Overview

• The Lakers are actively exploring trade options this offseason to address a glaring need at the center position.
• Austin Reaves is expected to decline his $14.9 million player option for 2026-27 and pursue a starting salary in unrestricted free agency.
• Analysts caution that Reaves’ ability to create shots and his bargain contract make him one of the team’s most valuable assets.
• Jaxson Hayes has reportedly grown unhappy with his reduced postseason role, casting doubt on his return.
• Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic has emerged in trade discussions as a potential solution to Los Angeles’s interior deficiency.