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Much of the Los Angeles Lakers rumors involve the team talking trades for LeBron James, a move that still appears unlikely. There are additional moves the Lakers could make in order to build around James and Luka Doncic.
Sports Illustrated’s Jackson Caudell floated a three-team NBA trade proposal involving the Lakers, Utah Jazz and Atlanta Hawks. The deal has the Lakers moving on from Austin Reaves.
Los Angeles lands Lauri Markkanen and Svi Mykhailiuk in the proposed trade. In exchange for dealing Markkanen, Utah acquires Reaves, Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber, Dalton Knecht, an unprotected 2031 first-round pick (via Lakers) and an unprotected 2032 first-round pick swap (via Lakers). Atlanta lands Jarred Vanderbilt for helping facilitate the trade.
Let’s explore how this three-team trade would impact the Lakers.
Lakers Guard Austin Reaves on Trade Rumors: ‘I Want to Play My Whole Career in LA’
Reaves is in the midst of a four-year, $53.8 million contract that has a player option which would allow the guard to become a free agent as soon as 2026. There has been some trade chatter around Reaves as the veteran seeks a new long-term contract. For his part, Reaves has attempted to downplay the trade rumors.
“I think the sky’s the limit for us,” Reaves said of the Lakers during a June 15, 2025, interview with K8 News. “We’re moving in the right direction. Obviously, adding Luka, it gives you a hall of fame player (at) such a young age that you can build around. And then obviously, still having Bron, the IQ, and still running around at forty years old, but I want to be in LA. I want to play my whole career in LA.
“I love it there. I love the fans. Love the weather, love the golf. And obviously the Lakers is the best organization in basketball. I don’t pay attention to it (trade rumors). I keep my head down work, and I feel like that’s one of the reasons I’m where I’m at.”
Trading for Jazz Star Lauri Markkanen Gives the Lakers More Offensive Firepower to Pair With LeBron James & Luka Doncic
The Lakers would be moving on from Reaves, but the roster gets a fresh start with the addition of Markkanen. This move would come with a cost as the star’s four-year, $195.8 million contract runs through the 2028-29 season. Markkanen’s salary escalates all the way to more than $53 million in 2028.
“Markkanen and Doncic would be a great pairing for the future and might make more sense than Reaves and Doncic,” Caudell wrote in a July 27, story titled, “New Blockbuster Three-Team Trade Proposal Sends Lauri Markkanen To The Lakers, Austin Reaves to Utah.” “Markkanen is a fantastic offensive player who gives the Lakers more shooting and size.
“It is a steep price to pay, but the Lakers are all-in on adding talent around Doncic and making this his team once James leaves.”
Markkanen would give the Lakers a legit third scoring threat to pair with James and Doncic. The question is whether it is a significant upgrade from Reaves. Markkanen averaged 19 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 34.6% from long range in 2024-25.