Should the Los Angeles Lakers consider trading away Austin Reaves if they can acquire Jabari Smith Jr. in return? After stunning the NBA world with an unexpected trade to acquire Luka Dončić, many believed that the Lakers were one of the most dangerous teams in the Western Conference and legitimate title contenders.
However, the team clearly has a lot of upgrades to make before establishing itself as just that. After all, they were crushed in the first round of the playoffs by Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves, losing in five games.
Throughout their long offseason, the Lakers are expected to review the members of their roster and try to improve their situation via trades. Jovan Buha is an NBA Insider who covers the Lakers. He recently spoke out on a potential trade regarding Reaves being sent to the Rockets.
Jovan Buha Thinks the Lakers Need Another Ball Handler and Shot Creator
Since the Lakers already have Dončić and Reaves on their roster, not to mention LeBron James himself, fans believed that their offensive abilities were not an issue when compared to the gap in their defense that emerged after trading away Anthony Davis. However, Buha pointed out that those notions might not be completely accurate.
During a live Q&A session, Buva was asked about a potential trade that would send Reaves and Shake Milton to the Rockets in return for Smith Jr. and Cam Whitmore. Here is what he had to say on the topic.
“I don’t think so. I’m high on Jabari. Actually like, I think you can make a case if you’re Houston like…You’re trying to keep Amen Thompson. I think you could make a real case that Jabari could or should be the number two guy to keep in Houston. I think my big read about Jabari…He just does not have off the dribble shots right now. Both like attacking closeouts and creating his own shot…He is primarily a spot-up catch and shoot guy…”
Buha then turned his focus to the Lakers, “The one thing I try to remind people of when they want to trade Austin is, the Lakers offense already was not good enough with Luka, LeBron and Austin and for all of Austin’s faults…He does give you a certain level of ball handling and playmaking and shot creation that the gap between Austin and whoever is the next guy, which I think would technically be Gabe…Maybe Dalton for shot creation but Dalton is nowhere near the ball handler or passer or playmaker that Austin is.”
The Lakers Insider pointed out that the team should not give up Reaves in this trade scenario due to those reasons, especially since James is playing a more off-ball style and the team is likely to be criticized for being too “Dončić-centric.”
In any case, the biggest move the Lakers will need to make this offseason is likely acquiring a high-caliber center. If they can do so and also move around other pieces to get better defenders, the team will have a much better chance at winning a title next season.