Par Joël Pütz | Journaliste sportif
As the Lakers face difficult decisions this offseason, Austin Reaves could be among those leaving the franchise. Bookmakers have revealed the odds surrounding the star, with several favorites leading the way.
When you have LeBron James and Luka Doncic, not wanting to fight for the championship is tantamount to malpractice. Suffice it to say, the Lakers will have to work hard this coming summer to build the best possible roster around the former Mavericks star. A task made all the more difficult by the fact that the Purple and Gold aren’t exactly laden with resources.
With an already substantial payroll, the franchise doesn’t have many cards in hand to attract free agents. It’s therefore through the transfer market that everything could be decided, and Bill Simmons also believes that this should lead to Austin Reaves’ departure. The man who was the two superstars’ loyal lieutenant in 2024-25 could thus be a golden goose for his employers, according to the journalist:
Austin Reaves on the move this summer?
When Reaves gets traded this summer, and he will get traded, the stuff they get back for him is gonna make it seem worse that they (the Mavericks) didn’t get him in the trade.
Given the guard’s salary situation, it’s a safe bet that the former undrafted player will have to leave the franchise that gave him his chance in 2021.
As a reminder, AR15 will potentially be a free agent in a year and could then be expected to earn a salary of over $40 million per season. Los Angeles has virtually no chance of being able to offer him such emoluments, so Rob Pelinka and his staff will likely try to exploit the player’s market value and include him in a trade. Bookmakers also have an idea of who could acquire his services:
The Knicks, Heat, and Clippers are among the favorites to land Austin Reaves, per @BovadaOfficial
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 12, 2025
New York Knicks +400
Miami Heat +400
Los Angeles Clippers +400
Milwaukee Bucks +500
Golden State Warriors +500
Boston Celtics +600
OKC Thunder +1000
Toronto Raptors +1200
Atlanta… https://t.co/8AhaTfu09Q pic.twitter.com/WRaBcIl6VD
It’s ironic that Reaves could potentially land with the Clippers’ rivals, but more broadly, a clear trend is emerging: in the event of a trade, the young guard would most likely join a title contender. This makes sense, given that he’s proven he can average more than 20 points, four rebounds, and five assists per game as a third option. Perfect for the Celtics, Knicks, or even the Warriors.