Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves continues to draw trade speculation following the team’s early playoff exit, but his agent made it clear he’s not backing down from the noise.
Aaron Reilly, who represents the 26-year-old guard, issued a pointed message on social media amid reports suggesting the Lakers could move Reaves for frontcourt help.
“Next year is going to be a show,” Reilly tweeted. “People really have no idea what’s to come. Keep putting him in trade rumors for second string centers.”
Former NBA guard Lou Williams recently suggested the Lakers “don’t really need” Reaves now that Luka Doncic is part of the roster, proposing that the franchise explore a trade for a proven big man.
Despite the team’s need at center — especially after Jaxson Hayes played sparingly in the first-round loss to Minnesota — Reaves’ production and value contract make him difficult to justify moving.
The Arkansas native is coming off a career year in which he averaged 20.2 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 46.0% from the field and 37.7% from three.
Reaves also played all 73 of his games as a starter and posted personal bests in both steals per game (1.1) and minutes per game (34.9).
In the 2025 playoffs, he logged 16.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per contest, though his shooting percentages dipped slightly under the increased postseason pressure.
Financially, Reaves remains a bargain with a 2025-26 salary just under $14 million, well below market value for a player at his level of production.
Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus recently noted that Reaves is expected to decline his $14.9 million player option for 2026-27 and test unrestricted free agency, where he could command a salary starting around $30 million annually.
