Austin Reaves wants to stay with the Lakers. He just has to hope the team feels the same way.
There have been numerous rumors that the Lakers may be considering moving on from the talented guard.
“At this point, it’s not in my control. I want to be in L.A. If they want to trade me, we’ll start something new somewhere else,” Reaves told Kait8 News from his basketball camp in Arkansas. “But like I said, I want to be in L.A. I want to play my whole career in L.A. I love it there.”
The shooting guard is coming off his fourth year in Los Angeles — and it was arguably the best season of his career. He averaged 20.2 points per game and 5.8 assists per game.
However, the Luka Doncic trade complicates matters for the Lakers as he plays the same position as Reaves and including Anthony Davis in that deal left LA in need of a big man.
That need was exposed during the playoffs as Timberwolves’ center Rudy Gobert dominated the paint and glass in there series win over the Lakers.
“I recognize the need for size, and certainly Gobert in Games 4 and 5 really hurt us on the offensive glass,” Lakers head coach JJ Redick said after the season.
Reaves is doing his best not to get caught up in the persistent rumors.
“I really don’t pay attention to any of it,” Reaves told the station. “If I hear it, it’s usually my mom asking me about it because I’m sure she scrolls all day long looking at that stuff, as a parent would do.”