Why Trading Luka Doncic Shouldn’t Be on the Lakers’ Radar-Even If Austin Reaves Is Thriving
Max Kellerman stirred the pot this week with a take that raised more than a few eyebrows. On his Game Over podcast with Rich Paul, Kellerman floated the idea that the Lakers might consider trading Luka Doncic due to what he sees as an overlap with Austin Reaves.
His argument? The two are redundant, and if you want to win a title, your best player has to play team defense.
“I can get x for Austin,” Kellerman said. “I can get three times that for Luka.”
Now, let’s pump the brakes.
Luka Doncic isn’t just another star - he’s the guy
On paper, sure, there’s some logic to the idea of maximizing trade value. But in reality, moving Luka Doncic would be a monumental misstep.
This is a generational talent we’re talking about - a player who doesn’t just make an offense better, he is the offense. The Lakers brought him in with the long-term in mind, as the face of the franchise once LeBron James inevitably steps away.
Doncic hasn’t even completed a full season in Los Angeles, and he’s already planted himself firmly in the MVP conversation. He’s averaging 33.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 8.8 assists - numbers that speak for themselves.
He’s not just producing; he’s lifting the Lakers into contention on a nightly basis. Trading a player like that, no matter what the return package looks like, is a risk few front offices would be willing to take - and with good reason.
Austin Reaves is valuable - but he’s not Luka
To be clear, Austin Reaves has been fantastic. Before his injury, he was putting up 26.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 6.3 assists over 23 games.
That’s legitimate second-option production. He can shoot, create, and handle the ball - all while playing off Doncic in a way that makes the offense more dynamic.
He’s earned his status as a rising star in this league.
But here’s the key distinction: Reaves is a complementary piece. Doncic is the engine.
And while Reaves has shown he can thrive in a featured role, he doesn’t carry the same ceiling or franchise-altering gravity that Luka does. That’s not a knock on Reaves - it’s just the reality of what Luka brings to the table.
The contract clock is ticking - and that’s where things get tricky
What does make Reaves a potential trade candidate isn’t his fit with Doncic - it’s his contract. He’s set to hit free agency at the end of the season.
If the Lakers can’t reach a new deal, they risk losing him for nothing. That’s the kind of scenario that forces a front office to weigh tough decisions: Do you ride it out and hope to re-sign him?
Or do you move him now while his value is high?
In that context, trading Reaves isn’t about choosing between him and Doncic - it’s about asset management. The Lakers could potentially bring back valuable pieces in a Reaves trade while keeping their cornerstone in place. That’s the kind of move that helps you build around Doncic for the long haul - not tear it all down.
Luka is the future - and the present
Kellerman’s point about Doncic having more trade value is technically true. But that’s not the question the Lakers should be asking.
It’s not about how much you could get for Luka - it’s about whether you should even consider moving him. And the answer, at this point, is a resounding no.
With LeBron’s future still up in the air, the Lakers need to think beyond this season. Luka Doncic is the kind of player you build around, not shop around.
Reaves is a valuable piece, and ideally, the Lakers find a way to keep both. But if it comes down to a tough choice, the decision isn’t complicated.
You keep the superstar. You keep the foundation. And you build the next era of Lakers basketball around one of the most gifted offensive players this league has seen in years.