{"id":706220,"date":"2026-04-09T00:55:28","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T00:55:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/706220\/"},"modified":"2026-04-09T00:55:28","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T00:55:28","slug":"austin-reaves-trade-rumors-lakers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/706220\/","title":{"rendered":"Austin Reaves Trade Rumors Lakers"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"Austin\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Austin Reaves reacts in disbelief during a Los Angeles Lakers game amid growing questions about his future with the team.<\/p>\n

The Los Angeles Lakers<\/a> could face a franchise-shaping decision this offseason, with Bleacher Report salary cap expert Eric Pincus outlining a potential sign-and-trade scenario that would send Austin Reaves<\/a> to the Utah Jazz<\/a> in exchange for center Walker Kessler<\/a>.<\/p>\n

While Pincus described the framework as speculative, the concept reflects growing league-wide discussion about Reaves\u2019 future and the Lakers\u2019 long-term roster construction around Luka Don\u010di\u0107<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cCompeting executives aren\u2019t convinced the Lakers can win with a core duo of Don\u010di\u0107 and Reaves,\u201d Pincus reported<\/a>, while noting that such outside opinions only matter if they align with the Lakers\u2019 internal evaluation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe mechanics of such a deal would be complicated, though not impossible. Depending on Kessler\u2019s starting salary, the Lakers could still have the means to chase players like Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a> or Trey Murphy<\/a> III (perhaps with additional draft compensation coming with Kessler for Reaves),\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Reaves\u2019 Breakout Season Raises Stakes\"Austin<\/p>\n

GettyAustin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after the Lakers made a basket against the Sacramento Kings<\/a> at Golden 1 Center on October 26, 2025 in Sacramento, California. Reaves finished with a career high 51 points.<\/p>\n

Reaves has elevated his profile significantly this season, averaging career highs of 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds in 51 games. He has taken on a larger offensive role alongside Don\u010di\u0107, at times even surpassing LeBron James<\/a> in the team\u2019s offensive hierarchy.<\/p>\n

His ability to operate as a secondary ball-handler and create offense both on and off the ball has been critical for Los Angeles, particularly during stretches when injuries forced lineup adjustments. Reaves has provided stability late in games and helped drive the Lakers\u2019 surge into the upper tier of the Western Conference standings.<\/p>\n

However, his momentum was halted by a significant injury. According to ESPN insider Shams Charania, Reaves is expected to miss four to six weeks with a Grade 2 oblique strain.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat timeline essentially would sideline him a majority, if not the entire, first-round series,\u201d Charania said<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The injury comes at a critical time, as the Lakers recently slipped in the standings after losing ground to the Denver Nuggets<\/a> amid injuries to both Reaves and Don\u010di\u0107.<\/p>\n

Contract Pressure Creates Sign-and-Trade Possibility<\/p>\n

Beyond the immediate playoff impact, Reaves\u2019 contract situation looms large. The 27-year-old holds a $14.9 million player option for the 2026-27 season but is widely expected to decline it and enter unrestricted free agency.<\/p>\n

According to ESPN\u2019s Dave McMenamin<\/a>, Reaves could command a deal worth up to $241 million over five years from the Lakers.<\/p>\n

That financial reality raises the stakes for Los Angeles. While the franchise is expected to have a strong interest in retaining him, a sign-and-trade could become a viable alternative if the front office is hesitant to commit long-term at that level.<\/p>\n

Why Kessler Has Emerged as a Lakers Target\"Luka<\/p>\n

GettyRui Hachimura of the Los Angeles Lakers drives past reported trade target Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz.<\/p>\n

In Pincus\u2019 proposed scenario, the Lakers would address a key positional need by acquiring Kessler, one of the league\u2019s emerging rim protectors.<\/p>\n

Kessler\u2019s fit in Los Angeles has been discussed before. Lakers beat reporter Jovan Buha<\/a> previously identified him as part of Don\u010di\u0107\u2019s preferred list of centers, alongside players such as Nic Claxton<\/a>, Jalen Duren<\/a> and Onyeka Okongwu<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The appeal is clear: Kessler provides interior defense, rebounding and a lob threat \u2014 all areas the Lakers have sought to reinforce around their star playmakers.<\/p>\n

However, his own contract situation introduces another layer of complexity. ESPN\u2019s Tim MacMahon reported in February on The Hoop Collective<\/a> that extension talks between Kessler and the Jazz stalled last offseason.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Jazz have a number in mind\u2026 around $25 million per year,\u201d MacMahon said. \u201cAnd Walker Kessler and his reps believe he is worth much more.\u201d<\/p>\n

That gap could lead to a \u201ctense and extended\u201d restricted free agency process, creating a potential opening for teams like the Lakers.<\/p>\n

Jazz Financial Outlook and League Dynamics<\/p>\n

The Jazz already have significant financial commitments to Jaren Jackson<\/a> Jr. and Lauri Markkanen<\/a>, raising questions about how much additional money they are willing to allocate to their frontcourt.<\/p>\n

ESPN insider Brian Windhorst has suggested in the same podcast with MacMahon that this dynamic could make Kessler a \u201cgettable\u201d restricted free agent under the right circumstances.<\/p>\n

\u201cRestricted free agency can create narrow opportunities,\u201d Windhorst said. \u201cIf teams believe a player\u2019s current team won\u2019t match, that\u2019s when deals can happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Utah, acquiring Reaves in a sign-and-trade would add a versatile offensive piece to complement its core of Kessler, Jackson and Keyonte George<\/a>, potentially reshaping its roster balance.<\/p>\n

Lakers Balancing Present vs. Future<\/p>\n

Despite the intrigue, Pincus emphasized that such a scenario remains theoretical. The Lakers could still opt for continuity, particularly given how competitive they looked before injuries disrupted their momentum.<\/p>\n

Reaves\u2019 postseason performance \u2014 or lack thereof due to injury \u2014 may ultimately influence the decision. His inconsistent showing in last year\u2019s playoffs left questions about his scalability in high-pressure environments, and this year\u2019s injury could limit opportunities to answer them.<\/p>\n

What Comes Next<\/p>\n

As the offseason approaches, the Lakers are expected to explore multiple pathways to improve their roster. A sign-and-trade involving Reaves would represent a major shift in team-building philosophy, prioritizing size and defense over backcourt continuity.<\/p>\n

Whether that scenario materializes will depend on several factors \u2014 including Reaves\u2019 market, Kessler\u2019s contract situation and the Lakers\u2019 appetite for change.<\/p>\n

For now, Pincus\u2019 proposal underscores the uncertainty surrounding one of the franchise\u2019s most important decisions \u2014 and the possibility that Los Angeles could reshape its core in pursuit of a championship.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAlder Almo<\/a> is a veteran NBA reporter for Heavy.com, covering the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors. He brings over 20 years of experience across local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Originally from the Philippines, he is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Getty Austin Reaves reacts in disbelief during a Los Angeles Lakers game amid growing questions about his future…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":706221,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3790],"tags":[7,4034,1698,300,4044,251,150,4033,4043,6],"class_list":{"0":"post-706220","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-los-angeles-lakers","8":"tag-basketball","9":"tag-la","10":"tag-la-lakers","11":"tag-lakers","12":"tag-lalakers","13":"tag-los-angeles","14":"tag-los-angeles-lakers","15":"tag-losangeles","16":"tag-losangeleslakers","17":"tag-nba"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nba\/116372028873680696","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/706220","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=706220"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/706220\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/706221"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=706220"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=706220"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=706220"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}