With a new owner (Mark Walter) in town, big moves could be in the works for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Lake Show Life’s Svyatoslav Rovenchuk thinks there’s a chance the organization could move on from Austin Reaves in favor of a Boston Celtics superstar guard in free agency.
“Continuing to monitor the developments from the Boston Celtics will be an important task for (Rob) Pelinka this summer,” Rovenchuk wrote Saturday.
“Similarly to the Lakers, the Celtics just got a new ownership group. Unlike the Lakers, that regime is looking to shed costs.”
“Names like Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Kristaps Porzingis should invite some curiosity in trade packages. Although, only Brown or White would really be worth surrendering Reaves here.”
“Boston will be headed for a considerable makeover this summer after the Achilles injury of Jayson Tatum has set the franchise back from contention. Capitalizing on the Celtics' expected desire to shift gears could help the Lakers push themselves closer to matching their rivals in banner count.”
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Surprisingly, Brown managed to play through a partially torn meniscus this postseason.
Still, the Celtics, who finished their unsuccessful second-round series against the New York Knicks without Tatum, failed to repeat as NBA champions this year.
With Boston looking to cut costs this offseason while remaining in contention in Tatum’s absence, the idea of the Lakers prying Brown away from the Celtics isn’t far-fetched.
The California product has proven to be a trustworthy Robin alongside Tatum in Boston.
While it’s no secret that Brown’s left-handed playmaking ability is still a work in progress, the four-time All-Star's polished pick-and-pop shooting, one move-and-go tactic (preferably an in-and-out) while traveling right, and under-control finishing around the rim help him compensate for that weakness.
It’s also worth noting that Brown is among the most formidable perimeter defenders in the league, making him a lethal force on both ends.
Brown averaged 22.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, shooting 46.3% from the field and 32.4% from three-point land.
Although Reaves continues to improve each season with the Lakers, swapping him for Brown, a 2024 NBA Finals MVP who’s further along in his development than Reaves, would be a roster-upgrading move for the franchise entering a pivotal 2025-26 campaign.
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