Lakers Shock Trade: Austin Reaves for Kings’ Keegan Murray Sparks Frenzy

By all accounts, the Los Angeles Lakers are entering one of the most pivotal seasons in franchise history. With LeBron James nearing the twilight of his career and Luka Dončić freshly locked into a long-term extension, the pressure is mounting on General Manager Rob Pelinka to maximize this championship window. One player at the center of recent speculation is guard Austin Reaves, who is coming off the best season of his career.

Reaves averaged 20.2 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game in 2024-25, firmly establishing himself as a reliable third option behind James and Dončić. His breakout year, however, has also made him one of the most valuable trade chips on the roster—especially as he approaches a significant payday when he inevitably declines his player option in 2026.

Lakers Trade Rumors: The Sacramento Connection

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Ethen Hutton of Sports Illustrated outlined one potential pathway for the Lakers, suggesting a deal that would send Reaves to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Keegan Murray and a future first-round pick. Hutton framed the move as a way for Los Angeles to add shooting and versatility without committing to a massive extension for Reaves. “Targeting Murray gives the Lakers a three-point sniper on the wing, ultimately saving money without giving Reaves an extension,” Hutton wrote.

For Sacramento, the gamble would be bringing in a proven scorer and playmaker to complement Domantas Sabonis and newly-acquired veterans Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan. Reaves’ fantasy value in such a scenario would likely rise, given the increased offensive responsibility.

Lakers Trade Rumors: A Broader Package with Defensive Upside

ClutchPoints has floated a slightly expanded version of this idea, one that includes both Murray and emerging two-way guard Keon Ellis. In this iteration, the Lakers would address their perimeter defense while ensuring Dončić and James are surrounded by off-ball shooters. As Rishav Bhat of ClutchPoints noted, “Despite Murray being one of the brightest young players the Kings have, he has emerged as a trade candidate because he is also one of the only remaining trade assets on their roster.”

Ellis’ emergence as a knockdown shooter and disruptive perimeter defender adds intrigue, as his fit alongside Dončić could be seamless. With Dončić and James already commanding the offense, the Lakers’ pursuit of wings who can defend and space the floor aligns with their roster-building philosophy.

Lakers Trade Rumors: A Three-Team Twist with Atlanta

The most ambitious scenario comes from Sports Illustrated, which explored a hypothetical three-team trade involving the Lakers, Kings, and Atlanta Hawks. In that proposal, Los Angeles would land Murray, Malik Monk, and young guard Kobe Bufkin, while Sacramento would stockpile draft picks and the Hawks would add Maxi Kleber as frontcourt depth.

From the Lakers’ standpoint, the move would add both depth and shooting, while keeping the team competitive now and preparing for a post-LeBron future. However, the package’s cost—three first-round pick swaps—underscores the steep price of reshaping the roster around Dončić.

Lakers Trade Rumors: The Contradiction

All of these scenarios run headfirst into a hard reality: recent reporting suggests the Kings view both Murray and Ellis as untouchable. Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee reported that the organization has kept both players “off limits” in talks with the Golden State Warriors for restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga. Sacramento’s front office is said to be working on extensions for both, signaling they remain key pieces of the Kings’ future.

What It Means for the Lakers

The rumors highlight an important truth—the Lakers know their roster, as currently constructed, may not be enough to navigate the brutal Western Conference. Whether or not a deal for Murray or Ellis is realistic, the very fact these names are surfacing speaks to the franchise’s urgency.

Reaves’ growth makes him both indispensable and expendable, depending on how Pelinka prioritizes long-term flexibility versus maximizing LeBron’s final years. If the Kings remain firm on keeping Murray and Ellis, Los Angeles may be forced to pivot elsewhere.

For now, the noise around Reaves underscores just how complicated the Lakers’ balancing act has become: preparing for the future while trying to win immediately.

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