Before 2026-27, Austin Reaves was the gift that kept on giving. The Los Angeles Lakers guard was greatly exceeding the value of his contract, giving the franchise tremendous bang for their buck. With LeBron James gone, Reaves needs to assert himself properly as the second star in Los Angeles. Moving off Austin Reaves should not be impossible even if he failsOne would think that if Reaves underdelivers in the playoffs again, it would be difficult to move the remaining sum of his contract out of Los Angeles. Questions of fit and the build in Los Angeles that features two big-time ball-handlers will inevitably arise.