scratched the surface of his potential and is already one of the NBA’s most promising rim protectors. Trading him for a 27-year-old guard with defensive limitations and a looming mega-deal doesn’t fit the trajectory of a team trying to build a sustainable contender around Dončić. As one analyst noted, “Reaves is a good player, but he isn’t a great defender, and we know how much Nico Harrison likes defense.”
The Bigger Picture
Ultimately, this proposed deal highlights the Lakers’ larger dilemma. As they transition from the LeBron James era into the Luka Dončić era, they must decide how much value to place on Reaves — their best trade chip — versus their long-term defensive foundation.
Would moving on from a fan favorite for Lively and Martin be unpopular? Almost certainly. But if the Lakers want to build a roster that maximizes Dončić’s prime and shores up their defensive identity, Buckley’s suggestion might not be as far-fetched as it feels.
