The Los Angeles Lakers stood on their long-rumored position regarding trading Austin Reaves.
Amid all of the trade rumors surrounding the team this season, Reaves has remained essentially untouchable in trade talks. While that has been the Lakers’ stance, we have a new report of them holding firm.
Despite their interest in Atlanta Hawks star Dejounte Murray, the Lakers were not willing to give up Reaves in a trade to acquire him.
“The Lakers have been arguably the team most linked to Murray due to his representation at Klutch Sports, the agency for various Lakers on the current team,” HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto wrote on January 18. “The Hawks coveted Lakers guard Austin Reaves in trade talks surrounding Murray but were denied by Los Angeles, league sources said.”
Reaves, 25, re-signed this past offseason on a four-year, $53.8 million contract.
He is averaging career-highs with 15.1 points, 5.2 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 0.9 steals this season. He is shooting just 35.1% from beyond the arc on the year. But he has knocked down 60% of his deep looks over the last four games.
Part of his resurgence has been his reinsertion into the starting lineup.
Reaves opened the season as the starter. But he struggled defensively during the team’s rut and Head Coach Darvin Ham relegated him to a bench role.
The Lakers are 2-0 since Ham went back to the original starting lineup.
Lakers Could Have Trouble Meeting Hawks’ Asking Price
The Hawks are seeking two first-round picks for Murray, per The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor on January 15. Scotto adds that the Hawks do not want to bring back any salary past this season, which is where things get complicated for a Lakers trade.
LA has access to its 2029 first-round pick and can swap picks in 2030. If they wait until the offseason, and more specifically draft night, they can also trade their 2031 first-rounder.
Their options are more limited ahead of the trade deadline on February 8.
“Any framework for a Murray trade to the Lakers would likely involve guard D’Angelo Russell,” Scotto wrote. “However, that would be contingent on Russell being flipped to a third team from Atlanta in the process.”