Luguentz Dort

Lakers’ Only Path To Championship Will Require Trading Austin Reaves

May 27, 2025 By LakerTom 14 Comments

After their sorry first round exit and the playoff surge by a new guard of younger NBA teams and players, the Lakers must accept their only realistic championship path left will probably require trading Austin Reaves.

Without Austin Reaves, the Lakers simply don’t have enough highly coveted players or draft capital to trade for the elite rim protecting defensive center and the quality point-of-attack perimeter defender they need to contend. The Lakers’ current trading chips include their 2031 first round pick, $40.1 million in Hachimura, Vincent, and Kleber’s expiring contracts, last year’s #17 draft pick Dalton Knecht, and their 2026, 2028, 2030, 2032 pick swaps.

Besides being their most valuable trading chip, Austin Reaves will be eligible to sign a 4-year $89 million extension this summer. Reports are he will decline that offer and seek over $30 million per year as a free agent. While the last thing the Lakers want to do is trade a budding home-grown star on a team friendly contract, their need to optimize LeBron’s last years and to convince Luka to sign an extension may require trading Reaves.

The Lakers will open next year as a team under the first apron. Assuming they send out as much salary as the bring back, they should finish the season under the first apron and be able to use the $14.1 million NT MLE.
For the Lakers need to have room under the first apron player to be able to use the NT MLE, they would need LeBron James would have to accept less than the max salary next season, which is something he offered last year.

The Lakers say they would only trade Reaves for a foundational player. Here are 6 blockbuster Austin Reaves trades the Lakers should seriously consider if they want to create a path to win the championship this year.

AUSTIN REAVES, 6′ 5″, 197 lbs, 26-years old, $13.9M/yr
20.2 pts, 4.5 rebs, 5.8 asts, 0.3 blk, 1.1 stls in 34.9 mpg
Shooting 14.2/7.3/5.0 shots for 46.0/37.7/87.7%

1. JAREN JACKSON JR.

Both Teams Are Under First Apron After Trade

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Lakers get elite former DPOY as the perfect modern NBA center in Jaren Jackson, Jr., who can stretch the floor with his 3-point shooting and protect the rim with his shot blocking and defend in space with his quickness.

Grizzlies get a budding superstar in Austin Reaves who can shoot the three, playmake for his teammates, and has not yet gotten close to his ultimate ceiling. He is exactly what Memphis needs in a smart, savvy point guard.

JAREN JACKSON JR, 6′ 10″, 242 lbs, 25-years old, $23.4M/yr
22.2 pts, 5.6 rebs, 2.0 asts, 1.5 blk, 1.2 stls in 29.8 mpg
Shooting 15.4/5.3/5.4 shots for 48.8/37.5/78.1%

2. WALKER KESSLER & COLLIN SEXTON

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Lakers get the young bruising, rim protecting center in Walker Kessler to pair with Luka Doncic and a young sharp-shooting point guard in Collin Sexton to come off the bench as the team’s 6th man and backup point.

Jazz get best player in the trade in Austin Reaves and the only Lakers player who would tempt Danny Ainge to trade Kessler to the Lakers. Jazz also get L.A.’s unprotected 2031 pick and 1–4 protection off of Lakers 2027 pick.

COLLIN SEXTON, 6′ 3″, 190 lbs, 26-years old, $19.2M/yr
18.4 pts, 2.7 rebs, 4.2 asts, 0.1 blk, 0.7 stls in 27.9 mpg
Shooting 13.8/4.3/4.0 shots for 48.0/40.6/86.5%

WALKER KESSLER, 7′ 0″, 245 lbs, 23-years old, $4.9M/yr
11.1 pts, 12.2 rebs, 1.7 asts, 2.4 blk, 0.6 stls in 30.0 mpg
Shooting 7.2/0.6/2.6 shots for 68.0/17.6/52.0%

3. LUGUENTZ DORT

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Lakers get elite two-way point-of-attack defensive guard Luguentz Dort to replace one-way point guard Austin Reaves and pair with Luka Doncic in their backcourt of the future. Dort is also a 40% volume 3-point shooter.

Austin Reaves, much like Alex Caruso, is one of those special players who can survive the Thunders’ deluge of draft picks. Reaves and Dort are due extensions. Reaves’ offense is great fit for OKC as Dort’s defense is for L.A.

