Jun 6, 2022; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka attends the press conference introducing head coach Darvin Ham at UCLA Health Training Center Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
The Los Angeles Lakers have maintained the same approach for months regarding the availability of Austin Reaves in trade talks.
In short, there’s virtually no path to an outcome where the guard isn’t a member of the Los Angeles roster after Thursday’s NBA trade deadline. But the one thing that could alter that stance is a clear-cut All-Star.
While teams “continue to ask” for Reaves in trade negotiations, according to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha, the 25-year-old remains off the table, barring a major change in the current availability of a top-tier talent.
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Per Buha:
Austin Reaves, whom teams continue to ask for in negotiations, remains off the table barring a clear-cut All-Star shockingly becoming available, according to league sources granted anonymity because they’re not authorized to speak publicly.
As mentioned above, it would take an All-Star “shockingly” becoming available, a comment that highlights the current names circulating just days ahead of the trade deadline. With that seemingly unlikely, the Lakers are trending toward a far less earth-shattering move or possibly no deal.
Lakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka and company could still navigate a move or two that would shake up the roster for the season’s final stretch. This outcome appears more likely following the injury to Jarred Vanderbilt. The forward is set to be re-evaluated in three to four weeks after suffering a sprain in the middle of his right foot.
The Lakers remain among the two or three top teams to monitor as the trade deadline looms, but the potential for a high-profile move seems far less likely now.
