“Dončić being just 26 gives the Lakers a far longer timeline to build a championship-contending team, but that doesn’t mean they can slow down and take their time. Dončić told Lakers president Rob Pelinka and coach JJ Redick in May that he’s not interested in taking the slow approach in building a contender,” CBS Sports’ Jasmyn Wimbish wrote.
The main thing Dončić reportedly wants is a center who can be a consistent lob threat. The Lakers could fulfill that request if they manage to trade Austin Reaves for Dereck Lively and Caleb Martin.
“The Lakers could cross their fingers and give him that kind of coin, but they could also flip him and a future first for Lively, who has established chemistry with Luka Dončić and cornerstone potential on defense, and Martin, a reliable role-playing wing with a proven ability to perform on the postseason stage,” Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley wrote.
There’s growing concern that the Lakers won’t be able to afford Reaves once he declines his player option next summer.
“Reaves will be a free agent. There is zero chance he is picking up his $14.9 million player option, even if he plans to stay with the Lakers. Reaves reportedly wants to be paid in the Tyler Herro range of $30 million a year (and Herro is a good comp in a lot of ways),” wrote NBC Sports’ Kurt Helin.
Reaves’ future in Los Angeles seems uncertain, and reports suggest he hasn’t exactly thrived sharing the court with Dončić.
A trade would reunite Dončić with Lively, with whom he already has strong chemistry. Meanwhile, Martin would bring reliable two-way depth off the bench — a move that could accelerate the Lakers’ path back to contention.