LUGUENNTZ DORT, 6′ 4″, 220 lbs, 26-years old, $17.7M/yr
10.1 pts, 4.1 rebs, 1.6 asts, 0.5 blk, 1.1 stls in 29.2 mpg
Shooting 8.4/5.8/0.6 shots for 43.5/41.2/71.7%

4. JRUE HOLIDAY

Celtics Are Over Second Apron and Lakers Over First Apron After Trade

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Lakers get elite two-way point-of-attack defensive guard Jrue Holiday to replace one-way point guard Austin Reaves and pair with Luka Doncic in backcourt. Lakers also get 2 seconds for taking on Jrue’s bad contract.

Austin Reaves gives the Celtics a replacement for point guard Jrue Holiday who’s 8 years younger and $20 million per year cheaper plus an opportunity to save $18.3 million by allowing Rui Hachimura’s big contract to expire.

JRUE HOLIDAY, 6′ 4″, 205 lbs, 34-years old, $32.4M/yr
11.1 pts, 4.3 rebs, 3.9 asts, 0.4 blk, 1.1 stls in 30.6 mpg
Shooting 9.2/4.9/1.2 shots for 44.3/35.3/90.0%

5. DENI AVDIJA & ROBERT WILLIAMS III

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Lakers get two-way player Deni Avdija to replace one-way player Rui Hachimura at starting power forward and dynamic but injury prone two-way center Robert Williams III to become L.A.’s new starting center.

Blazers get best player in the trade in Austin Reaves, who would be a perfect mentor for 21-year old Scoot Henderson, and an immediate replacement at power forward for Deni Avdija in Rui Hachimura.

DENI AVDIJA, 6′ 9″, 240 lbs, 24-years old, $14.4M/yr
16.9 pts, 7.3 rebs, 3.9 asts, 0.5 blk, 1.0 stls in 30.0 mpg
Shooting 11.7/4.8/5.2 shots for 47.6/36.5/78.0%

ROBERT WILLIAMS III, 6′ 9″, 249 lbs, 27-years old, $13.3M/yr
5.8 pts, 5.9 rebs, 1.1 asts, 1.7 blk, 0.7 stls in 17.6 mpg
Shooting 3.9/0.2/0.9 shots for 64.1/33.3/88.2%

6. JONATHAN ISAAC & GOGA BITADZE

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Lakers get two elite defensive big men who can protect the rim and defend in space in power forward Jonathan Isaac and center Goga Bitadze. Both can play the 4 and 5 and together they would be a great center rotation.

Magic get a second star point guard and 3-point shooter in Austin Reaves and a potentially elite sharp-shooting wing in young Dalton Knecht. Magic would waive Shake Milton as he is just salary filler to make trade work.

JONATHAN ISAAC, 6′ 10″, 230 lbs, 27-years old, $15.0M/yr
5.4 pts, 4.4 rebs, 0.6 asts, 1.1 blk, 0.9 stls in 15.4 mpg
Shooting 4.6/2.1/1.5 shots for 41.4/25.8/68.2%

GOGA BITADZE, 6′ 10″, 250 lbs, 25-years old, $8.3M/yr
7.2 pts, 6.6 rebs, 2.0 asts, 1.4 blk, 0.7 stls in 20.4 mpg
Shooting 4.8/0.4/1.9 shots for 61.1/10.7/63.9%

Four Austin Reaves Trades For Elite Defender To Pair With Luka Doncic

May 18, 2025 By LakerTom 20 Comments

Heading into the offseason, the Los Angeles Lakers need to trade Austin Reaves for an elite defensive guard to pair with Luka Doncic and trade their one available first round pick for a starting center to anchor their defense.

Since trading for a starting center is the Lakers’ top offseason priority, Pelinka has likely set aside either their 2030 or 2031 first round pick to be the likely sweetener in a mega trade for next season’s starting center. That means that the sweetener in a Lakers’ trade for an elite defensive guard to pair with Luka Doncic will have to be their budding young stars, specifically point guard Austin Reaves and small forward Dalton Knecht.

While the Lakers are publicly saying they would not trade Austin Reaves unless it was for a foundational player who could lead to championships, there’s a strong undercurrent that trading Reaves will become necessary. The combination of concern over Austin’s defense, his fit with Luka, and the risk of losing him for nothing to free agency will become even more compelling once summer starts. Ultimately, L.A. will have to trade him.

The question the Los Angeles Lakers need to answer is what is Austin Reaves’ trade value? He’s now a legitimate 20/5/5 player who’s exceeded his purported individual ceiling as a player so many times we’ve lost count.
He’s also shown he can be a dynamic third star on a contending team but can he be the second star on that team? Many were surprised when no teams pursued him as an RFA. Will teams pursue Reaves this time?

