With about a week to go before this season’s trade deadline, NBA teams are starting to really jockey for position in order to make a deal that could improve their rosters.
It appears the Los Angeles Lakers have been one of the more aggressive teams in the league so far when it has come to trade talks. Of course, their main target is Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray, a former All-Star, but there are several other players they’re reportedly interested in.
The one main trade chip they have is D’Angelo Russell, whose name has repeatedly come up in trade rumors despite playing very well in January. However, fellow starting guard Austin Reaves seems to be a more attractive player on the trade market.
Unfortunately, the Lakers seem very reluctant to even consider trading Reaves unless they would get a bona fide star in return — and no, Murray wouldn’t be enough for them in that regard.
If they’re serious about improving their roster now and salvaging what could be their last shot to win another NBA championship with LeBron James, they need to ease their stance on Reaves.
Reaves isn't as valuable a player as the Lakers act like he is
Reaves, who went undrafted in 2021, is a very good player, and he has been an inspiring rags-to-riches story. Los Angeles originally signed him as an undrafted free agent, and he quickly went from signing a two-way contract to playing major minutes as a rookie.
Last season, he blossomed as a difference-maker and gradually increased his production as the season wore on. It led to him earning a four-year, $56 million this past summer, and at the time, plenty of people felt he would eventually become an All-Star.
But since then, his limitations have become clear. His 3-point shooting accuracy has fallen from 39.8% to a mediocre 34.4%, and he ended January making just 31.3% of his attempts from that distance. He at least somewhat lacks the ability to create his own shot off the dribble, and he usually needs one or two strong ball screens to get going downhill.
The Lakers have tried playing him at point guard quite often this season. Although he has increased his assists per game average, it is obvious that he isn’t a natural facilitator and that he should be relegated to a secondary ball-handler and playmaker.
But perhaps his biggest flaw is on the defensive end. Although it isn’t due to a lack of effort, opponents have gone at him on that end of the floor, often getting the ball to the player he’s trying to guard or waiting for him to switch onto whoever has the basketball.
Murray isn’t a flawless player, but he’s likely a better overall player than Reaves. He is shooting the 3-point shot at a high rate this season, and he’s an above-average defender. Murray is also averaging 21.5 points a game compared to Reaves’ 15.2 points per game, and he has plenty of speed and athleticism, two things Reaves lacks.
If the Lakers want Murray, it may be easier for them to land him by giving up Reaves
The Lakers and Hawks have talked about a potential Murray deal, and reportedly, the Hawks asked for Reaves, only to be denied. Los Angeles countered with Russell, but the Hawks don’t want him, and thus a third team would need to be involved to receive him.
If Murray is the man the Lakers need to elevate their roster and level of play, perhaps replacing Russell with Reaves in a possible trade would be the right move. If anything, it would make it easier for them to close such a deal.
Murray and Russell could be a dangerous backcourt for them. Russell’s ability to not only get hot offensively but also be a primary ball-handler and facilitator, combined with Murray’s facilitating skills, athleticism and defensive ability could make them that much better.
The ceiling of a Russell-Murray backcourt would likely be higher than that of a Reaves-Murray backcourt, given Reaves’ limitations.
The Lakers shouldn’t trade Reaves for the sake of trading him, as he’s a good player with uncommon intangibles. But he also hasn’t earned the right to be nearly untouchable in trade talks — at all.
