What Luka Doncic told Lakers about including Austin Reaves in Giannis Antetokounmpo trade talks

Just a few hours after the Los Angeles Lakers were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in their second-round series in the playoffs, fans were already pondering the team’s future, especially involving LeBron James and Austin Reaves.

James is set to become a free agent this summer, while Reaves is expected to opt out of his player option and test the market as well.

Reaves is coming off another impressive campaign, averaging a career-high 23.3 points, although he was limited to 51 games due to various injuries.

He was the perfect partner in the backcourt for Luka Doncic. According to a report from The Athletic’s Sam Amick and Dan Woike, Doncic “has made it clear” that he would like the Lakers to keep Reaves.

“Beyond their close friendship, Doncic believes in Reaves as a long-term piece next to him. Multiple league sources said that belief was best illustrated when Doncic told people within the organization that he wouldn’t want Reaves included in any potential trade packages for Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo,” wrote Amick and Woike.

“Doncic, those sources say, would strongly prefer a team construction that includes him and Reaves alongside whatever star the Lakers could acquire.”

The report added that the Lakers will do their due diligence and “explore Antetokounmpo trade scenarios” with the Milwaukee Bucks.

The two-time MVP already stated that he does not see himself playing in Los Angeles, calling the city “superficial.”

The Bucks are ready to reopen the phone lines for Antetokounmpo after having cold feet at the trade deadline, believing that they could still turn their season around. Milwaukee missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade after a 32-50 record.

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