Just after the competitive participation of Los Angeles Lakers in the season ends, the first potential friction point between Luka Doncic and the management arises. There is a lot of work to be done in the offices of the Angelinos, but it seemed taken for granted that the way to improve the roster was through the transfer of Austin Reaves. The Slovenian wants to block that option.
He has had a very good season, his status has not decreased in the slightest, but at the same time, it has been made clear how incompatible they can be with each other. This defines the situation of an Austin Reaves whose talent is undeniable, but also his nonchalance and how similar his game is to that of Luka Doncic. The Lakers' management was rubbing their hands in anticipation of playing with his high value when it came to designing trades that would allow them to bid for big stars, but the opposition from the Slovenian is total.
Luka Doncic has told the Lakers’ front office he wants Austin Reaves re-signed to be his long-term backcourt partner, per @sam_amick (https://t.co/FHvOXiGJFH).
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) May 12, 2026
Doncic even made it clear that he doesn’t want Reaves included in any potential trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo. pic.twitter.com/b5ukcu1R0t
Just minutes after the team was eliminated from the playoffs, it has already been leaked that Luka Doncic wants to keep Austin Reaves by his side. He considers the American an ideal game facilitator to complement each other and is not willing to part ways with his company even to receive a great star like Giannis Antetokounmpo in return. This has caused great astonishment throughout the NBA community, which remains attentive to see how the issue unfolds.
This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Doncic se opone con firme al traspaso de Reaves y se avecina tormenta en los Lakers