Blockbuster commerce conversations are resurfacing across the Houston Rockets following Fred VanVleet’s harm.
With out Fred VanVleet for all the season, the Rockets lack a starting-caliber level guard able to each ball-handling and playmaking duties.
Amen Thompson represents a direct answer, whereas Reed Sheppard or JD Davidson provide developmental choices.
Nonetheless, none present the best substitute for VanVleet’s manufacturing and management.
NBA analyst Zach Lowe proposed an intriguing commerce risk involving the Los Angeles Lakers‘ Austin Reaves.
The guard’s contract state of affairs creates potential leverage for groups looking for backcourt upgrades.
Reaves may have a participant choice subsequent summer time, however extension talks haven’t materialized regardless of commerce rumors all through the offseason.
Lowe believes deteriorating circumstances may power a reevaluation of his Lakers future.
“What if issues go very badly this season for Austin Reaves with the LA Lakers. What if it’s like ‘you requested me to return off the bench’ extension talks, they couldn’t actually get began since you couldn’t provide me sufficient,” Lowe defined.
“Do you actually worth me sufficient in a Luka world, LeBron, remains to be right here, is he retiring, is that good for my future in LA?” he continued.
Regardless of the speculative situation, Lowe acknowledges important obstacles to any potential commerce.
The acquisition value would seemingly embrace useful draft picks, whereas Reaves maintains robust organizational ties.
Even with LeBron James and Luka Doncic on the roster, Reaves serves because the Lakers’ third star.
Final season, he ranked as their third-most productive participant with 20.2 factors, 5.8 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per sport.
“I don’t assume that is going to occur, nevertheless it’s a reputation that popped into my head,” Lowe admitted. “The Lakers love Austin Reaves, Austin Reaves loves being a Laker. They find it irresistible there.”
Nonetheless, the analyst famous that seemingly secure conditions can unexpectedly unravel in main markets, significantly when contract negotiations stall or function expectations change.
“I’m simply saying, we’ve seen extra ‘hunky-dory’ conditions go awry earlier than in huge markets,” Lowe concluded.
The Rockets face strain to deal with their level guard disaster via trades moderately than free company on account of wage cap constraints.
Whereas the Reaves situation stays unlikely, latest high-profile trades like Luka Doncic exhibit that no participant state of affairs is solely safe in at present’s NBA panorama.
