The Game Theory Podcast, featuring NBA pundit/host Sam Vecenie, did an entire episode dedicated to the Lakers' musings and all things surrounding the franchise at the moment.

Naturally, the topic of Austin Reaves came up in conversation. With Luka Doncic off-limits in virtually any trade talks, Reaves is undoubtedly the best young asset on the team. He's also currently on arguably the best deal in the league, making only $13.9 million this year with a player option worth a meager $14.8 million in 2026-27.

When breaking all of these aspects down, a potential trade was bandied about featuring none other than the Dallas Mavericks.

"He is a top-40 player in the league, something like that. I think he is so good, I think he is a monster. He has one year left on his contract before he gets quite expensive here. He is going to get very, very expensive moving forward. Is there anything around just Dereck Lively, who has played with Luka, who we know has great synergy with Luka, for Austin Reaves?"

It would be a tough pill to swallow for the fan base and the front office to deal Reaves. He's considered a homegrown success story after going undrafted and emerging as one of the better young shot creators in basketball. This past year, Reaves averaged a career-high 20.2 PPG in his fourth NBA season.

For as good as Reaves is getting to the line and scoring the basketball, his prowess on the defensive end of the floor remains a real issue. The Lakers are faced with extending Reaves on a deal that will likely pay him close to, if not more than, $40 million annually.

Once LeBron James retires, a big chunk of the financial cap will be earmarked for two players (Reaves, Luka Doncic) who are very poor on the defensive end of the floor.