The reports are certainly out there that Rob Pelinka does not have much interest in trading Austin Reaves this summer. It was something that Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times touched on a while ago.
Woike wrote, "The team has shown no interest in using Reaves in a trade that nets them anything less than a top-tier big, and there really aren’t any of those available."
However, the offseason moves quickly. Today's rumor mill will say one thing before a few weeks go by and all of a sudden there is a new report out there indicating the team has changed their mind.
Perhaps watching two deep teams compete in the NBA Finals will change Pelinka's mind ahead of a pivotal offseason for the Lakers. If it does, there are certainly options out there for Los Angeles to turn Reaves into multiple contributors in the rotation.
Lakers link up with Magic in Austin Reaves trade proposal
Let's start this off by stating the fact that this trade idea will not initially appear as one of those sexy deals where the Lakers are walking with a star-caliber name. Instead, this move will be focused on Reaves being a tool to provide a more well-rounded roster in Los Angeles.
The Orlando Magic are a perfect team for Reaves. They were one of the worst offenses in the league during the 2024-25 regular season, ranking 27th in offensive rating (108.9). The Lakers talented offensive guard could boost that while being protected by an elite defensive unit on the other end.
A backcourt pairing of Reaves and Jalen Suggs should offer plenty of intrigue with how well the two complement each other. The Lakers guard may not be an elite playmaker by any means, but he can certainly initiate a lot of offense both for himself and others.
Reaves' isolation scoring and shot-making abilities would offer the Magic a big-time lift in two areas they are significantly lacking. The addition would allow Orlando to reestablish themselves in an Eastern Conference that should be wide open in 2025-26.
The Lakers' reward for bolstering the Magic starts with a Kentavious Caldwell-Pope reunion. Some may be worried about the drop-off in production this season from the two-way wing. However, that is more likely an issue of fit than anything else.
Caldwell-Pope averaged 8.7 points per game, while shooting 43.9 percent from the field and 34.2 percent from beyond the arc. Those numbers would be concerning until evaluating the fact that Orlando was asking the two-time NBA champion to self-create far too often.
The best offensive role for Caldwell-Pope has always featured him feeding off another playmaker's offensive creation. The Lakers should have no problems with allowing the veteran sharpshooter to capitalize on Luka Doncic and LeBron James creating open looks for him.
Goga Bitadze provides the Lakers with an underrated name to bolster the frontcourt. The advanced metrics loved Bitadze this past season, indicating an impactful player who can provide Los Angeles with quality minutes when needed.
The Lakers also get an opportunity to see what Anthony Black can become in the NBA. His underwhelming jumper certainly brings some concern, but the former top 10 pick would have an opportunity to slot into the bench guard role in Los Angeles.
Lastly, the Lakers get a chance here to jump back into the first round of a talented 2025 NBA Draft. Perhaps someone like Joan Beringer would still be around and of interest for Pelinka.
Ultimately, this deal here sacrifices the three-star build for a more balanced approach. It is certainly something worth considering this offseason.