Big news! Lakers! Trade Reeves?

After the Lakers were eliminated by the Timberwolves 1-4, trade rumors related to Lakers defender Reeves frequently spread. In the summer of 2023, Reeves renewed the Lakers with a four-year, early bird max salary contract of 56 million, of which the fourth year was the player option. Recently, Lakers media Silver Screen and Roll updated social media on social media that Reeves' next contract will have an annual salary of more than $30 million.

According to Ricardo Sandoval, the Lakers will be able to provide Reeves with a four-year, $89.2 million contract extension this summer, but Reeves is expected to refuse to renew and will jump to existing contracts (Reeves holds the player option in the 26-year offseason), and test the free agent market in 26 years. By then, according to the labor-management agreement, Reeves is expected to pursue a contract with an annual salary of $42.5 million.

Reeves can score a career-high 20.2 points plus 5.8 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.1 steals during the regular season, with a shooting percentage of 46% and a three-point shooting percentage of 37.7%; during the playoffs, data declined slightly, averaging 16.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists, with a shooting percentage of 41.1% and a three-point shooting percentage of 31.9%.

After the Lakers were eliminated in the playoffs, Redick and Pelinka both praised Reeves at the press conference, and Pelinka even called Reeves "one of the team's pillars."

It is generally believed that the Lakers can only upgrade their current lineup by trading Reeves. According to the Los Angeles Times, the team has made it clear that unless it can be exchanged for top inside players, they will not consider using Reeves for trading.

Lake Record Jovan Buha responded to some fans' remarks about Reeves "must leave" in a show, saying that the team has set a high bar for Reeves. Buha said: "I think the most important thing is... tell me whether Xiaoli's trade is reasonable and whether it is cost-effective for the Lakers, because we can sit here for theoretical deductions and put forward various assumptions about Xiaoli's exchange for this or that - ultimately it depends on the Lakers' feelings. The Lakers' trading threshold for Xiaoli is very high."

Former NBA player Horry said: "The Lakers' plan for Reeves depends on LeBron, it depends on whether LeBron signs for 1 year, 2 years or 3 years. Who knows? The rumors about Giannis have also come out. The Lakers need a big man. Everyone knows that the only one who has trading value is Reeves."

Senior reporter Bill Simmons talked about Lakers player Reeves in his podcast program, and he said: I think the Lakers will convert him into a more valuable asset. This is the most reasonable choice. If James, Doncic and Reeves are the top three cores, you will not be able to win four rounds of the playoffs in a row. They need to trade him for a center.

Reeves' agent today updated social media, saying: "Austin Reeves' agent warned about trading rumors - people have no idea what will happen next."

For Lakers fans, if they really trade Reeves, they will feel reluctant, but the defense of Reeves and Doncic's backcourt combination is a big weakness! If the Lakers want to go further, they either put Reeves as the sixth man or choose a trade.