The Los Angeles Lakers are not looking to move Austin Reaves, and Austin Reaves is not looking for the exit. That is the takeaway from NBA insider Jake Fischer, and it cuts through a lot of the noise surrounding the team right now.
With trade rumors resurfacing, including speculation about LeBron James, Fischer made it clear that Reaves is not part of those conversations in any meaningful way.
Jake Fischer explains why Reaves is staying put in Los Angeles
As he put it on Bleacher Report, “I’d say the overwhelming consensus remains that Reaves is going to want to stick around in LA and vice versa that the Lakers are going to want to keep their undrafted guard that they discovered and developed and turned into a borderline all-star and one of the best bucket getters in the league right now.”
That statement lines up with what Reaves has been doing on the court. Through 23 games this season, he has taken a real leap, averaging 26.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 6.3 assists, all of which are career-highs, while shooting better than 50 percent from the field.
What he has been doing this season does not feel like a hot streak. It feels like a player who has figured out who he is and how to punish defenses consistently. Reaves’ growth also comes at an important time.
With Luka Doncic now established as the franchise’s centerpiece, the Lakers need someone next to him who can score, create, and make smart decisions when the game tightens. Reaves has shown he can be that guy. He is comfortable with the ball, does not force the moment, and has earned trust late in games.
That is why, if the Lakers ever do make a major move, it likely would not involve him. Reaves is still young, still getting better, and fits both the present and the future. LeBron James, at 41 years old, is still elite, but the end of his career is closer than the beginning. From a long-term perspective, the Lakers’ priorities should be shifting.
There is also the injury factor to consider. Reaves is expected to miss at least four weeks with a left calf strain. That timeline puts his return right near the end of January, leaving almost no margin before the Feb. 5 trade deadline. Even if he comes back on schedule, there would not be much time for him to ramp up and prove he is fully healthy before trade talks would have to get serious.
Since arriving in the league in 2021 as an undrafted player, Reaves has worked his way into being one of the Lakers’ most dependable pieces. He scores efficiently, reads the floor well, and rarely looks overwhelmed. Around the league, people have noticed. Inside Los Angeles, the message is even clearer. Austin Reaves should not be showcased; he should be kept.