The trade rumors surrounding Trae Young have really heated up as of late. Thankfully, it may be safe to say that the Los Angeles Lakers are not trading Austin Reaves and are not pursuing the Atlanta Hawks' star point guard. Jake Fischer made it clear on Bleacher Report that purple and gold have no interest in making that move.
Trae Young is not on Los Angeles’ radar
“I don’t think the Lakers are involved with Trae Young whatsoever. And I don’t think the Lakers have any interest [in trading] Austin Reaves either,” Fischer said, putting the rumors to rest.
That makes a lot of sense when you look into it. Trae Young is an incredible offensive player, but he needs the ball in his hands to succeed. The Lakers already have LeBron James and Luka Doncic carrying the offense. Adding Young could disrupt the flow instead of improving it.
Austin Reaves, even though he is currently sidelined with an injury, has been one of the team’s most reliable pieces. He is averaging 26.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 6.3 assists while shooting over 50 percent from the field. Unlike Young, Reaves is someone who does not need to dominate possessions to make an impact, and his versatility keeps the offense moving and the defense guessing.
Injuries also make Young a risky option. He has only played 10 games this season, scoring 19.3 points per game and shooting just 30.5 percent from three-point range, a career low. The Lakers have experienced the challenge of managing injury-prone stars with Anthony Davis and are not eager to repeat that mistake.
Defense is another concern. Young has never been strong on that end, and pairing him with LeBron and Doncic could create mismatches opponents will exploit, especially in the playoffs. The Lakers have enough flashy players, they need guys that actually round out the team and make them better.
Right now the team’s focus should be absolutely clear. They need to target two things at the deadline to improve. One is getting help at the backup center position. The other is targeting a true 3-and-D wing who can hit open shots and defend at a high level. That is the kind of move that will actually make them a contender rather than chasing a high-profile name that doesn’t fit.
Fischer’s update may not be exciting, but it is the kind of clarity Lakers fans need. The team is protecting its core, staying patient, and focusing on practical moves that address real weaknesses. Sometimes the best decision is knowing when not to make a deal.