{"id":91180,"date":"2025-08-19T08:49:37","date_gmt":"2025-08-19T08:49:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=91180"},"modified":"2025-08-19T08:49:37","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T08:49:37","slug":"update-lakers-linked-to-blockbuster-trade-that-clouds-austin-reaves-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=91180","title":{"rendered":"Update!! Lakers Linked to Blockbuster Trade That Clouds Austin Reaves\u2019 Future"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"post-featured-container-id\">\n<div id=\"post-featured\" class=\"has-video wp-caption \">\n<figure class=\"h-responsive\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-featured-image size-featured-image wp-post-image\" src=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/GettyImages-2210094800-e1746393622412.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=all&amp;w=780\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 820px) 95vw, 780px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/GettyImages-2210094800-e1746393622412.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=all&amp;w=780 780w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/GettyImages-2210094800-e1746393622412.jpg?quality=15&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1100 1100w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/GettyImages-2210094800-e1746393622412.jpg?quality=35&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1350 1350w\" alt=\"Austin Reaves, Lakers\" width=\"780\" height=\"439\" data-img-load-time=\"3557\" data-dom-ready-time=\"4621\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Austin Reaves\u00a0has been\u00a0vocal\u00a0about his desire to remain a\u00a0Los Angeles Laker\u00a0for life. But in the NBA, loyalties can be tested quickly \u2014 especially when a generational superstar like\u00a0Giannis Antetokounmpo\u00a0could suddenly hit the trade market.<\/p>\n<p>According to Anthony Irwin of ClutchPoints, if the\u00a0Milwaukee Bucks\u00a0and Lakers ever engage in trade talks centered on the two-time MVP, Reaves\u2019 name would almost certainly be among the first requested. The undrafted guard has become a fan favorite in Los Angeles, but his rising value may also make him one of the Lakers\u2019 most attractive trade chips.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cIt\u2019s almost a surefire thing that if the Lakers and the Bucks get into trade negotiations for Giannis, the first name in terms of players that Milwaukee is going to ask about is Reaves,\u201d\u00a0Irwin said on the \u201cLakers Lounge\u201d\u00a0podcast. \u201cAnd then it\u2019s like, well, \u2018Do you want Giannis or do you want to try to keep Reaves here?\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"embed-youtube-com\"><\/div>\n<h2 data-start=\"1268\" data-end=\"1314\">A Breakout Star With an Uncertain Future<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"1316\" data-end=\"1615\">Reaves turned down a four-year, $89.2 million offer from the Lakers earlier this offseason, choosing instead to bet on himself in free agency next summer. If he declines his $14.9 million player option for the 2026-27 season, the 26-year-old will become an unrestricted free agent in 2026.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1617\" data-end=\"1993\">NBA insider Jovan Buha\u00a0recently predicted that Reaves could command a deal in the range of four years and $120-plus million \u2014 a massive leap for a player who entered the league undrafted just four years ago. His combination of efficient scoring, playmaking, and toughness has elevated him into one of the Lakers\u2019 most reliable options behind\u00a0LeBron James\u00a0and\u00a0Anthony Davis\u00a0and later on,\u00a0Luka Doncic.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1995\" data-end=\"2246\">But with LeBron entering the twilight of his career, the Lakers\u2019 front office has its eyes on a bigger long-term picture. Both Antetokounmpo and Doncic are viewed as potential franchise cornerstones for a post-LeBron era in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"2248\" data-end=\"2304\">Giannis, the Trade Market, and the Lakers\u2019 Dilemma<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_5452634\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\">\n<figure class=\"h-responsive\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-inline wp-image-5452634 visible\" src=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2212030598-e1755098921975.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=all&amp;w=782\" alt=\"After winning the NBA title in 2021, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks have lost in the first-round three years in a row.\" width=\"782\" height=\"441\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5452634\" data-lazy-load=\"\" data-src=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2212030598-e1755098921975.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=all&amp;w=782\" \/><\/figure>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-5452634\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"caption-credit\">Getty<\/span>Giannis Antetokounmpo is still weighing his long-term future with the Milwaukee Bucks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p data-start=\"2306\" data-end=\"2623\">Antetokounmpo remains under contract with Milwaukee through the 2027-28 season, but he holds a $62.8 million player option on the final year that could allow him to enter unrestricted free agency. If the Bucks stumble again in the postseason, league insiders believe the Greek Freak could eventually seek a new situation.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2625\" data-end=\"2877\">If that happens, Reaves could become a prime candidate in a potential sign-and-trade package. His next contract would make him easier to use for salary-matching purposes, while his skill set and age profile would fit well on a retooling Bucks roster.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2879\" data-end=\"3083\"><em>\u201c[Reaves] is the guy that team would probably ask for,\u201d Reaves explained. \u201cHe is going to be making enough money by way of his next contract to make contract matching that much easier if it comes to that.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3085\" data-end=\"3359\">The Lakers, however, don\u2019t possess many trade assets. Aside from Reaves, they hold only one tradable first-round pick (2031 or 2032) and a second-rounder in 2032. Their most significant financial flexibility lies in expiring deals, including LeBron\u2019s $52.6 million option.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3085\" data-end=\"3359\">Next summer, the Lakers can gain access to an additional first-rounder.<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"3361\" data-end=\"3385\">The Bigger Picture<\/h2>\n<p>Other contenders \u2014 the\u00a0Golden State Warriors,\u00a0Miami Heat,\u00a0New York Knicks,\u00a0San Antonio Spurs\u00a0and\u00a0Los Angeles Clippers\u00a0\u2014 are also expected to pursue Antetokounmpo if he forces his way out of Milwaukee. The Lakers\u2019 chances may hinge on whether Giannis makes it clear he would only commit long-term in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n<p>Team president Rob Pelinka has acknowledged that the Lakers\u2019 cap strategy has been designed with future flexibility in mind \u2014 whether to land a star like Antetokounmpo or even\u00a0Nikola Jokic, who could both reach free agency in 2027 or keep their options open.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd we\u2019ve been very intentional with keeping our optionality to make [win] now moves if there are good [win] now moves to make or to have sort of our flexibility in the future,\u201d\u00a0Pelinka recently said. \u201cBut I say all that the optionality is there for us to use now if the right move comes our way. We want to make smart moves, but to be in a position of flexibility versus being stuck is really promising for how we\u2019re going to build this team moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4117\" data-end=\"4475\">For now, Reaves remains a Laker, beloved by fans and valued by teammates. But as the NBA has shown time and again, loyalty often comes second to opportunity. And if Antetokounmpo truly becomes available, the Lakers may be forced to decide whether Reaves is part of their long-term future \u2014 or simply the price of doing business to land a superstar.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Austin Reaves\u00a0has been\u00a0vocal\u00a0about his desire to remain a\u00a0Los Angeles Laker\u00a0for life. But in the NBA, loyalties can be tested quickly \u2014 especially when a generational superstar like\u00a0Giannis&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":91181,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-91180","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Update!! 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