If the Los Angeles Lakers are not careful, they risk being completely overwhelmed by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Semifinals. After dropping Game 1 by a lopsided 18 points and managing just 90 points on the night, the signs of a potential series rout are already evident.
While the Lakers must keep their current roster locked in during the playoffs, ESPN’s Michael Wilbon believes a significant roster shake-up could be on the horizon this summer — one that involves cutting ties with a key piece who has drawn attention as a potential star teammate alongside Luka Doncic in a hypothetical new home.
Wilbon, appearing on Get Up, pointed to the growing gap between the Lakers and the Western Conference’s elite. “Not when I look at Oklahoma City, San Antonio and Minnesota,” he said. “They’re all ahead. Denver’s got to make moves, too. So you’re going against teams that are already ahead of you.”
He then turned the spotlight squarely on Austin Reaves, the 27-year-old guard whose name has surfaced as a realistic trade candidate. “You mention Reaves, he is an interesting piece and situation,” Wilbon noted. “There are some places—Reaves could open a lot of places. He is a really good player. Does he have to be with Luka and LeBron (James)? I don’t know, they’ve got some needs on that team.”
Reaves has undeniably established himself as a breakout talent and a $54 million contract player who delivered consistently during the regular season. This year he averaged 23.3 points per game, following a 20.2-point campaign the previous season. His smooth handle, improvisational flair, and ability to draw contact on drives have made him a fan favorite and a reliable offensive weapon.
Yet the analytical lens reveals a different story when the lights shine brightest. In last year’s postseason, Reaves averaged 15.0 points, 4.7 assists, and 4.0 rebounds while shooting a troubling 30.4 percent from the field and just 11.8 percent from beyond the arc. The Lakers’ glaring frontcourt void — created by their decision to trade Anthony Davis — left the team overmatched, allowing the Minnesota Timberwolves to dispatch them 4-1 in the first round.
This postseason offered a mixed bag. Reaves showed flashes against the Houston Rockets in the opening round, but he was largely ineffective in the series opener against Oklahoma City, finishing with only eight points on 18.8 percent field-goal shooting and an ice-cold 0 percent from three-point range.
The contrast between Reaves’ regular-season reliability and his postseason shortcomings underscores a broader truth for the Lakers: the roster as currently constructed may not be equipped to keep pace with the conference’s rising powers. Wilbon’s comments highlight a hard reality — every player, even one as productive as Reaves, can become a trade chip when the team’s long-term competitiveness is at stake.
“Any of them can be traded,” Wilbon emphasized, grouping Reaves with other high-profile names like Jaylen Brown. “I think that Denver and the Lakers are two teams I am looking at that have to improve their teams.”
As the series against Oklahoma City unfolds, the Lakers’ immediate focus remains on survival. Should Reaves fail to rewrite the narrative around his playoff performances, however, Wilbon’s trade idea could quickly evolve from speculative discussion into a pragmatic front-office necessity. In a Western Conference defined by youth, depth, and defensive versatility, the Lakers may ultimately decide that parting ways with their $54 million breakout star is the clearest path toward closing the gap on their more advanced rivals.