Austin Reaves
Getty
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves continues to be mentioned in NBA trade rumors.
The Los Angeles Lakers have treated Austin Reaves as a cornerstone in recent years. But with the guard entering a contract year and his next deal projected to jump into star-level territory, the front office faces a looming decision.
Is Reaves the right backcourt partner for Luka Dončić in the post-LeBron James era?
Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey believes the Lakers might not need to wait for that answer. Instead, he has proposed a blockbuster trade that would reshape Los Angeles’ future and give Dončić a running mate whose skill set doesn’t overlap with his own.
The three-team framework involves the Utah Jazz and Miami Heat and would require the Lakers to gut a large portion of their rotation.
The details of Bailey’s proposal:
Los Angeles Lakers receive: Lauri Markkanen
Utah Jazz receive: Terry Rozier, Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Dalton Knecht, a 2026 first-round pick from L.A., a 2031 first-round pick from L.A., and a 2031 first-round pick from Miami
Miami Heat receive: Austin Reaves and Svi Mykhailiuk
“They’d have to replenish their 2025-26 rotation with some minimum signings, but this is a trade that could vault the Lakers onto the contenders’ tier right away, while also giving them a one-two punch to rely on beyond LeBron James’ retirement,” Bailey wrote. “Markkanen is undoubtedly the best individual player in this deal.”
Markkanen’s Fit With Dončić
Lauri Markkanen, Lakers
Getty Max Christie, formerly of the Los Angeles Lakers, attempts a shot over Lauri Markkanen of the Utah Jazz.
During his two healthy seasons with the Jazz (2022-23 and 2023-24), Markkanen put up 24.5 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.1 threes, while shooting 39.5% from the 3-point range.
Markkanen, 27, cemented his status as Utah’s franchise cornerstone when he signed a five-year, $238 million contract extension last year, underscoring the steep price the Lakers would have to pay to pry him away.
Over the course of all three of his seasons there, Jayson Tatum was the only player in the league who exceeded both his totals for threes and dunks (Tatum played 52 more games in that stretch), according to Bailey.
Markkanen’s value stems from his ability to produce without dominating the ball. He consistently ranked near the bottom of the league in dribbles and time of possession among high-volume scorers, making him an ideal partner for Dončić, one of the NBA’s most ball-dominant playmakers.
“As a floor spacer flanking Luka’s pick-and-rolls with other bigs, the screener in those actions himself, a cutter or transition finisher, Markkanen would feast on defenses compromised by Luka,” Bailey added.
While Markkanen is not considered an elite defender, Bailey noted that his size, rebounding ability, and effort would provide the Lakers with more defensive stability than their current backcourt tandem of Dončić and Reaves.
What It Means for the Lakers
Bailey projects that adding Markkanen would lift Los Angeles into the second tier of the Western Conference, joining Denver and Houston as top challengers behind the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
The proposed move also sidesteps the looming financial commitment to Reaves. The guard rejected a four-year, $89.2 million extension earlier this summer, betting on himself to command a richer deal next offseason.
According to NBC Sports’ Kurt Helin, Reaves is seeking a contract in the range of Miami’s Tyler Herro — roughly $30 million annually. Herro, a 2019 lottery pick, signed a four-year, $130 million extension in 2022 and has since become the Heat’s leading scorer.
Reaves, who has carved out a reputation as a dependable scorer and secondary playmaker, will likely have suitors willing to meet that price. However, the Lakers face tough questions about whether investing heavily in a defensively challenged backcourt of Dončić and Reaves gives them the best path to contention.
By Bailey’s estimation, flipping Reaves now for a proven All-Star forward like Markkanen may be the more pragmatic long-term solution.