A former Lakers player requests to trade Austin Reaves for a reason

The new season of the NBA is very close. Could this be the last season for Austin Reaves as a player for the Los Angeles Lakers? The shooting guard decided not to renew this summer and will become a free agent in the summer of 2026. For Robert Horry, a former player of the Lakers, it would be the ideal opportunity to trade him away, taking advantage of the fact that, in his opinion, he does not fit with Luka Dončić.

The contractual situation of Austin Reaves is becoming one of the most discussed topics in the near future of the Lakers. The shooting guard's contract will end in the 2026 Free Agency of the league. In light of this scenario, the former Lakers champion has shared his opinion on how the Lakers franchise should navigate.

In a recent interview, Robert Horry was clear: "If the Lakers were smart, they would do a 'Sign&Trade'. And I say this because when you have a team with two players who are practically the same, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, it's not ideal. I'm not saying they have the same skills, but they play similar positions and do very similar things. It's a waste."

The seven-time NBA champion defended his argument by appealing to the concept of fit as key in building championship teams: "In the NBA, everything is based on fit. If you look at all the great teams, each star brings something different. There are no two Jokics, no two Giannis', and no two Shai Gilgeous-Alexanders. The diversity of styles is what gives a roster meaning."

The Pelinka dilemma and the future vision

Rob Pelinka has already shown he is willing to be aggressive when it comes to strategic moves. With significant contracts like those of DeAndre Ayton and the presence of LeBron James, salary management and the projection towards 2026 will be crucial.

If Reaves chooses to enter the market, a Sign&Trade would allow the Lakers not to lose him without getting anything in return, while also being able to add pieces to better complement Dončić. Everything will depend on the team's evolution in the 2025-26 season and the actual role that Reaves can establish alongside the Slovenian star.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Un ex jugador de los Lakers pide traspasar a Austin Reaves por una razón