The Lakers need a center. Is there a big man with the Trail Blazers who they could trade Austin Reaves for?

The Los Angeles Lakers pulled off one of the biggest fleeces of all time when they traded for Luka Doncic.

While that deal involving Anthony Davis was a must-do for the Lakers, it actually left the team with a somewhat questionable fit on the roster. Austin Reaves broke out in a big way this season, but he has a lot of similarities to Doncic.

The Lakers need more defense and center depth, and Doncic and LeBron James would still be able to carry the load for ball-handling duties and scoring production even without Reaves on the roster.

Because of that, some have suggested trading Reaves this upcoming offseason. The Lakers are unlikely to sell Reaves off unless they’d land a starting center. Luckily, the Portland Trail Blazers have a logjam at the center position. So what would a Reaves-to-Portland deal look like?

Trail Blazers trade proposal for Austin Reaves

Trail Blazers receive: Austin Reaves, Maxi Kleber, Gabe Vincent

Lakers receive: Deandre Ayton, two second-round draft picks

The Lakers are desperate for a center, and that could be enough incentive for them to trade Reaves. The team was rocking with Jaxson Hayes, a long-time bench player, and forwards such as Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, and James at the five spot in the postseason.

It clearly didn’t work, as JJ Redick’s squad lost in the first round to a lower-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves team.

Not only does the team need a center because they had so little size for standard big-man roles like rebounding and rim protection, but Doncic and James’ skill sets are enhanced by having a solid big man in the starting lineup.

Both players thrive when throwing lobs and dump-offs to centers, and the team needs that play-finishing role on the roster much more than they need a third isolation scoring threat like Reaves.

Additionally, both Reaves and Doncic are subpar defensive players. Playing both at the same time is hard enough, and the team could use a paint presence who can deter shots when opposing teams penetrate to the rim. Deandre Ayton has become somewhat underappreciated since joining the Trail Blazers, and the Lakers should consider trading for him.

The former first overall pick, who was coincidentally taken two selections before Doncic, will likely never live up to his fullest potential. Scouts saw a perennial All-Star in him when he was coming out of Arizona. His inability to become a megastar doesn’t negate the fact that he is a very good starting center, though.

Ayton is a career 16.4-point-per-game scorer. He is still just 26 years old, too. While his numbers have dropped in recent years, it is possible that he hasn’t yet hit his prime. Ayton can score inside, and he has averaged double-digit rebounding numbers each season of his career.

He is arguably the best center available for the Lakers who could legitimately be moved this offseason. While trading Reaves fresh off of a breakout season is far from ideal, it might be a necessity in order to ensure a more cohesive roster in Los Angeles.

Would the Trail Blazers trade Deandre Ayton for Austin Reaves?

While the Lakers might be hesitant about this trade package, the Trail Blazers would likely jump all over it. Firstly, Reaves showed legitimate All-Star potential in his fourth season. The Trail Blazers have tons of depth, but they lack the star talent needed to take the next step.

Reaves averaged 20.2 points per game this past season, and he was even better when he didn’t have to share the floor with Doncic and/or James. When given an even bigger role, there is no telling how high Reaves could soar. He can shoot, pass, and finish at the rim, and he’d be a perfect complement to Portland’s other rotation players.

Additionally, the Trail Blazers should be looking to move Ayton. The team has a logjam at center, as all of Ayton, Donovan Clingan, Robert Williams, and Duop Reath need minutes. The team is building around Clingan as their main post player, as he was taken in the lottery last year.

Williams doesn’t have much trade value because of his injury history. That makes Ayton the most logical trade candidate, especially if the team wants to clear some more minutes for Clingan.

Reaves is likely the best player that they could get back for Ayton, and this move is one that could get the team into the playoff picture in a stacked Western Conference.