The Los Angeles Lakers face a decision on Austin Reaves’ future.

The importance of on-court chemistry can’t be understated in basketball. Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic developed it with many of his former Dallas Mavericks teammates, but none more so than Dereck Lively II, who thrived next to the Slovenian superstar in their one-and-a-half seasons together.

Doncic and Lively’s chemistry was instrumental to the Mavericks reaching the 2024 NBA Finals, with the latter catching lobs and setting screens for the superstar guard, while also covering for his defensive lapses as a decoy at the rim and on the perimeter.

Many analysts have urged the Lakers to find a way to reunite Doncic and Lively. The Mavericks are unlikely to bite, given that Lively, 21, has barely scratched the surface of his potential. However, they could be enticed if the Lakers offer Austin Reaves, their third-best player and playmaker, who has room to grow in his own right.

Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley has suggested that the Lakers send Reaves to Dallas in a deal for Lively, arguing that the latter is a better on-court fit with Doncic.

The Proposed Trade

Lakers would receive: Dereck Lively II and Caleb Martin

Mavericks would receive: Austin Reaves and a 2031 first-round pick

“Lakers fans probably won’t like this suggestion. Maybe their decision-makers wouldn’t, either. That’s fine,” wrote Buckley. “They all seem like big fans of Reaves, and he’s given them plenty of reasons to feel that way—like the 20.2 points and 5.8 assists he averaged as a third option this past season.

“He’s a really good player. He’s also not a great trade asset. His growth potential is probably limited by his age (27), and he might be super expensive by this time next year. One executive recently told ESPN’s Tim Bontemps that Reaves “will get $30 [million] plus” on his next contract.

“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.”

Could Lakers Trade Austin Reaves?

As Buckley highlighted, the Lakers have a significant decision to make regarding Reaves over the next 12 months or so. The 26-year-old guard can become an unrestricted free agent in 2026, and could command offers north of $30 million from other teams.

Reaves reportedly turned down the Lakers’ four-year, $89.2 million offer earlier this offseason, and understandably so. The undrafted guard averaged an impressive 20.2 points, 5.8 assists and 4.5 rebounds last season, enjoying upticks across the board.

According to NBC Sports’ Kurt Helin, Reaves 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).”

“If Reaves shows this season that he can be a high-level scorer next to Luka Doncic and can step up his game in the playoffs, the Lakers gladly will pay that much to keep him (and Reaves will want to stay). However, if he struggles again in the playoffs, the Lakers — who will have a lot of cap space — may question whether that is the best way to spend their money,” Helin wrote.

Reaves is expected to start the 2025-26 season as one of the starting guards next to Luka Doncic and LeBron James. Last year, concerns arose about the Lakers fielding three ball-handlers in the starting unit, but the trio found ways to thrive together.