Austin Reaves is the most feel-good story in recent memory for the Los Angeles Lakers. Undrafted and overlooked by the NBA, he latched on in LA and immediately looked like a good role player.
That was already a success, but of course, the development didn't stop there. He quickly blossomed into a good starter. Then a great starter. Now, he's a full-blown star, likely en route to his first All-Star nod in year five, less than a decade removed from graduating from Cedar Ridge High School in Newark, Arkansas, population 1,100. His story is so hilariously akin to a Disney movie script that it elevates beyond cliché.
Reaves loves Los Angeles, Lakers fans love him, and he's already shown this year that he and Luka Doncic feed off each other rather than clash, like many pundits were afraid would be the case.
Trading him would be nuts, right?
On Wednesday, ESPN reported that Giannis Antetokounmpo will be "discussing" his future with the Bucks in the coming weeks, a clear step toward a potential trade for the two-time MVP.
The Lakers, as they always are, will likely be in the mix for Giannis. To be really in the mix for Giannis, the front office will need to make Reaves available. He would be the starting point of any trade that brings Giannis to LA. I assume all parties involved know that already. Without Reaves, there's no discussion.
I know basketball is a business. But I also kind of hate business — so trading Reaves after he did everything right in his development, and before he gets a chance to lead the Lakers' backcourt alongside Luka Doncic, feels wrong. If feelings count for anything in business... Which, judging by everything I've ever learned in my entire time on Earth, they don't.
Luka and Giannis would make the Lakers contenders every year
Oh right, this is the other side of things.
It's really this simple — a team led by Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo would be, at least, a playoff team each year. With even a competent supporting cast around them, they'd be perennial title contenders.
The inside-outside game these two provide would be borderline impossible to stop, no matter what looks are thrown at them. When two different players on one team require a double-team each time they get the ball, opponents will quickly run out of defenders. A 30-point triple-double is reasonably common practice for both of them.
Not trading for Giannis would be nuts, right?
When there's a generationally talented player available, it's irresponsible not to at least pursue him. Giannis is that, for the record, despite the phrase becoming watered down. Two MVPs, one DPOY, one ring, 9x All-NBA before his 30th birthday. That's a generation-defying talent.
There is no right answer to the Lakers' Austin Reaves trade question
The Los Angeles Lakers get a lot of flak for being a team that lives on easy mode. Whenever things are going poorly, they just go out and get another superstar, or so the detractors say.
It's hard to argue that right now, considering the Lakers were sort of gifted all three of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Luka Doncic.
At the same time — it's not the Lakers' fault that stars want to play for them. Why would they apologize?
Austin Reaves is the exception to all those rules. The Lakers did the dirty work with him, finding him on the scrap heap and developing him from the ground up into a bona fide star. Having him lead the team for the next decade would silence those critiques. Trading him for a disgruntled superstar would make them louder. The sound of cheers from the Lakers fans as the team lifts another Larry O'Brien trophy would do a pretty good job of drowning out the complaints of everyone else, though.
Depending on who you ask, trading Austin Reaves for Giannis would either be a betrayal of a player who smashed expectations and altered the trajectory of this franchise for the better... Or a no-brainer deal that would put the Lakers in clear contention for years to come. Or both.