Lakers controversial trade would send out Austin Reaves for Jazz package

What if the Los Angeles Lakers acquired the center they need by moving up into the top five of the 2025 NBA draft?

Duke's Khaman Maluach is the exact type of center that would excel beside Luka Dončić and LeBron James, and while Maluach is still only 18, playing at Duke last year means he's further along in his NBA development than most people assume.

It's not that farfetched to think that Maluach couldn't step right into the Lakers' lineup, run the floor, catch lobs, and rebound (and be asked to do nothing else). He's a seven-foot-two athletic specimen with the ability to do all of the above during his rookie season.

With the Lakers rumored to be moving on from Austin Reaves (who is redundant alongside Dončić), LA could send Reaves to the Jazz, who would love to make him a huge part of their ongoing rebuild.

The Trade

Jazz receive...
- Austin Reaves

Lakers receive...
- No. 5 pick (to draft Maluach)
- Jordan Clarkson
- Kyle Filipowski

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If the Lakers were worried Maluach might get snatched up before No. 5, they could wait until the draft is over to make the deal and agree with the Jazz on the terms in principle beforehand (leading Utah to select Maluach).

And yes, a Reaves-for-Maluach swap would be a bad deal for LA. That's why Utah would also throw in former Sixth Man of the Year Jordan Clarkson, who would be extremely valuable for the Lakers as a bench scorer.

Kyle Filipowski could provide the Lakers with much-needed frontcourt depth off the bench.

Could the Lakers get a better offer for Reaves? Sure, but not by a lot. Clarkson and Maluach would be awesome pieces to plug into the Luka-and-LeBron led core, giving LA a lot more athleticism and roster balance in 2025-26.

Clarkson's expiring salary would also give the Lakers roster flexibility heading into next offseason (when further moves will be on the menu).

This would be seen as a controversial move in the eyes of many Lakers fans, but it could end up being a winning trade for LA.

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