In some ways, Austin Reaves has been playing well this season. He’s shooting a solid 47.8% from the field, and he’s averaging 15.1 points a game compared to 13 a game last season, even though his minutes haven’t really increased.
He has also improved his passing productivity by dishing 5.2 assists a game this season compared to 3.4 during the 2022-23 campaign.
In the month of December, it looked like he was truly picking up where he left off last season by making 49.7% of his shots and 39.7% of his 3-point attempts.
However, Reaves has been unable to hit from long distance lately. He’s just 16.7% from 3-point range so far in January, and overall, he has hit on just four of his last 28 attempts from downtown.
But it gets even worse than that.
On the season, the Lakers, according to NBA.com’s advanced stats, are minus 4.2 in net rating with Reaves on the floor. Without him, they’re plus 3. In fact, during his 3-point shooting slump over the last six games, they’re minus 12.0 with him on the floor and plus 0.1 with him off the court.
The guard actually has L.A.’s second-worst number in that category over the entire season among rotation players. Only backup center Jaxson Hayes has been worse.
On the other hand, last season, L.A. was plus 4.9 with Reaves in the game and minus 3.6 otherwise.
One apparent reason for this disparity is the fact other teams have learned Reaves can be exploited on defense. The Lakers have a defensive rating this season of 115.2 when Reaves is in the game. When he’s on the bench, that number has been immensely better, 106.8.
Perhaps Reaves shouldn't be off limits in trade talks
There has been a sense for a while that Reaves, who has been an impressive success story after going undrafted in 2021, has been almost untouchable for the Lakers. They have been reluctant to even consider including him in any potential trade going back to the summer of 2022.
But almost midway through this season, perhaps they should at least consider changing that stance.
The Lakers’ best current trade target appears to be Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray, who is averaging 21.1 points and 5 assists a game while shooting 39.4% from 3-point range. Murray, like Reaves, is a 6-foot-5 combo guard, but unlike Reaves, he’s an excellent defender and possesses plenty of speed and athleticism, two things the Lakers are prioritizing in a potential trade.
Reportedly, the Hawks will only consider sending Murray to L.A. if it gives up Reaves, Rui Hachimura and likely more.
Via Bleacher Report:
“Any type of deal centered around Dejounte Murray, it would have to be Austin Reaves, you would think Austin Reaves would be a part of that, Rui Hachimura would probably be in it,” wrote Chris Haynes. “For Atlanta, that just wouldn’t be enough. It wouldn’t be enough. The Lakers, they have interest but the problem with the Lakers is they need more pieces that’s going to be attractive for the Atlanta Hawks.”
The Hawks are just 15-21 and in 11th place in the Eastern Conference. They’re rumored to be looking to move on from Murray, so perhaps they will lower their asking price as the Feb. 8 trade deadline approaches.
But with LeBron James now 39 years of age, every season is very possibly his last excellent season, as well as the Lakers’ last chance to win another NBA championship with him. James could turn down his player option for next season and leave the team this summer, so it may need to be flexible and meet the Hawks halfway if it wants to land Murray.
It should be noted that Murray is represented by Klutch Sports, the same agency that represents James and fellow Lakers superstar Anthony Davis.
