The Los Angeles Lakers are no strangers to high-profile trade chatter, but things took an unexpected turn recently when Rich Paul - yes, that Rich Paul, LeBron James’ longtime agent and CEO of Klutch Sports - floated a bold idea on his “Game Over” podcast: trade Austin Reaves for Jaren Jackson Jr.
That’s not your everyday trade rumor. This one came from deep within the NBA’s inner circle, and it sent ripples through the league.
Naturally, it sparked questions. Was Paul speaking for himself, or was this a veiled message from LeBron?
Could this kind of public suggestion mess with the Lakers’ locker room chemistry?
Reaves’ camp didn’t let it linger in the ether. One of his agents reportedly had a conversation with Paul during Tuesday’s game against the Hawks - a subtle but telling sign that the Lakers are aware of the noise and taking it seriously.
Meanwhile, Jaren Jackson Jr. - the player at the center of the hypothetical deal - didn’t seem fazed. In fact, he wasn’t even sure the clip was real when he first heard it.
“There’s just a lot of podcasts,” Jackson said with a laugh. “At first, I didn’t think it was real.
You have to figure out if it’s real, usually now, and I’m not as versed technology-wise as these people younger than me. I was figuring out if it’s AI, deepfake, all that stuff.
That’s all I had, I didn’t really have much of a reaction.”
That’s classic JJJ - calm, measured, and with a healthy dose of humor. But behind the jokes, there’s no denying the value he brings on the court.
At 6-foot-10, 242 pounds, Jackson is a versatile big who can shift between power forward and center. He’s a former Defensive Player of the Year and continues to be one of the league’s most impactful two-way players.
This season, he’s putting up 18.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting a solid 48.2% from the field and 36.8% from deep.
So, would Memphis actually consider moving him? The Grizzlies are reportedly open to trading Ja Morant - their franchise cornerstone - which naturally opens the door to speculation about a full-scale rebuild. If Morant is on the table, could Jackson be next?
That’s where things get interesting for the Lakers. Despite their ongoing quest to build a title-worthy roster around LeBron and Anthony Davis, they’ve consistently drawn a line in the sand when it comes to Austin Reaves. For the past couple of years, they’ve refused to include him in trade talks - and for good reason.
Reaves has blossomed into a legitimate offensive weapon. This season, he’s averaging 26.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game while shooting a scorching 50.7% from the field and 36.5% from three. Those are All-Star-level numbers, and he’s doing it with a blend of confidence, craftiness, and grit that’s made him a fan favorite in L.A.
He’s currently sidelined with a gastrocnemius strain, but his impact is undeniable - and so is his value to this Lakers team. Trading him wouldn’t just be a basketball decision; it would be a seismic shift in how the front office views its core.
So while Rich Paul’s trade suggestion might have been more of a podcast soundbite than a front-office directive, it’s the kind of idea that forces teams - and fans - to think about the future. And for a Lakers squad trying to make the most of LeBron’s twilight years, every piece matters.
Bottom line: Jaren Jackson Jr. is a star. So is Austin Reaves.
But in L.A., Reaves isn’t just a rising talent - he’s part of the identity. And for now, the Lakers seem content to keep it that way.