The current era of the Los Angeles Lakers is often defined by the superstar duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but a third player has been low-key crucial to their success.

Incredibly, he went undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft but within a couple of years had already finished No. 7 in Sixth Man of the Year voting as a second-year player for the Lakers.

Now in his fourth season, 26-year-old combo guard Austin Reaves is averaging 16.9 points, 5.0 assists, and 3.6 rebounds for Los Angeles, and he’s doing it without taking up much space on the Lakers’ salary sheet.

Reaves is in year two of a four-year, $53.8 million deal. His cap hit this season is under $13 million, representing less than 10 percent of the league-designated cap.

When your excellent third option is that cheap, you should do everything to hold onto him … which is why it’s interesting to hear that the Lakers might trade Reaves if they are presented with an opportunity to acquire LaMelo Ball from the Charlotte Hornets.

Ball has been linked to LA incessantly, but not enough of these reports have pondered about the Reaves implications involved in such a deal.

A new report from Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz separated itself from the pack by focusing a bit on Reaves from the Hornets’ perspective.

“At 7-17 overall and with injury issues popping up once again for LaMelo Ball, it’s time for the Charlotte Hornets to seriously consider shopping their franchise point guard and building around Brandon Miller and their 2025 first-round pick,” Swartz said.

“Reaves is … one of the best contracts in the NBA and averaging a career-high (PPG). He’d carry a lot of value if the Hornets shopped him following a LaMelo-Lakers trade.”

It’s hard to imagine the Lakers passing up a chance to snag Ball if the opportunity arose, but having to give up Reaves would be a gigantic loss.

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