One player the Indiana Pacers should want in a Lakers trade

Once again in the middle of the trade rumor mill, the Indiana Pacers have been reported multiple times as a trade partner for the reeling Los Angeles Lakers, which are desperate to improve their roster significantly to send themselves back to playoff contention.

However, no moves have actually transpired so far, mostly due to the lakers brass’ inability to grasp the reality and their tendency to overvalue their assets while undervaluing others’. In fact, the Pacers declined their trade offer involving Russell Westbrook, a 2027 first-round pick, and two second-rounders for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield just recently.

While still lacking, those seem to be frameworks for a possible trade. Still, there is one player that Indiana should try to poach from LA, either to sweeten the offer on the table, or to form a new trade blueprint altogether.

The Indiana Pacers should target this player in a possible trade with the Lakers

Lakers role players are always given too much spotlight, but some do have credence why. This is the category where incoming sophomore wing Austin Reaves falls into, who rode a solid enough rookie season to be a rotation player for them moving forward.

Reaves did not post lofty numbers in his freshman campaign, even registering relatively meager shooting splits, but he definitely made his presence felt on a veteran team. His three-pint shot was iffy, yet respectable, but he showed flashes of good court awareness by knowing when to attack closeouts. At times, he served as a sneakily good secondary playmaker, even tallying a triple-double in their season finale.

Defensively, Reaves had his moments. While his value in that end is perhaps overstated by being around terrible defenders, he can hold his own against guards and some wings. Far from a liability, the 24-year-old is tenacious and heady in both one-on-one situations and team set-ups.

Reaves may be too redundant on a Pacers roster featuring the likes of Bennedict Mathurin and Chris Duarte, but he is malleable enough to be able to be plugged into different roles. This is why if the Lakers continue to underwhelm with their offers, the Indiana Pacers could capitalize on LA’s obvious desperation by demanding someone like Austin Reaves as a possible addition to sweeten the pot and conclude the trade.