Since returning from his back injury, Austin Reaves has helped the Los Angeles Lakers stabilize in recent weeks, most recently hitting a game-winner to beat the Golden State Warriors on Christmas Day.
The Lakers have looked like a solid team on most nights, though the perception around the league is they’re still a couple of pieces away from being true contenders. Reaves looks the part of a core member of the roster considering how much he’s responsible for on offense, but it still hasn’t kept his name out of trade rumors.
So far, Los Angeles has been adamant about keeping Reaves as he’s on a team-friendly deal and arguably the Lakers’ third-best player behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis.