Lakers predicted to cut ties with $89 million guard, acquire in-conference sharpshooter

The Los Angeles Lakers may consider trading guard Austin Reaves to address roster balance issues arising from Luka Dončić's ball-dominant style, as reported by Sports Illustrated's Ethen Hutton. Reaves, coming off a career-best season, could be moved to acquire a player who excels without the ball, such as Sacramento Kings' sharpshooter Keegan Murray.

In the proposed trade scenario, the Lakers would send Austin Reaves to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Keegan Murray and a 2027 first-round draft pick. This move aims to optimize the Lakers' title contention window alongside LeBron James by adding a younger, developing player who fits a positional need.

The Kings' motivation for the trade stems from their urgent need for a point guard, having traded away Tyrese Haliburton and De'Aaron Fox in recent years. Their unsuccessful offseason search included a failed attempt to acquire Russell Westbrook, who is considered past his prime and inadequate for a team with playoff aspirations.