The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to entertain offers for promising young guard Austin Reaves this summer.

The Los Angeles Lakers face a period of uncertainty following their first-round exit at the hands of the Denver Nuggets in the 2024 NBA Playoffs.

Darvin Ham was dismissed as head coach after just two seasons, with no replacement announced as of yet. LeBron James appears poised to enter free agency, and D’Angelo Russell and others will join him on the open market.

However, there is growing speculation that James will return to the Lakers in some capacity this summer, while star big man Anthony Davis is expected to remain with the team.

Looking ahead, it is anticipated that general manager Rob Pelinka and his team will embark on significant roster changes. In their current state, the Lakers are far from championship contention. James' decision will likely involve discussions with Pelinka and the Los Angeles front office regarding their plans for the 2024-25 season.

One player likely to be discussed in trade negotiations is young guard Austin Reaves. The Lakers refrained from entertaining offers for him last summer, instead opting to re-sign the former undrafted free agent to a four-year, £53.83 million contract.

The key question here is whether Los Angeles will consider offers for Reaves during the summer, which remains a possibility.

The Athletic's Jovan Buha made an intriguing point in a recent podcast, suggesting that the Lakers are reluctant to part ways with Austin Reaves. "They love Austin Reaves," Buha stated. "However, if they were to entertain the idea of trading him, it would have to be for a bona fide All-Star."

The Lakers face a challenge as they must wait until the 2024 NBA Draft next month to move multiple future first-round picks. Additionally, they lack significant young talent outside of the 25-year-old Reaves. To acquire a genuine star, trading Reaves may be the only viable option.

Austin Reaves' statistics for the 2023-24 season were impressive, with 15.9 points per game, 4.3 rebounds per game, and 5.5 assists per game, shooting at 49% from the field and 37% from beyond the arc.

James will undoubtedly have a say in the Lakers' plans if he decides to re-sign with the team. The Lakers have been linked to trade rumours involving guards Trae Young and Donovan Mitchell. Acquiring either player would necessitate parting ways with Reaves and multiple first-round picks.