For the Los Angeles Lakers to acquire a good center this offseason, they may have to part ways with Austin Reaves, the undrafted guard who was the Lakers' third-leading scorer this season.
Los Angeles is expected to attempt to trade for a center this offseason. According to Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times, the Lakers won’t trade Reaves unless they can acquire a “top-tier big.”
Reaves averaged 20.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists in 73 games for the Lakers this season while shooting 46.0% from the field, 37.7% from 3 and 87.7% from the foul line.
He told K8 News at his basketball camp in Arkansas that he wants to spend his entire career in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves
The Los Angeles Lakers part ways with Austin Reaves in this NBA trade idea.
Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
It's unknown at this time if the Lakers will keep or trade Reaves, but Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report proposed a three-team trade idea between Los Angeles, the Brooklyn Nets and New Orleans Pelicans involving Reaves:
New Orleans Pelicans receive: Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent
Los Angeles Lakers receive: Nic Claxton and Cameron Johnson
Brooklyn Nets receive: C.J. McCollum, Dalton Knecht, a 2026 first-round pick (lottery-protected, via NOP), a 2029 first-round pick (top-five-protected, via NOP) and a 2031 first-round pick (via LAL)
This trade idea sends Claxton and Johnson from Brooklyn to Los Angeles.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick could start Luka Doncic, Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith, LeBron James and Claxton if this trade idea happened.
"The Lakers, meanwhile, would get their own rim-running big in Claxton, plus a high-end shooter with some flexibility on defense in Johnson," Pincus wrote.
Claxton appeared in 70 games for the Nets this season. He averaged 10.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.4 blocks while shooting 56.3% from the floor and 51.3% from the foul line.
Meanwhile, Johnson averaged 18.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 57 games while shooting 39.0% from beyond the arc.
The Lakers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 playoffs in five games. Their lack of size prevented them from competing with Minnesota big men Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle and Naz Reid.