NBA expert Rachel Nichols believes the LA Lakers are right to leave their options open and have not ruled out the big midseason exit.
Since LeBron James chose his LA Lakers contract, there has been constant speculation about his future as he is thinly and violently threatened by the team that they need to strengthen.
And he’s not the only hot topic of conversation. Austin Reeves has rejected the Lakers’ contract extension offer and is aiming to test a market where his value will peak next summer.
This has led former player Paul Pierce to recommend Lakers Trade Reeves, but it doesn’t look like it’s happening this offseason.
For now, the Lakers are set to win in 2025-26 as the third star supporting LeBron James and Luka Donsic and the third star supporting new addition Deandre Ayton.
There is no impending chance that Austin Reeves will be traded by the LA Lakers, but don’t rule out the changes in the midseason.
In a league where something could happen, proven by the Lukadon Sic trade in February 2025, Austin Reeves could have appeared in the trade market in early 2026.
Longtime NBA reporter Rachel Nichols believes the La Lakers can trade Reeves to acquire a better defensive player to complement LeBron James and Luka Donsic.
She explained that opportunities can open up when the season comes into shape and the candidate is whipped.
Nichols told Sports Illustrated: “The Lakers are interested in making their team better and what they already have is now possible for Austin to repeat again before the deal deadline.
“It’s still open to the extent that the Lakers season is going.”
She said in order to start the season, the Lakers would want to first see how their current roster will be shaped before making a big call.
“I think it might be that before the Lakers front office has started giving away Austin and doing anything, they want to see how this group comes together.
“Teams who think they have shots will know they don’t have shots by February. You and I watch this every year.”
LeBron James was furious when La Lakers demanded they focus on his windows.
Nichols says La Lakers is open to making changes to further improve the roster, and LeBron James’s objective is fully effective.
She is sure LeBron James wants to be placed. “I don’t think the doors are closed to make this even better. LeBron wants them to do more and generally don’t think they want to do more.
“I think every party is doing what they should be, and the way LeBron puts that pressure on him sometimes rubs his fans the wrong way, but he had to realize that he’s doing.
“He’s not trying to acquire himself anywhere else for the next two months.”