The Los Angeles Lakers enter this offseason with one big problem: The Paint. After getting outhustled on the boards and outmuscled down low, Los Angeles needs a true rim protector—someone who can back up LeBron James and Luka Doncic. But with cap space tight and tax penalties looming, Rob Pelinka has a tough job. He needs to find the right center, without blowing up the core or the books.

And before fans can even catch their breath, another name hits the rumor mill: Austin Reaves. The undrafted guard turned into one of the Los Angeles Lakers’ most reliable two-way guys. But some believe he might be on the block in a deal for a big man. The debate is heating up in fan chats and living rooms across L.A.

Why the Los Angeles Lakers Value Austin Reaves More Than You Think

Alright, Lakers Nation, buckle up—someone floated the idea of trading Austin Reaves this summer. I know. Reaves? The undrafted kid turned 20-point scorer? The $14 million-per-year bargain who’s the heartbeat of this Los Angeles Lakers roster? Wild. But when you’re $20 million over the NBA’s second luxury tax apron, wild ideas start getting airtime.

Here’s where the front office stands: Reaves is not untouchable, but only if a top-tier big man is coming back. Think Jakob Poeltl or someone even better. The Los Angeles Lakers’ payroll and tax hit for next season could hit $493 million. That’s not just steep—it’s suffocating. So if Rob Pelinka is trading one of the best value contracts in the league, it better be for a guy who can lock down the paint and justify the tax bill.

Austin Reaves is giving you 20.2 points, 4.5 boards, and 5.8 dimes a night. On that contract? That’s dollar-for-dollar elite. He’s not some overpaid role guy—he’s production, personality, and poise wrapped into one. The Los Angeles Lakers don’t ship that out unless they’re getting a legit franchise center. A rental big or backup vet? Hard pass.

Let’s not forget he played through a sprained toe in the playoffs. Yeah, his efficiency dipped, but the Lakers aren’t sweating it. They see that as a temporary hitch, not a long-term red flag. They fully expect him back next season, firing from deep, making reads in transition, and holding it down at both ends.

And there’s more. Reaves is extension-eligible—four years, $89.2 million. But if he waits until 2026 free agency, he might pull a max deal worth $40 million a year. That’s a future headache for Pelinka, sure. But it also means his current $14 million price tag is even more precious now. The Los Angeles Lakers don’t throw that away unless what they’re getting back shifts the franchise’s entire defensive identity.

So yeah, trade rumors are swirling. But unless a unicorn center lands on the block, don’t expect Reaves to be going anywhere. He’s the kind of value contract that keeps rosters alive under cap stress. And Pelinka knows it. Unless the return is a defensive anchor with a “pillar of the squad” resume, Reaves isn’t going anywhere. Period.

Is Rob Pelinka About to Roll the Dice on a 7′2″ Cheat Code?

Meanwhile, as the trade winds swirl around the Los Angeles Lakers, some savvy fans are already eyeing the 2025 Draft—and one name is generating serious buzz: Hansen Yang, a 7′2″ Chinese center who turned a routine Combine scrimmage into a viral highlight reel. The clip, titled “Yang’s Got Game! …Back-to-Basket Dominance, Passing, and a 3-Pointer,” lit up the  Lakers subreddit like someone unlocked a cheat code. A seven-footer with a soft shooting touch, advanced footwork, and surprising passing vision? Yeah, Lakers fans are all over this.

One fan put it simply: “We should pick this guy in the 2nd round.” That’s not a pipe dream. Yang sits late in mock drafts—somewhere between picks 44 and 55—but for a franchise like the Los Angeles Lakers, stuck with a late second-rounder and desperate for rim protection, he’s a low-risk, high-reward swing. Sure, he’s raw: his lateral quickness and conditioning need work. But second-rounders aren’t about instant stars—they’re bets on tools and potential. And at 7′2″ with a 9-foot-3 wingspan, a reliable midrange and three-point stroke (shooting in the high-20s), plus high-post passing chops, those tools demand refinement.

Another fan doubled down: “Could be our next Zubac.” Los Angeles Lakers followers still smarting over trading Ivica Zubac know what that means. Yang offers the same upside—an underrated overseas big with soft hands and high basketball IQ, not just a rolling rim-runner. He’s shown he can handle dribble handoffs, make sharp pick-and-roll reads, and hit teammates on the move. With a season in the G League and patient coaching from the Los Angeles Lakers’ development staff, he could become the under-the-radar developmental steal that GM Rob Pelinka’s front office has occasionally found—and sometimes let slip through their fingers.

One hype fan chimed in: “How you gonna say a 7’2” big isn’t a lob threat? He just puts his hands up and dunks.” Facts. Yang’s not JaVale in verticality, but at 7′2″, you barely need to leap to finish alley-oops. His post footwork and ambidextrous finishing make him a legitimate threat without him having to blow past defenders. If the Los Angeles Lakers want more pick-and-roll spacing with Luka Dončić and still get back in transition, Yang’s skill set could be a serious cheat code—either as a short-roll partner or a stand-there finisher who also anchors the drop defense.

Of course, some fans temper expectations: “Our pick is too late, but it’d be nice if he fell.” That’s the catch. Yang’s tape is turning heads; once NBA scouts catch on, his stock could soar beyond the Los Angeles Lakers’ reach. Yet if concerns about his mobility or raw frame scare teams off, Rob Pelinka might scoop him up at a bargain.

Finally, one fan nailed it: “Yang can cook.” It’s early, but the tape doesn’t lie. This isn’t just a towering body; Yang’s got polished post moves, spacing savvy, and flashes of shot creation you rarely see in a player his size. He might not light up the Staples Center kitchen next season, but the ingredients are there. All the Los Angeles Lakers need is a coaching staff with patience, a dedicated player-development program, and a roster that lets Yang marinate and grow.

Between high-stakes trade rumors and deep-cut draft scouting, the Los Angeles Lakers are walking a tightrope. But if they can balance present firepower with future upside—Reaves’ rise and Yang’s raw potential—Pelinka might just cook up a contender without blowing the whole thing up.