What the Lakers want for Austin Reaves is an alpha dog defensive guard who can step right in and be the point-of-attack defender who perfectly complements Luka Doncic and can guard the opposing team’s best scorer.
There are two types of foundational defensive guards for whom the Lakers would trade Reaves. The first is a dynamic young guard who earns around what Reaves makes. The second is an expensive proven All-Pro veteran.

So let’s look at four Austin Reaves trades for a defensive guard to pair with Luka Doncic, including two for an elite young defensive guard with upside and two for a proven older All-Defensive veteran NBA shooting guard.

1. HAWKS’ DYSON DANIELS

Lakers are under the first apron after this trade.

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DYSON DANIELS, 6′ 7″, 199 lbs, 22-years old, $7.8M/yr
14.1 pts, 5.9rebs, 4.4 asts, 0.7blk, 3.0stls in 33.8 mpg
Shooting 12.1/3.1/1.8 shots for 49.3/34.0/59.3%

AUSTIN REAVES, 6′ 5″, 197 lbs, 26-years old, $13.9M/yr
20.2 pts, 4.5 rebs, 5.8 asts, 0.3 blk, 1.1 stls in 34.9 mpg
Shooting 14.2/7.3/5.0 shots for 46.0/37.7/87.7%

Dyson Daniels, the Atlanta Hawks elite defensive guard and league steals leader, is the first of two elite young defensive guards whom the Lakers should try to pry away from their teams in a trade for Austin Reaves.

For the Lakers, Daniels would be the perfect perimeter defensive stud they need to pair with Luka Doncic. His alpha-dog ball-hawking 1-on-1 defense and 6′ 7″ size is exactly what the Lakers need defensively at point-of-attack.
A Lakers backcourt of 6′ 7″ Luke Doncic and 6′ 7″ Dyson Daniels would be a bully ball threat on both offense and defense. Daniels’ pressure defense and versatile offense will quickly make Lakers fans forget about Reaves.

For the Hawks, they need a legitimate second scorer and additional playmaker to help Trae Young. Bringing in a consummate pro like Austin Reaves is also exactly the type of culture the Hawks front office wants.
While Daniels is great on defense, he doesn’t stretch the floor the way that Reaves does or make plays for others. Austin is exactly what the Hawks need, a trustworthy second scorer and playmaker to go with Trae Young.

The Hawks are without a long-term general manager after firing Landry Fields so nobody knows for sure what direction they will be going. Trading the MIPY, All-Defensive first team, and NBA steals leader would be gutsy.
But the opportunity to trade for Austin Reaves, who could be the perfect backcourt mate and co-star Trae Young has never had. It will be interesting to see who takes over the Atlanta front office and the direction they chose.

Austin Reaves to the Hawks and Dyson Daniels to the Lakers would be win-win for both teams. Hawks would get a second star to pair with Trae Young and Lakers would get an elite defensive guard to pair with Luka Doncic.

2. THUNDER’S LUGUENTZ DORT

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LUGUENNTZ DORT, 6′ 4″, 220 lbs, 26-years old, $17.7M/yr
10.1 pts, 4.1 rebs, 1.6 asts, 0.5 blk, 1.1 stls in 29.2 mpg
Shooting 8.4/5.8/0.6 shots for 43.5/41.2/71.7%

AUSTIN REAVES, 6′ 5″, 197 lbs, 26-years old, $13.9M/yr
20.2 pts, 4.5 rebs, 5.8 asts, 0.3 blk, 1.1 stls in 34.9 mpg
Shooting 14.2/7.3/5.0 shots for 46.0/37.7/87.7%

Luguentz Dort, an elite 3&D defensive guard for the OKC Thunder, is the second of two elite young defensive guards whom the Lakers should try to pry away from their teams in a trade for combo guard Austin Reaves.

For the Lakers, Lu Dort would also be a perfect elite defensive guard and backcourt mate for Luka Doncic. His defensive force is more bully ball and outright physicality than Daniels’ extreme length and hands-on pressure.
One benefit of trading for Dort over Daniels is Lu has developed into a high percentage 3-point shooter, taking almost 6 3-point attempts per game. Like Daniels, Dort would qualify as a foundational defensive piece for the L.A.

For the Thunder, Austin Reaves could be the star offensive player and volume 3-point sharp shooter they don’t currently have other than SGA. Reaves gives them that second offensive star to score or share the ball.
OKC is so deep that they are going to have make decisions about whom they extend and whom they trade as players reach their contract end. Dort will become a free agent after the end of next season. He may be expendable.

