Insider: Lakers are divided on whether to trade two key starters in order to improve

USA Today

6 days ago

Insider: Lakers are divided on whether to trade two key starters in order to improve
It seems to be generally believed that if the Los Angeles Lakers are going to successfully address their roster needs, including their dire need for a starting-caliber center, they will have to give up some significant value in a trade.
That could mean giving up more than rookie sharpshooter Dalton Knecht, a 2031 first-round draft pick and a 2030 first-round pick swap, which was the core of the package they offered the Charlotte Hornets for Mark Williams before Williams failed his physical and that trade was rescinded.
Many feel that starting forward Rui Hachimura, who can be an impact player but is sometimes rendered invisible, will have to be jettisoned in order for L.A. to upgrade its roster. Some are also calling for the team to give up Austin Reaves, who raised his game yet again this season.
But according to Lakers insider Anthony Irwin, the organization is split on whether Hachimura and Reaves should stay or go.
Via ClutchPoints:
"A first-round playoff exit with home-court advantage can really shake an organization," Irwin wrote. "Losing that series in only five games only intensifies the rattling. In the Los Angeles Lakers' case, losing 12 of their last 14 playoff games is enough to drive the otherwise thoroughly spoiled fan base absolutely insane. Now, entering the first full season of the Luka Doncic era, a fairly fierce debate has broken out internally on which steps to take this summer.
"First and foremost, Doncic isn't going anywhere anytime soon. That is a given. LeBron James has a player option for next season that he's considered likely to pick up and has a no-trade clause, so his name can be written in ink on the roster as well. From there, things get very dicey, very quickly, as, according to league and team sources, a fierce debate has broken out about what to do with Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura.
"To be clear, both are extremely well-liked internally. No Lakers decision maker is looking ahead to the day when they can finally rid themselves of two of the better moves any team has made on the margins in recent years. Still, this roster desperately needs a facelift and, because the Lakers only have one first-round pick and a few mid-tier expiring contracts to work with, the sense around the league is, in order to take the steps forward the Lakers are hoping to, they'll have to part with actual contributors on top of the little draft capital at their disposal."
Irwin did make it clear that the Lakers aren't "seriously considering any trade offer for Reaves that doesn't land them an All-Star" who could complement Luka Doncic well for years to come. In addition, Hachimura is just 27 years of age, and he could help keep things afloat after LeBron James leaves.
This whole matter is complicated by the fact that Hachimura has one year left on his contract and Reaves can opt out of his contract and become a free agent next summer. A recent report indicated that Reaves will wait to opt out in 2026 and then seek a new contract that would pay him around $30 million a year.