The Lakers\u2019 roster was openly unbalanced<\/a>, and general manager Rob Pelinka has admitted<\/a> the team need to add more size, and more wing defense.<\/p>\n LeBron James and Luka Doncic<\/a> are still the cornerstones of the team, but there are still question marks over everybody else.<\/p>\n Austin Reaves<\/a> is player who underperformed in the playoffs, by his own admission<\/a>, with it later revealed the Lakers star was playing through injury<\/a>.<\/p>\n Reaves was excellent through the season, with James Worthy backing him despite his playoff woes<\/a>.<\/p>\n Stephen A. Smith is adamant the Lakers must hang onto Austin Reaves, as his relatively cheap salary means they will not get fair value.<\/p>\n He told his podcast: \u201cHere\u2019s the problem with an Austin Reaves is making about $13 million. If you move him, how much equitable compensation are you getting in return? <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s established himself as a bona fide number three option for the Los Angeles Lake. He\u2019s average about 20 points game this year. He\u2019s improved vastly. <\/p>\n \u201cAnd if you\u2019re going to move him, Okay, what kind of equitable compensation are you going to get in return for his services? Because at $13 million again, the salaries don\u2019t necessarily match. <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s grossly underpaid. So because he\u2019s grossly underpaid, you know, it\u2019s one of those situations where, if you move him, you\u2019re going to get short changed on the return.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Austin Reaves has Rob Pelinka backing<\/p>\n Austin Reaves already has the backing of GM Rob Pelinka, who claimed he was \u2018on his mind\u2019 throughout the Luka Doncic trade, determined to keep him.<\/p>\n Describing Reaves as a \u2018Swiss Army knife\u2019<\/a>, Pelinka is a big believer in the ability of the once undrafted<\/a> player, who performed at a high level in the regular season.<\/p>\n But it all depends on how high the Lakers want to swing, when it comes to trades this summer.<\/p>\n![\"Robert](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/GettyImages-2210935550-scaled.jpg\")
Robert Gauthier \/ Los Angeles Times via Getty ImagesLakers urged to keep Austin Reaves<\/p>\n