The Thunder traded Luguentz Dort for Austin Reaves for the same reason they traded Josh Giddey for Alex Caruso. They need players who can be stars in their role and contribute to winning on team friendly contract.
OKC still has so many elite draft picks that it forces them to constantly be evaluating both their players and their remaining picks to determine which are long term assets and which are more likely to be moved in trade.

An Austin Reaves and Dalton Knecht trade for Luguentz Dort would benefit the Lakers defensively and be great for Luka Doncic while helping the Thunder offensively by giving SGA a trusted second scorer and playmaker.

3. CELTICS’ JRUE HOLIDAY

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JRUE HOLIDAY, 6′ 4″, 205lbs, 34-years old, $32.4M/yr
11.1 pts, 4.3 rebs, 3.9 asts, 0.4 blk,, 1.1 stls in 30.6 mpg
Shooting 9.2/4.9/1.2 shots for 44.3/35.3/90.9%

AUSTIN REAVES, 6′ 5″, 197 lbs, 26-years old, $13.9M/yr
20.2 pts, 4.5 rebs, 5.8 asts, 0.3 blk, 1.1 stls in 34.9 mpg
Shooting 14.2/7.3/5.0 shots for 46.0/37.7/87.7%

If the Lakers can’t get Dyson Daniels or Luguentz Dort, they should turn their focus to 34-year old, Jrue Holiday, who is still one of the best two-way point guards in the NBA and likely to be available in trade from the Celtics.

For the Lakers, trading for 34-year old Jrue Holiday is a totally different situation than trading for a younger player with a longer timeline. Both the matching salaries to trade and annual cost of payroll are much greater.
What makes the trade still viable for the Lakers is just how well Jrue Holiday can still play at both ends of the court and the fact that the Lakers do want to optimize the championship chances for Luka and LeBron.

The Celtics are projected to have a payroll over $500 million next season, with more than half going towards luxury tax payments. Suddenly, Boston cannot afford $30 million per year to Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis.
They need to trade those two players for less expensive and easier to move contracts. Boston needs to swap Holiday for a rising young star like Reaves, talented young shooter like Knecht, and expiring contract in Gabe Vincent.

Trading for Jrue Holiday, who makes $32.4 million per year will require Lakers to give up Austin Reaves, Gabe Vincent, and Dalton Knecht. Reaves and Knecht are young stars under contract while Vincent is expiring.
Once Vincent’s contract expires, the Celtics will have turned Holiday’s $32.4 million per year salary into Reaves and Knecht’s $17.9 million per year. That’s a cut in salaries of 14.5 million per year or a 45% reduction in pay.

For the Lakers, it’s a chance to take advantage of the Celtics‘ financial ’downsizing to trade for an All-NBA defensive guard who would be the perfect backcourt mate for superstar point guard Luka Doncic.

4. CELTICS’ DERRICK WHITE

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DERRICK WHITE, 6′ 4″, 190 lbs, 30-years old, $28.1M/yr
16.4 pts, 4.5 rebs, 4.8 asts, 1.1 blk, 0.9 stls in 33.9 mpg
Shooting 12.6/9.1/2.1 shots for 44.2/38.4/83.9%

AUSTIN REAVES, 6′ 5″, 197 lbs, 26-years old, $13.9M/yr
20.2 pts, 4.5 rebs, 5.8 asts, 0.3 blk, 1.1 stls in 34.9 mpg
Shooting 14.2/7.3/5.0 shots for 46.0/37.7/87.7%

The other proven elite veteran defensive guard the Lakers should consider if they can’t land one of their younger, less expensive targets is the other Celtics starting guard Derrick White, who could be part of salary dump.

For the Lakers, White is three years younger and $4 million less per year than Holiday although the 3rd year on his deal will cost $19 million more. While White is probably better offensively, Holiday is the better defender.
Holiday is going to be moved no matter what while White’s future is not known for sure. He’s younger than Jrue and one of the few legitimate 3&D guards in the league who has a knack for coming up big in big moments.

For the Celtics, the owners knew when they assembled this team, won a ring, and then sold the team to new ownership that the great roster they had build was simply unsustainable financially under the current CBA.
All-Defensive NBA first team guards rarely become available for trade. Trading White for Reaves could be the perfect way for Boston to downsize their payroll while possibly upgrading their offense and 3-point shooting.

The bigger question is what is Austin Reaves ceiling as a player, because that will determine his value. Right now, he is not being valued as a legitimate 20/5/5 player despite having done so as the team’s 3rd option.
But 26-year old undrafted white players who are not exceptionally athletic are rarely given an opportunity to get dramatically better or even paid as much as their numbers and play says they should in the modern NBA.

