As the Lakers face another offseason of hard decisions, rival eyes are turning to Austin Reaves—and none may be watching more closely than their crosstown competition, the Los Angeles Clippers.
Since joining the Lakers as an undrafted free agent in 2021, Reaves has steadily improved and become a cornerstone of the team’s rotation. He started all 73 games he played in last season, averaging a career-high 20.2 points, along with 5.8 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.1 steals on 46% shooting from the field and 37.7% from three.
But now, Reaves finds himself in the middle of growing trade speculation—driven in part by his contract situation. The 27-year-old has a $14.9 million player option for 2026-27, and starting next summer, he’ll be eligible for a four-year, $82.9 million extension. While that’s a pay raise, it’s not a significant bump from his current four-year, $53.8 million deal, which could lead Reaves to test unrestricted free agency instead of re-signing early.
That possibility has led to growing buzz that the Lakers might explore trade options this summer.
Could the Los Angeles Clippers Pounce?
Among the teams monitoring the situation, the Los Angeles Clippers stand out—both geographically and competitively. According to Bovada Sportsbook, the Clippers are +400 odds favorites—tied with the New York Knicks and Miami Heat—to land Reaves in a potential trade.
It’s a scenario that would have once seemed unthinkable: Reaves switching locker rooms within Crypto.com Arena to join the Lakers’ fiercest rivals. But from a basketball standpoint, it makes sense.
The Clippers are retooling. Despite losing Paul George last offseason, they still pushed the defending champion Denver Nuggets to a seven-game series in the first round of the playoffs. With Kawhi Leonard leading the charge, the team remains in win-now mode—and adding a versatile scoring guard like Reaves could help fill the void left by George.
Would the Lakers Trade with the Enemy?
The biggest obstacle may not be fit or interest—but pride. While the Clippers could offer meaningful assets in return, the Lakers may hesitate to empower a team in the same city, especially one that also endured a disappointing early playoff exit. Still, with Luka Doncic now in purple and gold, the Lakers are fully committed to contending now. That means difficult roster decisions—and potentially leveraging Reaves—could be on the table.
Reaves’ youth, production, and ascending value make him one of the more appealing trade chips in the league. And if the Lakers decide to shop him, it’s almost certain the Clippers will be calling.
For now, the ball is in Rob Pelinka’s court—but the rivalry dynamic between L.A.’s two teams could take a dramatic new turn in the coming months.