{"id":91870,"date":"2025-08-21T08:06:24","date_gmt":"2025-08-21T08:06:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=91870"},"modified":"2025-08-21T08:06:24","modified_gmt":"2025-08-21T08:06:24","slug":"update-proposed-nba-trade-has-lakers-land-97-million-starter-for-austin-reaves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=91870","title":{"rendered":"UPDATE: Proposed NBA Trade Has Lakers Land $97 Million Starter for Austin Reaves"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"c-content entry-content\">\n<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\/08\/GettyImages-2180391660-e1755727039349.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=all&amp;w=780\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 820px) 95vw, 780px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2180391660-e1755727039349.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=all&amp;w=780 780w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2180391660-e1755727039349.jpg?quality=15&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1100 1100w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2180391660-e1755727039349.jpg?quality=35&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1350 1350w\" alt=\"Austin Reaves\" width=\"780\" height=\"438\" data-img-load-time=\"2448\" data-dom-ready-time=\"3922\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The\u00a0Los Angeles Lakers\u00a0face a decision on\u00a0Austin Reaves\u2019\u00a0future with the guard headed for a new lucrative contract. Lakers fans need not fret as Reaves is still technically under contract for another two NBA seasons.<\/p>\n<p>Things are a little more complicated as Reaves can opt out of his current four-year,\u00a0$53.8 million contract\u00a0in 2026. Smart money is on Reaves testing NBA free agency next offseason given his current team-friendly deal.<\/p>\n<p>The ideal scenario for the Lakers is to sign Reaves to an extension. Another path has Los Angeles exploring potential trades for Reaves.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s dive into whether Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton could be a fit for the Lakers if the franchise cuts ties with Reaves.<\/p>\n<h2>Lakers Rumors: NBA Trade Pitch Has LA Swap Austin Reaves for Nets Center Nic Claxton<\/h2>\n<p>Sports Illustrated\u2019s Thomas Carelli\u00a0floated a potential trade proposal that has the Lakers sending Reaves and Gabe Vincent to the Nets. Los Angeles acquires Claxton, a 2027 first-round selection and a 2029 first-round pick swap in the deal.<\/p>\n<p>The analyst makes the argument for why the Lakers would consider a Reaves for Claxton swap.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cIn this situation, the Lakers get to shed two bench\/deeper pieces as they command less need with LeBron, Luka,\u201d Carelli wrote in an August 20, 2025, story titled, \u201cNBA Mock Trade: Nets Deal Nic Claxton To Lakers For Austin Reaves.\u201d \u201cGabe Vincent and Austin Reaves have been common names being discussed in trades, so it surprises none in this scenario.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cAs for adding Claxton, they get a key young frontcourt player at a potential discount, since the Nets want to deal him away. Nic Claxton can be a massive defensive weapon off the bench, as well as a great developmental piece undernearth Rui Hachimura, DeAndre Ayton. On top of all of this, the Lakers get future draft picks that they will need once LeBron retires.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<h2>Austin Reaves Already Declined an $89 Million Contract Offer From the Lakers<\/h2>\n<p>Reaves already declined an\u00a0$89 million contract\u00a0extension from Los Angeles. The guard could be headed for a deal that tops the $100 million mark.<\/p>\n<p>Claxton is on a four-year, $97 million contract with the Nets that is slated to go through the 2027-28 NBA season. The move is being framed as a potential cost savings deal for Los Angeles, but Claxton is still under contract for another three seasons.<\/p>\n<h2>NBA Trade Verdict: The Lakers Pass on Nic Claxton in Favor of Retaining Austin Reaves<\/h2>\n<p>It is hard to describe Reaves as untouchable, but the guard\u2019s current contract makes it challenging for the Lakers to receive market value under the current salary cap restrictions for trades. Los Angeles also just signed Deandre Ayton this offseason making Claxton a bit redundant despite the Lakers\u2019 previous ongoing need for a center.<\/p>\n<p>Reaves\u2019 shooting is more of a need for the Lakers than having depth down low. The Lakers could use even more shooting to build around LeBron James and Luka Doncic.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI love it there,\u201d Reaves explained during a June 15, interview with\u00a0K8 News.\u00a0\u201cI love the fans. Love the weather, love the golf. And obviously the Lakers is the best organization in basketball.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cI don\u2019t pay attention to it (trade rumors). I keep my head down work, and I feel like that\u2019s one of the reasons I\u2019m where I\u2019m at.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"after-post-common\" class=\"l-complementary\" role=\"complementary\">\n<aside id=\"custom_html-27\" class=\"widget_text widget widget_custom_html\">\n<div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\">\n<table border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The\u00a0Los Angeles Lakers\u00a0face a decision on\u00a0Austin Reaves\u2019\u00a0future with the guard headed for a new lucrative contract. Lakers fans need not fret as Reaves is still technically under&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":91874,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-91870","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: Proposed NBA Trade Has Lakers Land $97 Million Starter for Austin Reaves - News 365<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=91870\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"UPDATE: Proposed NBA Trade Has Lakers Land $97 Million Starter for Austin Reaves - News 365\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The\u00a0Los Angeles Lakers\u00a0face a decision on\u00a0Austin Reaves\u2019\u00a0future with the guard headed for a new lucrative contract. 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