If the Lakers want to trade for a proven elite veteran defensive guard to pair with Luka Doncic but want to avoid 34-year old Jrue Holiday, then Derrick White, the Celtics’ other elite defensive guard could be the right answer.

Why Lakers’ Best Path is Trade Russ to OKC and Then Hard Cap Themselves

June 28, 2022 By LakerTom 12 Comments

The Lakers have a path to move Russell Westbrook but it’s going to cost them a first round pick and will have to be made before the OKC Thunder’s open cap space disappears when this NBA season ends tomorrow June 30th.

While trading Russ into OKC’s open cap space won’t yield a pair of proven rotation players earning $20 million per year, it would give the Lakers three borderline rotation players who would be upgrades over current players. Additionally, it would give the Lakers a $32.4 million traded player exception (TPE) to use to acquire players without sending out salary and the ability to hard cap themselves to use the full $10.4M MLE and $4.1M BAE.

Let’s look at the advantages trading Westbrook to OKC gives the Lakers and why that could be their best path to rebuilding their roster and hopefully returning to being a legitimate contender with a chance at a championship.

Trading Russell Westbrook Into OKC’s Cap Space

Solving the Lakers Westbrook conundrum starts with trading Russ’ $47.1 million expiring contract into the Oklahoma City Thunder’s open cap space, which will disappear on July 1, 2022 when SGA’s new extension starts.

Other than the Pistons and Knicks who have cleared cap space specifically for free agents, the Thunder is the only team with the cap space to absorb $32.4 million of the $47.1 million left in Westbrook’s expiring contract. Oklahoma City will want a first round pick from the Lakers as the price for using their cap space but should be willing to include elite defensive guard Luguentz Dort and 3&D wing Kenrich Williams as quality rotation players.

While the Lakers have positioned themselves as unwilling to include a pick to move Westbrook, there’s no way they want Russ to be part of the roster next season. Dumping him into OKC’s cap space opens other doors.

The Power of a $32.4 Million Traded Player Exception

Traded Player Exceptions allow teams to trade for players without having to send out salary. By sending out $47.1 million and receiving back only $13.4 million, the Lakers would create a $32.4 million traded player exception.

The Lakers could use the $32.4 million traded player exception from trading Westbrook into the OKC Thunder’s cap space for one or multiple players whom other teams are looking to move to save cap space and cut expenses. The Lakers could use their TPE to trade for the Hornets’ Gordon Hayward, Terry Rozier, or Kelly Oubre, the Pacers’ Malcolm Brogdon, Myles Turner, or Buddy Hield, or the Knicks’ Evan Fournier or Cam Reddish

The Lakers’ $32.4 million Traded Player Exception would be good for a year and could be used to bring back a single elite player or multiple legitimate rotation players. It would be a valuable tool as teams look to create space.

The Benefits of the Lakers Hard Capping Themselves

Trading Russell Westbrook and their 2029 first round draft pick for Derrick Favors, Luguentz Dort, Kenrich Williams, and a $32.4 million traded player exception also enables the Lakers to take advantage of being hard capped.

Being hard capped has three distinct advantages over teams that are not hard capped. Hard capped teams get the full $10.3 million MLE vs. the $6.4 million TMLE, the $4.1 million BAE, and right to receive S&T players. Teams that are not hard capped are limited to the $6.4 million TMLE. Being hard capped opens up the entire free agent market as teams can receive players in sign-and-trade deals, a huge advantage for hard capped teams.

Being hard capped allows the Lakers to sign an elite perimeter defender like Warriors’ guard Gary Payton II to the $10.3 million MLE and a young stretch center like Clippers’ Isaiah Hartenstein to the $4.1 million BAE.

Can Lakers Transform Themselves Into Contenders?

The Los Angeles Lakers will continue to be legitimate contenders to win an NBA championship as long as they have a healthy LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Nothing that happened last year has changed that.

For purposes of seeing what kind of team the Lakers could build by trading Westbrook into the Thunder’s cap space and hardcapping themselves, I’ve assumed the Lakers used their traded player exception on Hayward. I’ve also assumed the Lakers used their $10.3 million full MLE on Isaiah Hartenstein and their $4.1 million BAE on Gary Payton II and exercised their team options for Austin Reaves, Stanley Johnson, and Wenyen Gabriel.

Finally, I’ve assumed the Lakers traded Talen Horton-Tucker, Kendrick Nunn, and their 2027 first round draft pick to the Houston Rockets for Eric Gordon to provide elite 3-point shooting along with solid perimeter defense.