Lakers could acquire former UConn star in risky Austin Reaves deal

The Los Angeles Lakers are poised to shake up their roster this summer to maximize LeBron James’ twilight years and Luka Dončić’s prime. 

Meanwhile, the Portland Trail Blazers, mired in a rebuild, are weighing options to accelerate their timeline.

Could the two teams become unlikely trade partners on a blockbuster deal?

Deni Avdija looked like a superstar for Portland during the second half of the season, and the Trail Blazers are happy with their further wing talents, Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe, and Toumani Camara.

Simons plays a lot of point for Portland right now, but he might be better served off the ball. The problem is, Scoot Henderson hasn’t developed into the star playmaker that the Trail Blazers thought he would be when they drafted him.

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If Portland had another pure playmaker to position at the point of attack, its offense could be unlocked.

Enter the Lakers’ Austin Reaves, a wizard of a ball handler and an asset rumored to be on the move this offseason. The question is, would Portland be willing to part with its promising, young center to acquire Reaves?

LA would only be interested in sending Reaves to Portland if they were getting former UConn Huskies star Donovan Clingan in exchange, and conveniently for the Lakers, a 1-for-1 swap would work financially for both teams.

However, Portland views Clingan, its 2024 lottery pick, as a cornerstone. The 7-foot-2 center’s rim protection and rebounding (7.4 points, 5.8 rebounds in limited 2024-25 minutes) signal a bright future, making the Trail Blazers reluctant to deal him.

Clingan’s injury history, including a nagging knee issue in college, might tempt Portland to consider a trade, especially for a proven talent like Reaves. The Lakers could sweeten the deal with their 2031 first-round pick, but that might tip the scales too far. At that point, Los Angeles risks overpaying for a player whose durability remains a question mark.

For the Lakers, Clingan’s defensive upside and lob-threat capacity are exactly what they need, but his injury risk would make the trade a gamble, especially given the type of other returns LA could get for Reaves on the market.

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