Lakers’ Austin Reaves linked to Jazz as free agency nears

The Lakers are widely expected to re-sign Austin Reaves. If they don’t, well, you just never know.

In a recent free-agency and trade breakdown for Bleacher Report, NBA cap expert Eric Pincus floated the idea of the Jazz pursuing Reaves in a sign-and-trade scenario this summer.

This isn’t an actual discussion, as far as anyone knows (and Pincus wasn’t reporting it as such). But it is an interesting concept.

Reaves is expected to decline his player option and enter unrestricted free agency, where he could become one of the most sought-after guards on the market.

According to multiple reports, the Lakers remain interested in bringing him back. At the same time, rival teams are expected to explore ways to pry him away from Los Angeles.

That’s where Utah enters the conversation.

Pincus listed the Jazz among several teams that could potentially pursue a sign-and-trade arrangement if Reaves reaches an agreement on a new contract with the Lakers.

Again, the idea makes some sense.

Utah continues to search for long-term building blocks around its young core, while Reaves is coming off the best season of his career.

The former Oklahoma standout averaged 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds while emerging as a key piece alongside LeBron James and Luka Doncic.

Whether the Lakers would actually consider moving him is another matter entirely.

Most signs continue to point toward Reaves remaining in Los Angeles.

Still, with free agency approaching and teams around the league searching for impact guards, it’s no surprise that his name is beginning to surface in hypothetical trade discussions.

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