Austin Reaves is going to miss at least four weeks with a left calf strain, and his absence will be a gigantic blow to the Los Angeles Lakers’ chances of climbing the Western Conference ladder. 

It also means there’s a roughly 0 percent chance he gets traded by the deadline.

Just so we’re clear: Very few people are clamoring for the Lakers to deal Reaves. He is, in many ways, the Luka Doncic co-star for whom they’re supposed to be on the prowl.

Still, between Reaves’ player option this coming summer and head coach JJ Redick’s outward disgust for his team’s crummy defense, we couldn’t technically rule anything out. 

Until now.

Austin Reaves’ injury makes a trade even less likely than before

Reaves is scheduled to be re-evaluated in four weeks, according to ESPN’s David McMenamin. “Re-evaluated” does not mean a return to play. It is a nod to when we can expect the next update, and probably nothing more.

Four weeks will take the Lakers to the end of January, inside two weeks of the February 5 trade deadline. Even if Reaves returns at the end of this window, there is little time for him to rejoin the rotation, prove he’s not dealing with any lingering effects from his calf train, and for the Lakers then to negotiate a suitable trade.

Sure, injured players can always be moved. Just ask Doncic. The Dallas Mavericks shipped him off to Los Angeles when he was recovering from his own calf strain. 

I’m not sure who needs to hear this, but: That’s different. 

Doncic is an entrenched megastar. Reaves in the earlier stages of his own ascent to stardom. His trade value was already complicated by 2026 free agency (player option), not to mention the up-and-down nature of his play since LeBron James rejoined the rotation. Suffering this setback only further complicates prospective trade talks.

Reaves’ future may have just been decided for the Lakers

Perhaps the Lakers were never going to consider any Reaves deals. It’s tough to envision them considering anyone other than Doncic untouchable, but you never know. 

Reaves’ prospective price tag this coming summer would be the driving force behind any availability. A four-year max deal would run the Lakers a projected $185.9 million. A five-year max would cost a forecasted $240.7 million. If the team is at all pocket shy about bankrolling a max or near-max contract, Reaves’ name could have feasibly ambled onto the rumor mill. 

Again: The odds were always against it. So much depends on what he could even fetch in a trade, and how aggressive the Lakers expect other suitors to chase him. Maybe there is a scenario in which they didn’t want to stomach the risk of him losing for nothing. 

It doesn’t matter now. Reaves’ injury has turned the most likely outcome into the only realistic outcome. 

He’s staying put through this season—and probably beyond.